Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-01-12

many-yes even the far east-of
people living in the majority be.
lieve that the Indians Of me terri
tory are uncivilized or are at most
only a semi-civilized race and that
it is their duty toward humanity
to lift up this benighted race and,
drawing them out Of the shades Of
ignorance and barbarism, TO place
them in the broad sunlight of civil
ization. And so conscientiously
devoted are they to this great du-
ty which the Almighty has impos-
cd upon them that, no matter how
many retrospective laws will have
to be passed, nor how many SOL
emn treaties broken, yet they
must do il. Some are sincere in
their belief Of the uncivilized con.
dition of the Indians. Others,
doubtless, only pretend that they
are sincere, hoping, no doubt, to
gain share of the spoils when
the final disruption OF the territory
takes place. There are many rea-
sons why this belief is so preva-
lent.
In the first place the Indian race
is not the American race, and the
Americans are wont to look down
upon all other races, estimating
them as inferior. For example,
not long ago the writer noticed in
an article in an eastern paper, this
statement. MANY of the Indians
can't even talk English yet"
This, of itself, is true, but the con-
nection which this sentiment bore
to the rest Of the article, would
lead one to think that merely
because they could not speak Eng
lish, they were uncivilized and
barbarous. Would it not be the
same logic to say that because the
German professor can't talk Eng
lish, therefore 10 is uncivilized or
that because the Italian painter
and sculptor can't use Auently the
American dialect, therefore he is
a barbarian Because the Indians
part of them have different man.
ners, customs and languages, this
is in no wise indicative Of their in
feriority TO the whites.
Another reason why many peo-
pie have such absurd ideas in re-
gard to the Indians is because they
are purposely misled by persons
knowing better. For example, a
young man leaves his eastern home
and comes to the Indian Territory,
and on his return TO his home, he
has a world of thrilling stories
to relate, and the more blood
shed, lawlessness and disor-
der he puts in his descriptions
of the people he has mingled with,
the more Of a hero he makes him
self. False impressions can be
easily formed and the farther from
home they get the more prodigious
ana extravigant they become.
May it not be that christian people
engaged in the great work of es-
tablishing missions, buildin g
churches, Sunday schools, etc, =,
have, unconsciously, IN isle d
many in regard to the Indians {?
These institutions are blessings, Of
course, but if in order to get the
money necessary for their erection
It's necessary to exaggerate the de-
pravity O. the community which
they are to benefit, it is a question
whether or not the institution will
do as much good as the manner in
which it has been secured has done
harm. Now, the plain truth of the
matter is simply this: The In
dians are just about like other peo.
Pile; the territory is just about like
other western territories; there
are some good and some bad citi-
Zens; there are many educated and
many ignorant people; there are
some quite wealthy, others ex-
Iremely poor. There lie consider
able lawlessness carried on, and
many crimes comnitted-evident-
Iy more than in some Of the east
srn states but very little more than
IN many Of the western states and
territories. These are facts of
which many are ignorant-not
alone among the common classes,
put even among the senators and
Of the house of represen-
.atives. Mr.. Peel. chairman of
he committee on Indian affairs,
ates in his interview that she
intends to introduce bill in the
House that will tend to ciyilize the
Indians. Believing as we do, that
Mr. Peel's views in the main are
,ood and that he is perfectly con-
in his en1eavors, yet can