Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-01-17
INDIAN TDUoATIoN.

Commissioner Oberly, in his
annual report, strongly advocates
the education Of Indian children
by compulsion if necessary. He
gives as reason for his views
that the Indian must eventually
become factor in American cit-
zenship and thatjustice to him de-
mands that he be suitably equip
ped for the struggle.
In concluding some general re-
marks on this subject Commits
sioner Oberly says:
"The Indian has begun to change
with the changing times. He is
commencing to appreciate the fact
that he must become civilized
must, as he expresses it, learn
the white mans ways'-or perish
from the face of the earth. He
can not sweep back with a broom
the flowing tide. The game on
which he lived has disappeared.
The war path has been obliter-
ated. He is hemmed in on all
sides by white population. The
railroad refuses to be- excluded
from his reservation-that hot bed
Of barbarism in which many nox-
ious social and political weeds
grow rankly. The Christian mis-
sionary is persislently entreating
him to abandon paganism. Grad
ually the paternal hand OF the gov
eminent is being Withdrawn from
his support. His environm ents
no longer compel him, or afford to
him opportunities, TO display the
nobler traits of his character. On
the war-path and in the chase he
Yas heroic, all activity, patient
Of hunger, patient Of fatigue,
cool-headed, creature OF exalt-
ed fortitude; but now, on the
war-path and in the chase
he can not exalt himself by
bravery and endurance, and he
should not be permitted to live
any longer in idleness and debauch-
cry He should be brought under
the operation of the law, 'by the
sweat Of thy face shalt thou eat
bread till thou return unto the
ground He should be educated
to labor. He needs the virtue of
industry and the ability of the
skillful hand. He should there
fore, be taught how to work, and
all the schools that are opened for
his children should be schools in
which they will be instructed in
the use of agricultural implements, /
the carpenters saw and plane, the |
stone mason's trowel, the tailor's |
needle and the shoemaker's awl. |
He should be taught not only how
to work, but also that it is his duty |
to work; for the degrading COM
munism of the tribal reservation
gives to the individual no incent-
i've to labor, but puts a premium
upon idleness. and makes it fash
ioEable. He must be taken out of
the reservation through the door
Of the general allotment act.
but if he will not learn, and If
he shall continue to persist in say
ing ] am content-let me alone,
then the guardian must act for the
ward, and do for him the good SER
vice he protests shall not be done
the good service that he denounc-
es as bad service. The govern
nent must then, in duty to the
public, compel the Indian to come
'ut Of his isolation into the civiliz-
ID way that he does not desire to
snter~-into citizenship into aIsim-
lation with the masses Of the re-
public; into the path OF national
iuty, and in passing along that
bath be will find not only pleasure
n personal independence and de-
ight in individual efforts in his
'wn interest, but also the consul
nation Of that patriotic enjoy
nent which is always to be found
n the exercise of the high privi-
ege Of contributing 10 the general
velfare."
NEosHo is casting about for
oneone who will put up a large
Ilevator.
The mining industries Of I