The Labor enquirer., 1884-10-04
OUR ClviLIzA ALTON.
The 1Untutued Savage Views It,
Becomes Amazed and Cannot
Understand
What Matters it to the Toiler
Who Slaves that Society is
Rich and Great7

Rich ana Great1
For The Enquirer.
There was an old, old Indian once,
who lived on little reserve where civil
lzation, had, as yet, not dared to en-
croach. He dwelt in his little old wig
wan alone, making baskets, or pretend
ing to hunt excepting when q straight,
,bright-eyed young fellow with a swarthy
skin, but a gentleman's coat came now
and then to visit him.
This was his son he had been edu-
Gated by the missionaries, and, taking
kindly to civilization, had himself boz
come minister. He was intelligent,
we'll informed and shrewd, as successful
Inhabitants of towns and cities are
always supposed tolbe. Once he per-
suaded his father to come and look upon
the result Of the white mans civilization
The old denizen of the forest, for a long
time refused, for he still cherished the
resentment of his race toward the de-
spoiler of his hunting grounds.
"They have taken away our hunting.
grounds and given US nothing in return" !"
said the old man. Naturally, he spoke in
his native tongue, but for fear all our
readers are not posted, we will render it
in English; not that we couldn't give
any amount of Sioux conversation if we
chose, however: "My people are dying
out for lack of what the Great Spirit gave
u.s. Let me spend the remainder Of my
days under the few trees that are left
me-" .,t. =.
"But, my father, a great race has
wrought magnificent results from the
lands, mines and forests over which we
only wandered. Splendid buildings
rear their domes toward the sky. Vast
fields Of food for millions of people
spring from the earth that once afforded
to comparative few. Many
men, women and children live, where
few roamed before. Come, forget the
sad but necessary events Of the past, for
twas Gods will that great race should
inhabit the land and make it fruitful
and prosperous for all, and men only
were tools in His hands. Come up And
see if it were not worth while, even if
many Of our people were sacrificed, to
have the wild forests turned into yield
ing farms. busy cities and beautiful
homes"
,""The Great Spirit was bountiful to His
children. We were free. We ate Of the
deerin the forest, the, fish of the sea, the
birds of the air, and were satisfied. The
caves and the trees sheltered us-we
were happy But I will come and see if
this great people are more than that"
And so the dutiful son took the old
chief to luxurious rooms in a great hotel
of a great city. He showed him that he had
but to press knob and from the farther
est parts of the great building would be
brought whatever he desired. He
showed him how to turn faucet and
water would spring forth-turn another
and strike match and light would blaze
out. He explained the telephone and
the telegraph and told how these won
drous results came from elements the
white man had caught and imprisoned.
He took him through the paved streets,
and boarded a car which was gliding
along track, propelled by no visible
power. They entered magnificent
churches and stood under the subduing
influence of painted glass, tinted shad-
ows, statuary and low, rich music. They
visited a theater and saw all the wonders
of scenic effects, lights, tinsel, cause and
ballet dancing. They rode on steam
cars and steamboats,, then dined on game
and fruits, and rested on luxurious
coaches. Another day they wandered
through the streets, watching the people.
They came to some men who were just
sticking their shovels into the trenches
they were digging, before stopping to
rest. They were dirty and bent and
brown, and they sat about in clumps Of
dirt and sticks of wood with tin pals
between their knees from which they
took slices of brown bread, cold meats
and draughts of black coffee. +
"Why don't these men go up to the
place we ate our dinner and eat in com.
fort?" ~tEy-4' -, .rf1/ X
"Oh, these are only poor workingmen
and are too poor to pay for meals at the
Palmer house." NJ ~. = &
"Poor workingmen ? Are they prison.
ers taken from another tribe and are
they compelled to work in the dirt and
eat like thIs" .A> say
mo they are not prisoners, and al
belong to one tribe, but they are poo
men, you see, and must work for
living" sI/ n
sBut I do not understand. They are
not enemies conquered in battle and
they are brothers in the same tribe
How came they poor and who makes
them work so hard"
"They are of a lower order and it il
necessary that there be many such o
how would the streets, and the houses
and railroads, and bridges be built?"
"How long do these men work 2"
"Ten hours day."