National Republican., 1876-06-06
THE WORLDS IGNoRAMus.

The New York World deyotes column
editorial to the Indians. 1t is written BY
some one who has never seen an Indian, ant
who, apparently, hates them and their ex
istence. 1t is full of venom and ridiculou:
ignorance. 1t says: "On his reservations ht
toys with civilization, builds school-houses il
which he never learns anything, and lays in
the latest style of hoes, which he never uses.'
Herein the editorial writer shows an mex.
cusable amount of what meagre knowledge
he has of the results of President Grants
peace policy. He continues in the same strain
of ignor rance, as follows: ga few small
groups, notably the Cberokees, and some oi
the Chippewas, gathered in missions at va
rious points on the northern lakes, have sue
cessfuly adopted civilized ways, having FARM
shops, singing schools and town debt like
their white brethren, but in the main all
American efforts in this direction have been
as futile as they have been costly" This is
as wide from the truth as the polar star
is from the southern cross. 1t reads very
similar 10 many Of the Worlds editorials on
the political outlook. 1t is about as correct
as its statement that the New Zealand Islands
lay in the Arctic sea. 1t is bounded by error
and centered with untruth. The writer per-
hsps never heard of the Indian Territory, and
If he has question put to him respecting its
geographical situation, would probably re.
ceive the answer that ''it is portion of
Alaska" The principal force and influence
of the Presidents great peace policy has been
exercised in the Indian Territory, and the re-
suit is glowing picture of the most mar
velous advancement and prosperity ever wit
messed in the world under any system adopted
for any purpose. The five great nations which
iDhabit the Indian Territory have, since the
adoption Of the peace policy, jumped into the
traces of civilization with wonderful alacrity,
and their works and progress stand to-day q
proud monument to their industry and skill.
Between the ninety-eighth and ninety fifth
meridians, in the Indian Territory, there are
at present broader fields of waving grain than
in any State in the Union. Ten years ago this
now fertile and luxuriant country was q de-
serted, worthless place. Who transformed it
into deep-fruited orchards and immense grain
yielding fields? None other than those men
whom the Worlds writer says, whether they
are confined to their reservation and fed, or
subsidized with blankets and bullets, and left
to roam the plains at large, are equally
ga nuisance and bore" "Bore and nuisance"
are appropriate words to come from the mouth
of one who knows nothing OF the commendable
accomplishments of this people. Let him go
down into this country and pass through its
length and breadth, and study the history of
its unprecedented progress. Let him talk
with this people; watch them as they toll in
workshops and mills, in the fields and the
quarries. Let him go into their cleanly vii
lagos and note the thrift and enterprise tLat is
shown by them on every hand. "They build
school-houses and never use them :" cries this
i9nOrGmns Of the World. Go into their school
houses, and then compare his ridiculous state
ment with what you find there. In them
children between the ages of ten and twenty
are to be seen assiduously toiling with the
English branches, some of them having ad-
vanced to the higher studies. "They toy with
civilization ' again screams this ignorant pen
driver. Is building substantial chapels, where
the word of God is taught and needed with
scrupulous attention, toying with civilization
Is driving the ploughshare through the rich
loan of broad and beautiful fields, from which
spring millions of bushels of the finest
grain ever produced in this country,
toying with civilization : Are the deeds of
Drawny arms in the mills and manufactures,
the hard and perseyering labor of the meehan-
les, the patient toll of the farmer, the diligent
care of the herdsman, and the activity of the
merchant, are these such deeds as we might
call "toying with civilizations" If SO, then
the World is right. But # is not SO, there