The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1880-06-09


the Indian knows not the value Of neither
can understand Or appreciate. could IN
any way tend to better his condition.
Beside these general reasons we oppose
it because the present policy which has
been in operation only 4 few years, is be-
ing crowned with too much success to
warrant sp revolutionary change. Sta
tistics show i to Be the best yet pursued.
The experiment would be hazardovs to
the Indian. Radical changes are always
dangerous. Many Of the so called civil.
izd Indians are not sufficiently prepared
to Withstand the fis.ion u citizenship.
II this be so then think of over Atty
thousand naked sayages clothed with the
full panoply ofan American citizen, The
result Of this change Il present would be
TO set the wild Indian loose to scour the
country in roaming lands, marauding and
numbering wherever they went. Itwould
rndo the toll and sacrifices Of years, and
and would end in nothing short Of the ex.l
termination Of the savage Indians. Ii
violates the natural order Of progress
citizenship IS the result Of civilization and
does not produce il, The reservation al.
fords the only secure home where the
savage and. half civilized Indians NAV
safely pass through the childhood stage
Of civilization. Here is where they can
most advantageously pc educated and
taught to work, and learn to respect and
obey law. Here Is the only place, that
in q critical period of their progress, they
are comparatively safe from the contami.
mating influence of bad white men. But
we believe there Isl wisdom in a gradual
elevation Of the Indians IL citizenship.
There is no law byIwhich an Indian may
acquire all the rights and privileges Of an
American citizen, although he may pos
sess the highest learning and christianity.
Such a law with the standard fixed high,
would do much to stimulate and encour-
age the Indians in their struggles toward
civilization. There are today thousands
Of Indians who are exercising the rights
Of American citizenship acceptably, and
thousands moe intelligent Indians who
would gladly lay aside all tribal relations
to assume those ofthe citizen.
They are as well prepared to become,
and would become as good citizen AZ
much Of our foreign immigration. We
do believe this the best than be done for
the Indians. This IS the highest act our
government can do for them. This offers
them the highest possibilities.
Savages ciyilize either by merging. or
or mixture. Or retain their race independ.
ence. The most civilized Of our Indians
have become so ly mixture. The civiiI
zation Of the Indians III the United States
must be completed i'll this way. They
can never in the midst Of this pushing
and pressing Anglo Saxon civilization
maintain a separate existence as distinct
race. Then why not begin to ciyilize
them as soon as they may be prepared1
Lord Macaulay says in his Essay on
- l.o1u Dsson = =, NE Mall un.h 2 people
ase $780, 9, hDe,tyy We wan forever.
: , Ws ~ 80 un.ll gu sne inoians are pre-
Pared ior citlzenship wa wait forever As
49,. 49, 49,. .;pssy. e elszsnsn,p 70
49, osssss .,:lzeIsLIp lne sphere q
s. ia,Isssn s.'izs wou,u secure s nign-
s = 1ns hlu,v,uusi Inan the
relations ne now holds \ history
s ,sa !. o ~ I'LL 'i,Dle c'carly tnan
a.'o.l'sl Z = .uis-T.Ias tncre can pc no
progress or true greatness either among