The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-19
EDUCATION FOR INDIANS.

The systtm Of killing out the In'
disns by the sword and by the intro
duCton Of the white mans vices is 80
atrocious, 80 revolving to every just
instinct OF human nature, that out
ragged public feeling is protesting
against continuance OF a species OF
barbarity that is disgrace to our
country and blot upon our national
character. The expression Of public
sentiment upon the matter has re-
suited 10 some attempt at change OF
policy. Not only has violence and the
introduction Of vices vronged the In
dian, but our whole system Of dealing
with him he's been wanting in correct
principle and in sound policy. The
Indians have been encouraged to be
ley and improvident. They have
been supported in way that Is an in
ducement to idleness. Their revenues
are paid with no conditions for effort
toward advancement in civiliEa-
ton on their part, while the
occupation of lands that had been
theirs put an end TO the vigorous pur-
suits Of the hunting ground. Put a
mass of white people upon a reserva-
ton, lot them have income enough to
live without work, subject them to
scoundrels who inn ose upon and rob
them and offer them every induce
ment to vice, anil deprive them OF ac-
cess TO civilized society and the right
OF becoming citizens, and what sort Of
conditions would exist among them ?
Can anybody doubt that they would
out-Indian the Indian in atTocities,
crime, dissipation, debauchery and
barbarityP Efforts are now making to
some extent to test the civilizing in
huence Of education among the In
dams, which the efforts Of mission
aries he's proved 80 capable of reform
ing savage habits among barbarous
peoples in different portions Of the
globe. At the Hampton Institute
la Virginia, where Indian children,
selected from among the tribes, are
taught "white mans ways" and re-
ceive school and manual instruction,
the results, as far as the pupils have
been concerned, have been encour-
aging. The mature Indian, habituated
TO a wild life from infancy, cannot be,
as a rule, weaned from his uniol tunate
condition, The Indian children can
They develop a quick intelligence,
aud give satisfaction 10 their teachers,
But when they go back to TIE wig
wan, here one and there another
among their race, what can anything
they can do amount to, especially az
there is natural disposition among
the people to dislike wha. is new anC
strange and uncomfortable to the
ways they are accustomed to, and thai
are a standing rebuke and reproach t.
many Of their customs2 The chill
dren want educating on large scale
that they may be redeemed while
redemption is possible, Is the ex
pense an ohstscle2 1t was STATED
in Congress the other day "tha
Congress votes more money for the
maintenance Of the Indians than the
same number OF common white labor
ers can earn" II there is none,
thus misdiTected there is money fol
proper and useful direction. Their,
are necessarily difficulties in introduc
ing an extended system of education
among Indian children. We hav,
long been pursuing an unsound policy
and to oounteraot the evil effects pro
duCed and introduce correct principles
is not an easy task. We have not only
to do what is right, but to undo what
We have done that is wrong. The
task is difficult but by no means i'm
possible, as what has been accom-.
piished at Hampton demonstrates
We are Ameiicans-full of resources
quick to discover and apply means tc
brink about ends. We can do so in
this case; reclaim the Indian, make
HIM God fearing, seli-Tespecting man
and a patriotic, law-abidinR citizen
We have only to viii and we shall
! find a Way.