Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-12-04

bis lDbnmanity in the destruction of his
enemies, and his treatment of the female
captives, in language that ought to shock
even savage ear. The audience sssents
approvingly to his boasts OF falsehood,
deceit, theft, murder, and rape, and the
young listeners is informed that this and
this only is the road to fame and renowp,
The result is the decentralization of the
young, who are melted to emulate the
wicked conduct of their elders, without
a thonght that in so doing they violate
any law, but, on the contrary, with the
conviction that in so doing they are
securing for themselves an enduring and
deserved fame among their people.
Active measures should be taken to dis
courage all feasts and dances of the
character l have mentioned.
The marriage relation ls also one re.
curing the immediate attention of the
agents. While the Indians we're in etste
OF at least semlindependence, there did
hot seem to be any great necessity for
interference. even If such Interference
was practicable (which it doubtless was
mott. While dependent on the chase tho
Indian did not take many wives, and the
great mass found themselves too poor to
support more than one; but since the
government supports them this objec-
tion no longer exists, and the more
numerous the family the grenter the
number ot the rations allowed. l would
not advise any interference with plural
marriages now existing; but would by
all possible methods discourage future
marriages of that character. The mar
rage relation, if it may be said to exist
at all among the Indians, is exceedingly
lax IN Its character, and it will be found
impossible, for some time yet, to impress
them with our idea of this important
relation.
The marriage state, existing only BY
the consent Of both parties, is easily and
readily dissolved, the man not recogniz.
ing any obligation on his part to care for
bis offspring. AS far as practicable, the
Indian having taken to himself wife
should be compelled to continue that
relation with her, unless dissolved BY
some recognized tribunal on the reserva.
tion or by the courts. Some system Of
marriage should be adopted, and the In
dian compelled to conform to it. The
Indian should also be instructed that he
is under obligations to care for and sup
port, not only his wife, but his children,
and on his failure, without proper cause,
to continue as the head of such family,
he ought In some manner to be punished,
which should be either by confinement
in the guard house or agency prison, or
by reduction of his rations.
Another great hindrance to the civil.
zatlon of the Indians is the influence of
the medicine men, who are always found
with the anti-progressiye party. The
medicine men resort to various artifices
and devices to keep the people under
their influence, and are especially active
IN preventing the attendance of the chill.
dren at the public schools, using their
coplurer's arts to prevent the people
from abandoning their heathenish rites
and customs. While they profess to cure
diseases by the administering of q few
simple remedies. still they rely mainly
on their art of coniuring. Their services
are not required even for the adminlstra.
ton of the few simple remedies they are
competent to recommend, for the govern.
ment supplies the several agencies with
skillful physicians, who practice among
the Indians without charge to them.
Steps should be taken to compel these
imposters to abandon this deception and
discontinue their practices, which are
not only without benefit to the Indians
but positively injurious to them.
j TIE value of property as an agent of
civilization ought not to be overlooked.
When an Indian acquires property. with
. disposition to retain the same free from
; tribal or individual interference, he has
} made step forward in the road to civil.
ization. One great obstacle to the &C.
quirement of property by the Indian ID
; the very general custom of destroying OF
J distributing his property on the death Of
member of his family. frequently on
, the death OF an important member oil
, the family all the property accumulated
) by its head is destroyed or carried off by
the "mourners," and his family left il
: desolatlcn and want. While in their in
! dependent state but little Inconvenience
was felt in such case, on account of the
i general community of interest and pro
0 perty, Ill their present condition not only
: real Inconvenience is felt, but disastroul
e consequences follow. am informed BY
d reliable authority that frequently th.
:, head of family, finding himself thu
despolled of bis property, becomes dis
o couraged, and makes no further attemp
J. to become "A property owner. Fear o
being considered mean. and attachment
to the dead, frequently prevents tn
y owner from interfering to save his pro
. perty while it is being destroyed in hi
IS presence and contrary to his wishes.
= 1t will be extremely difficult to accom-
@ plish much towards the civilization G
j. the Indians while these adverse infiu
r ences are allowed to exist.
TO IContinued Tomorrow