The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-08-01
M(ioblrburg Aeelsttr
TUESDAY. AUG. I, 1871.
The Nations MnrIs .

IntIC are lnltt tlusSCS vi pcOplc uuuCi
the government of the United States, with
whom we are in peculiar relations not
only as government, but as in
dividuals, philanthropists, Christians
They are the Freedmen, the Indians. and
the Chinese. One Of these classes has
been lately admitted, en- massc, to citizen.
ship. and the others remain, and are like
ly TO remain in the anomalous condition
Of owing the government under which
they live and by which they are protect
ed, no allegiance, and recognizing no OBJ
legation to it. Government has, in a
measure met its obligations to the freed
men, though those obligations are not yet
discharged. This class has been raised
to citizenship and equal civil and politi-
cal rights, and protected in the transition
state. Their education is perhaps quite
az much an individual as a national duty,
but certainly essential to the prosperity
and security of our form Of government,
and therefore involving the duty of the
government as measure of selfprotection,
if we do not recognize obligations arising
from the national wrongs which they had
TO endure so many years, and which kept
them in the chains Of ignorance while in
the chains of physical servitude.
Our duty as philanthropists, patriots,
Christians, is plain. These ignorant
masses of citizens should be prepared for
an intelligent exercise of their duties as
citizens. Individual ignorance is curse
to all around. That Of communities and
large bodies of men is terrible degrade.
ton, pestilence, threatening danger
to our free institutions. For ten years
the national government supported the
Freedmens Bureau, and under it schools
for the freedmen. In 1870 that bureau
ceased to exist by the statute of limita-
ton and now the responsibility is upon
individuals.
The next class is that Of the various
Indian tribes and bands which roam over
our western wilds as yet untamed, and
with their nomadic habits very difficult
of access for the purposes of education
and civilization.
There are about one hundred different
tribes in the United States proper, with
perhaps half as many more in Alaska,
numbering in all about 3S0629 souls.
These tribes are under the protection Of
the government, and large expenditure
of money is necessary every year to reg
ulate our relations to them, and to pro-
tect our citizens from their ravages. APP
preparations for Indian educational pur-
poses have been made from time to time,
by the National Congress since 1906.
The sum of these appropriations is esti-
mated at s8000, 900 while the Indian
wars of the same period have cost us at
least S500,000,000. These figures ought
to teach us our mistake More than
sixty dollars for war with them, to every
dollar expended for the purposes of edu-
cation and civilization, is not an exhibit
to be proud of Meanwhile the numeri-
cal Importance of these tribes has been
rapidly diminishing. 1t is evident that
civilization and citizenship, or extinction
is the manifest Indian destiny.
Whatever may be our duty, our obli-
cations arising out Of the relations we
have heretofore sustained to them, hay
ing taken their lands without compensa-
ton and crowded them further and fur
Their from their happy hunting grounds
and from the graves Of their fathers,
until the tides of the western ocean pre-
vent further removal-it is clearly
policy for us as 4 nation to take measures
TO educate, civilize and incorporate them
in our body polite, if within the range Of
possibility. The anomalous condition Of
nomadic bands of savages amenable to
no laws, or responsibilities under the
government, for a period of nearly a
century after it would seem that they
might have been Incorporated with us in
n state of civilization and worthy citizen
ship is hardly credit to us, to say the
least. And 10 some minds it may be a
higher motive to consider the claims Of
Christian philanthropy,which are certain
~ it would seem, sufficient to enlist all
hearts and hands in the noble work OF
imparting to them Christian education
1t is true the character of these savag.
ca makes it difficult to reach them by the
motives ordinarily applied to human
beings but one thing is certain There
has never been the effort which ought tc
have been made. We should not plead
the impossibility until the experiment has
been thoroughly tried. But it has been
sufficiently tried to prove its success
and no excuse now remains for further
inactivity. In 1870 s2S9027.3S were
expended in schools for the children Of
these tribes including government appro.
priations, funds of benevolent associations
and payments by the Indians themselves
supporting 1853 schools with total o.
1904 scholars. The reports say they
have met with measurable success"
The introduction of Chinese laborerl
into this country brings new response
bility upon us. 1t is now estimated tina
there are 100000 Cinnamon in this coun
try, retaining nearly all of their habits o
thought, their social customs and thei
religious opinions. At the rate of immi
grafton of the last few years this elemcn
must soon hav e an immense moulding in
auence upon on people and if unassimil
ated will become dangerous element. Tn
necessity of immediate attention to thi
matter is appallingly apparent. The fac
Of immigration is fixed. We cannot sta
its progress five would. An attempt b
such doubtful means as have lately bee
resorted to will only bring evil as its n
suit. The opportunity for moulding thel
into congenial elements for our institution
is now ours. Education is the first r.
quisite of good citizenship. The earl
and universal application of the principle
Of education adopted in many portions
the country now, might have saved IL
war of the rebellion. 1t is certainly OIL
only hope of assimilating the vario,
elements Of character, social habits, pol
teal beliefs, and illiberal views OF relie
GUS liberation, which are flowing in up(