The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-12-29
THE AMERICAN INDIAN.

THE AMERICAN INDIAN.
A Race Romarkab for Social and Polit :.
icar Freedom and Equality.
From Hon. e. NJ. Haines' new book on the
Indians we extract the following instructive
statements: Missionaries, captives and 9TH
ers who have spent much time among the
Indians unite in presenting pleasant pict-
ures of their home life. They state that they
are generally happy, contented and com.
Portable. They are ordinarily provident.
They are seldom without suitable food or
clothing There have been few famines
among them. They raised considerable corn
and gathered much wild rice, which they
often kept over more than one winter. They
also preserved meats and fish. With no
cause for disputes about politics or religion
there were no angry discussions. Their
family and community relations were much
like those amoag civilized whites. They
had their sports and pastimes, many or
which have been adopted by the race that
succeeded them in the possession Of the
country. So, also, they had their songs and
dances. Their language was pure. They
have 10 terms Of speech by which they
could swear profanely, and if they ever do
it it must be by means OF phrases learned
from white men. They punished the same
crimes by death that civilized people do.
The captives they took in war were not re-
duced To slavery. They were generally
adopted by the tribe, and they became
members Of it. A mother who lost boy IN
battle often adopted some white captive
boy, and gave MIN tho place OF the dead ono
in her home and heart.
1t is stated that the Indians did not equal
the whites in mechanical skill. This is
true, and for good reason. there are d.
visions OF labor among the whites, but not
among the Indians. The former learn dis
tinct trades, devote their lives to them, and
as a consequence become very skillful and
expert. The person who learns one trade,
however, can not practice another. The
man Who can build a boat can not shoe
horse. He is always dependent on some
one else to do most Of his work for him.
With the Indians such was not the case.
Every man was a practical mechanic He
was an artisan in general way. He could
make a canoe, bow, arrow or tish-hook. He
could make any implement he needed for
war, sport or the chase. The Indians were
not oilers. The women as we'll as the men
worked. There were no exceptions to tho
rule. The division Of labor between the
members of the two sexes was not the same
as with us, bUt il was more fair than most
are willing to allow There was more
equality among the Indians than among the
whites. They had no Titles that conveyed
the idea of superiority. The few that they
used denoted relationship Or aHectionace
relations. The use Of tobacco by them did
not constitute vice or even bad habit.
The Indian did not smoke when he was at
work Or play Smoking was associated WITH
worship, meditation or hospitality. The
pipe was the symbol of peace, devotion and
friendship.
The point is made in this work that che
Indians We're better supplied with food than
any uncivil;zed paople IN the world. Great
credit is paid them for the ability they dis
played in cultivating corn. There is every
reason for believing that the plant is Of
tropical origin, but the Indians succeeded in
accimaing it to high northern latitudes,
and in producing varieties that succeeded
on the northern shores Of Lake Superior
and the Gulf Of st. Lawrence. They raised
good crops of corn il regions where the
whites have failed. The first white settlers
lived chiefly on corn they obtained from the
Indians aud learned from them how to
cook it. The Indians placed g very high
estimate Oh wild rice, which modern scicn-
GlSGS pronounce w W. G4S IAtSb uuoI 1ClSAo
grain in the world. The Indians were
very well supplied with wild fruit. They
, made molasses from the sap Of the maple
tree and preserved it in vessels made OF
birch bark and wood. They studied the
habits OF fish and knew the best times and
places fcr catching them. They understood
how to use vegetables In connection with
meat in MAILING soups. The table Of the
Indian was not furnished with fine dishes,
but il was we'll supplied with wholesome
food. He had NO fornal feasts, no exact
time for meals, but eat when ne WAS
hungry.
There was not much sentiment about In
dat marriages. The most industrious girls
were the most likely to secure good hus~
bands. There was no ceremony at g. we'd
ding. Marriage and divorce were us simple
as Mrs. Mona Card desires to make them
among white people, Couples who were
not prosperous and happy together sep.
araJed with no show Of bad feeling. They
continued 10 live in the same village and
generally associated in friendly way as
they did before they were married The
land system among the Indians was SUBJ
scantially that favored by Henry George.
The territory belonged to the tribe that DC
cupied it. The only claim that an lndiv5d-
ual had to any portion OF IL was OH account
of the improvement he lad made. The In
dian woman who with & snarpstick had pre-
pared hills for planting corn was entitled to
the use Of that plat Of ground forever. It
seems somewhat strange that persons who
style themselves social, economi: and 20
itical reformers recommend institutions
that were adopted by the Indians 1T is
| possible that we shall adopt them in time
| lust as we have the Indian games OF bail,
J polo aud lacrosse.
4 The habitat ion Of the Indian was not q
very ornate affair. 1t was, however. easily
erected and was quite comfortable. The
materials that were the most abundant in
; the place where 1t was to be erected en-
! tered into It's construction. It was seldom
repaired and 1T required no annual spring
! cleaning.
The indians developed great skill IN maxi
! ing many Of their utensils. Many of their
! stone axes, knives and mortars were we'll
! formed and tastefully ornamented. They
/ displayed WONDERFUL ingenuity in fastening
| handles to their stone hatchets. In some
cases they caused the branch of tree to
i grow round and tit into the groove. They
were slzlllful basket makers. Their baskets