, 1878-08-22
Can the Indian Be Civilized.

American people are apt to think that
o,r civilization is thing so simple in
w. character, SO manfestly beneficial in
~ effects, that contact only is needed to
Make m the barbarian desrous Of embraC-
~" IT, Consequently, it is the opinion
On Mrge class Of citizens, that if the
rioht course was taken with the Indian,
hS miuht soon be made useful and edu-
no,od member Of society. 1t is true that
sfter two hundred years of labor and n
vast exponditure Of money the red man
ronnius now rs ignorant of the laws con.
+roIliup Il respectable white community,
and as far from becoming a civilized
bpipc, Al, the day Of the landing Of the
pilgrim fathers.
4 recent writer upon the Indian sub.
icct attempts to account for this. First,
the tribal relation yet in fall force retards
nrogres, because it perpetuates barbarouS
cu.toms. As individuals, the red men
are entirely different both mentally and
morally from their white brethren, and
the attempt to Gngrait the modes Of
thought Of the latter upon natures 50
radically opposed, must be attended with
the greatest difficulty. The change must
be made from the very beginning Of
thipps with them, and can only be the
result of persistent individual effort,
even if it is possible at all. The idea
which many have entertained Of trans
forming in few years tribe of wander
inc nomads, accustomed to the greatest
freedom of action, into race of agricul-
turaists is manicstly absurd one, since
beside the entire change of habits, the
very memory Of their old barbarOuS ira
ditiOns and customs must needs be swept
away.
The Indian has not the slightest idea
of definite law to control his actions.
He is entirely governed by his own pas.
sions, and his whole life has tendency
to increase their strength. Indeed he
does all that he can to brutalize himself,
and boasts of his success rs the white
man boasts over difficulties overcome
that have laid in the way Of his pro-
gress
Again, his religion is full of supersti-
tious obseryanCes which do not tend to
elevate him mentally and morally. He
does not seem to be capable Of compre-
henting the tenets Of Christianity, al
though expressing sometimes willing
ness to receive them and be baptized.
He does not appear able to grasp the
property idea, of earning and possessing
individual wealth, which is one of the
foundation stones Of American civiiza-
ton.
The laborers in the Indian missions
express great deal Of disappointment
at the result of their work, claiming
that as soon as their direct and personal
Influence is withdrawn, the converted
savage sinks at once back into his former
state Of besotted Ignorance, "thc schools
languish, the cultivated fields are aban
doned, )" and nothing, or next to nothing
remains of all the work that has been
done. Even the Indian youth who have
been taken from their surroundings and
given college education, do not acquire
permanent civilized habits which enable
them to become influential educators in
their tribes.
These are all facts and discour0ging
ones, and yet they do not by any means
prove that this people may not be civil
lied. Generations Of the influence Of
white persons of high moral character
and steady purposes; fixed abodcS and
settled laws; thorough training of the
children in civilized customs and OBJ
seryances; the breaking up Of the tribal
relations; all Of these things pcrsevered
in would settle the question Of possible
Indian civilization. They have never
been pcrseyeringly tried. The Indian
policy has had but vague and unsatis-
factory results, and it will continue to
have until decided change, inaugu-
rating better method Of procedure, is
begun and continued long enough to
give time for new habits to take deep
and permanent root among the whole
race Of sayagcs.--Ioled0 Blade.