, 1877-02-03
The India

able to the performance Of our proposed
task. Public attention is directed 10
our subject with more than usual earn
estness. With the Inauguration OF the
peace policy of President Grant, and the
happy thought of appointing those as
agents whose moral integrity could be
vouchcd for by religious societies, the
nation hoped that the indian troubles
were over. But we are rudely disturbed
in our pleasing anticipations. There is
war from the British line TO Mexico. At
time when we least expected disturb
ance, we hear that tribes, living at such
remote distances from each other as to
preclude the possibility Of prcconcerted
action, have commenced hostiIities. The
usual horrors, exaggerated reports, deep
regrets and heavy expense TO the Gov
ernment Immediately follow. The toops
are in the field. "a peace will be con-
ouered." We shall have quietness for a
few years, and then repetition of the
present condition Of affairs Conse-
quently we have the ever recurring but
never answered question, "What shall
we do with the Indiuns" Politicians,
statesmen and Christians, often ask this
question, but "at this present" we have
received no practical answer AS a ma
ton we boast of our general intelligence
ana keen intellectually. We are justly
proud of our national humanity, as
proved by the fact that at the close OF
the great war not an individual was exc
cuted for treason, while many OF the
leaders in the rebellion have seats in
Congress, and are among our trusted
citizens. But intelligence, intellect and
humane feelings have not enabled us to
solve the Indian problem.
"As it was in the beginning it is now"
Since October -, 1892, the Europeans
and their descendants have pursued a
similar policy towards the aborigines.
The results arc mournful and humilia-
ting. Well organized empires, like Mex
leo and Peru, have been overtbrown.
Powerful tribes like the Pequods, HUI
rons and Caribs, which, but for the
timely interference of the white man,
might have ruled the continent, have
been annihllated. Those that welcomed
the whites and those who resisted the
first attempt TO form settlements, have
been involved in one common fate. In
mythology we read that Sphinx pro
posed riddle to the traveller. Those
that could not answer were instantly de-
stroyed. The one that did answer was
to suffer fearful calamities. He was to
murder his father, marry his mother, and
be killed by his children. The white
mans civilization is the Sphinx Of the
Indian. If he accepts it, the hand of a
terrible destiny is laid upon him. If he
rejects it, the hand ola terrible destiny
is not removed. And still the destroy
ing process goes on with accelerating
rapidity, and unless something is done,
some new methods are used, an entire
race will be swept from the earth by
those who profess to worship God in the
name of Christ.
The Indian problem has been solved
in the Atlantic States and in the valley
of the Mississippi. The numerous at
tempts to civilize them Systematically
began by Elliot, and aided by the found
ers of Harvard and Dartmouth, and con-
tinued as long as Indian pupils could be
found, have all had similar termina-
tinn. Not one tribe has been raised to
an equality with the white man. The
task of oivilizing the Indians of the
plains is, ii possible, still more difficult.
Those of the east were several grades
above these with whom we are dealing.
Labor was not, indeed, so subdiuded
among them as to give free exercise to
any speciality of talent. Their wants
were few and productions simple. They
produced some splendid specimens Of
Indian manhood, like Philip and Tecum-
sch. But the Indian of the plain is a
savage of low type, anu in their whole
known history they have not produced
an individual worthy to be follower OF
the noble chieftain who, in the seven