The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-03-31
INDIAN AFFAIRS.

Inc loving are the daring.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Ex~Secretary Schurz on the Management OF tho
Indian Bureau Of the Nation.
Ex-Secretary Schurz was dined at
the hands of several hundred citizens
OF Boston on March %. Speeches were
madetbylPresident Elliott, of Harvard,
James Freeman Clark, MIR. Schurz
and others. The latter gentleman
reviewed at length his management
OF the Indian affairs of the Nation,
and during the course Of his remarks,
said:
AS to my own administration Of
Indian affairs, I am perfectly content
to leave it to the public and even the
Judgment Of its critics, when the
hea Of unnecessary controversy
shall have subsidized. know that my
conduct has grown from just and
human purposes, and that my natur-
ally kind feelings for the Indians have,
by direct intercourse with them, ripen-
ed into personal friendship, and that
friendship is reciprocated by most Of
the Indians with whom I have had
occasional contact, and who some
times express their feelings in delicate
and tender manifestations of attach
ment and gratitude; forI may assure
you that the Indian is by no means
devoid of such impulses. I think also
that the policy followed by me during
my administr alton, the policy of pro-
noting the transformation of Indians
from shiftless paupers into thrifty
and orderly workers, as agricult,lr-
alists, herdsmen, traders and mechan-
les, of extending their educational
facilities to teach them how to learn.
and how to live, of stimulating their
desire TO become individual owners OF
lands and other property like white
men-a policy, IN one word, of pre-
pairing them for ultimate absorption
into the great body of American
citizenship, with rights and duties,
have been as successfully carried on
as four years Of hard and conscientious
| work in the executive depar tment
could make it, and that will and vigor-
GUS pursuit Of the same ends will
/ finally solve that Indian policy which
in the past has so often proved a
|
the American people.
/ Not rs matter Of justice, but as a
matter OF fact, the development Of
the country put before the Indians
the stern alternative of civilization or
destruction by conflict. Wise and
humane craftsmanship will see to it
that the Indians don't stand in the
way of that development, but became
a part Of it, and so be benefited by it.,
and I don't hesitate to declare my
convictions, showing from much study
and some practical experience, that
Indians can be civilized sufficiently TO
secure orderly, harmonious neighbor-
hood with the white race. But to
bring about this result all our c0un-
try requires not only the proclamation
of a general purpose, but steady and
judicious work in detail. To this
work have been devoted four years,
and the warm interest / take in the
Indian race will induce me to aid it in
whatever way /. can as a private
singular thing that we are impugned
in our best motives and actions by
those whom identity of general pur-
poses should make our friends. Most
| discOrdant sounds are produced by
| different people playing the same mel
ody at the same time in a different
key, and SO I had to suffer attack not
only from the reckless border senJi-
! ment, bent on, war and destruction,
but from some Of these who speak IN
the name Of philanthropy. I suppose
| am not the first who has had to en-
dure this, and shall not be the last.
| But now the so-called Ponca question
appears to be happily disposed Of.
| Congress has appropriated a liberal
sum to indemnify the Poncas for their
losses to settle them comfortably, ac-
cording TO their wishes. The Poncas
in the Indian Territory are content to
stay there. The provisions made for
them is all they ask. The Poncas are
satisfied. The American public at
large seem satisfied, and it is to be
hoped soon, that to that general salts
faction there will be no exception,
and that honest philanthrophy will
find for this unity of purpose also one
more harmony Of action. Let us
join hands and do something of prac-
tical Importance for the Indians, and
let US hope that in such useful efforts
the old Ponca quarrel may no longer
divide as, but as the Ponca question
was not the whole Indian prob lem, so
the Indian problem. is only small
part Of orr national concerns.
SL1PPRRs at ball are quite things Of
the past, and have been entirely super
seeded by satin boots.