, 1881-06-25

that they seem inferior to the average of
our rural children, but certainly above
that which we are accustomed to see in
wOrkhouse schools. One or two faces of
marked yivacity and acuteness must be
excepted. The older Indians present CON
trasts not less remarkable. A figure that
has an air of an irreclaimable savage, as 1t
stands in a group of "ltdians at Fort
Marion,n appears transmitted into the like
ness of an average Undergraduate, not
very clever, perhaps, but quite clv1llsed,
after five years of training. This young
man was, we understand, taken prisoner,
with others of his tribe, in one of the
late years by the United States against
the tribes Of the West. Another photo
graph shows q lad in entire Indian
costume. It was his war dress. He
brought it with him from the camp, which
he has left for ever, to take up his Amerl-
can citizenship. He desired to secure this
likeness of himself before he gave up his
In lian life. obviously picturesque 1t IS,
with the tall crown of feathers, some two
feet high, and the mocassins, While the
long hair, perfectly white, we are told,
streams over his shoulders. 1t can hard
" be without q regret that we contem-
plate the disappearance OF these romantic
figures. AS we turn over the photographs,
names that call up many associations OF
history and romance present themselves.
Here is "Poor Wolf" a chief OF the polite
and friendly" Mandans, not wholly extln'
guished, we are glad ito see, by the small
pox. lie wears the indian dress. HIS
bare breast is covered with tattoo marks,
q snake, a parrot, q drawn DOW among
~ l. min n 4 COnnT00IAG
Here, again, is Cred Shirt" a Sioux chief,
who shows us the only really handsome
face in the whole collection. He has the
mocassins, but he wears q black-cloth
waistcoat and a regulation collar and tie.
standing Buffalo, q Ponca chief, sur
mounts a costume mostly Indian with q
billycock hat. He is, we are told, III the
Ponca police force. The change which IL
thus beginning to make its way Will have
toybe complete. It is the only way IN
which the race can be saved from deStruc.
ton. If that race is to continue, TO put
the matter in the shape of a paradox, 1t
must disappear. 1t must assume the name
and Disappearance rs we'll as tho haOlts
of the nation which is now what 1t once
was, tho American people.
Before this result can be accomplished,
another change is necessary. The lndian
Reserves must be divided, and the tribal
system of tenure given up, Tor the lnolVl'
dual possession which is more suitable to
the conditions of civiIised society. So
settled and appropriated, these domains
would cease to attract the greed of the
white men, and the Indian would stand on
the same footing as the other subjects Of
the American Government. His claims
are put simply and forcibly in a petition
addressed to CONGRESS- by the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church =
al. Give him a home, with a perfect title
in fee simple. 2. Protect him by the laws
of the land, and make him amenable to
the same. 9. Give him the advantage OF
a good education. 4. Grant him full re-
ligious liberty" This policy, 1t is urged,
and doubtless with good reason, would
bring about the end of those Indian wars
and Indian wrongs which make, perhaps,
the least creditable page in the history OF
the United States.