Arizona citizen., 1877-08-04
Educating the Indian.

c. Gentle, a photographer who, sever al years ago, spent considerable time and money travelling over ana taking views of Arizona, and gathering Indian relics. Before leaving, he obtained and took with hlm an Apache boy. NIT. Gentle has been, and, as will be seen from his communication below which was addressed to the Chicago Tribune, is yet an ardent advocate of the Indian and his capacities for being highly educated. Mir Gentile has a fine photograph gallery in Chicago, and while on a visit there in 1875, we saw his young Apache, and he seemed completely transformed under his new parent and teachers. Like all persons devoted to one view of a problem, our friend Gentle is, in our view, over enthusiastic; yet judged by his own experlence with a single uncouth, un- cultivated and wild Apache boy, he Is right His adopted boy being taken from the Arizona Apaches, we have more interest in noting his progress and career than we otherwise would, and hence give MT. G.'s letter in full as follows:
 CHIAAGo, June 16.-In to-day's Fri bune, l see a long letter under the heading of The Indian Question |" from one John c. Cusick, a member of the Six Nation Indians. From per sonal experience 1 consider myself full ly competent to give my views on the subject of educating Indians. In the first place, they are quite as capable of being educated as any white boy. l wish 10 inform your correspondent that there is one citizen of Chicago trying the experiment of educating an Indian youth, and so far with satisfactory success, as can be proved. My little prOtege, MOnteZuma, a very intelligent Apache youth, who took his first les sons in the English language in Chi cagO, and is now regularly attending public school in this State, learns and improves with as much facility as any boy in the school he attends. In fact, his instructors inform me that in every respect he is the very best boy in the school. Now, in fairness to this op- pressed race, 1 consider it proper to
 state, that I do not consider him an exception to his race, tor l am sure that all Indians are capable of being as easily educated as whites, if the same means are used in so doing. Dur ing my sojourn of eleven years on the Pacific coast, 1 studied the Indians pretty closely and took great interest in them, and in every instance where schools had been opened, the Indians were found to learn readily. But the cause why there is no greater success in educating Indians + that, while ed ucating them amongst their own tribes, they only attend school few hours, and the rest of the time is spent in learning all their aboriginal manners and customs. 1 think 1t next tu i'm possible to try and educate them up To. the standard of the whites, and ler them at the same tune reside with their
 ribe who retain all their aboriginal customs. IL does seem astonishing that in all thls great country there Is not a public college tO educate an Indian in. However wiling some enlightened h. dians (and 1 know there arc many who are even living in a wild, savage state) might be to allow their children tO be sent to some institution to be educated, there is no such institution that l am aware Of So far as my personal eX- pcrience goes, l am quite satisfied with my experiment, and during the six years that l have the little son of the |" Sons Of the Forest in my charge, ! 1 have never known him to tell lie, or have the slightest inclination to. steal, or do anything in an undcrhand- cd way or, as some would Call II, act a . laIndienne In his manners he is po- lite and respectful, and has sufficient tact to win the admiration and, 1 may say, affection of all those with whom he comes in contact. l can recommend 1 others to try the same experiment, and try and do something for thlS OppreSs- | ed race in this land of liberty It does seem strange that you have magniti-i ! cent institution in Washington for the education of the African, and none for the Noble Red Man" the true native of this iand To say that there are not natives worthy of education would be an outrage, as there are many tribes who have always been peaceable to- wards the white man. On the Rio Grandc and New Mexico, can be found Indians who live in cities and also the ZunIs, who tor centuries have lived in cities, and to a certain extent, live like civilized people. Certainly they are as deserving of having the same chances of education as the cOlOred man. I am willing to admit that the Indian is bad enough, but he needs some defender of his oppressed race.
 C. GENTLE