Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-06
THE FUTURE OF 10.
A Satisfactory Solution Of a Vexed
Problem Probably in Sight.
THE GOVERNMENTS WAY BEST.
Vanishing Tribes of Indians That Have Al
ways Held Too Much Land.
THE ABoRIGINEEs As APT PUPILS


an oft-propounded question. "What holds
the future for the few remaining tribes Of
the race that once owned and ruled the
greater portion of the continent?" These
are questions made more prominent than
heretofore by the opening up to settlement
of Oklahoma, and the present outlook for
an early release of the Cherokee lands by
the Government After having made ex-
tensive Investigations regarding the condi-
tion of the various tribes, can see no rea-
son to doubt that the course taken by the
Government is the most prudent one, and in
the end will lead to a satisfactory solution
of the Indian problem.
While the Indians are losing some Of
their lands, they are being well paid for
them, and it is fact that they have all
along had much more territory than they
needed or knew what to do With. The Gov
eminent has always been indulgent with
them, and without the intention did
in many instances derive poorer
results from having made Indians rich than
their poverty would have produced. The
Indian is naturally adverse to toll, and the
more he is given the greater his capacity be-
comes, and he will ottentimes spoil it all by
attempting TO trade and barter with shrewd
whites who make it business to prey upon
this ignorance. In this way the Govern
ment has indirectly given much to schem-
ing whites that was intended for Indians.
THE OLD RULE CHANGED.
Nowthat rule has changed and the policy
of the Government is to reserve enough land
to give each Indian an estate and then to
turn the remainder over to the home seek
ers.
This is satisfactory system with those
Indians who have any Sort of education, and
will in time be looked upon with favor by
the entire race. Just now some of the
chiefs and heavy land-holders are jealous of
the march being made by civilization, but
that is only temporary feeling-it must
60 with the present generation.
Passing from their savage homes in day
to large school. such as is located here, q
wonderful transformation is seen. In both
the school and wigwam the same caste and
features are seen. but the difference that
education and civilized association has rem
dered is so perceptible that 1t is hard to be-
lieve that those who are now obedient and
studious scholars year ago roamed the
Western wilds in savage condition. In
deed, the children themselves wonder at the
great change in their lives, and most of
IutIu long W HO 0ctptI anu Oeeper luIO the
knowledge of the whites, whom they all
look upon as a wonderful people.
NEXT TO CARLISLE.
About ore mile east of this city, which is
the seat of learning of the 'Sunfower"
State, is Haskell Institute, the second largest
industrial Indian school on the American
continent The largest school of this char
acter in the country is located at Carlisle,
ID Ill s-A
as the result of persistent labor on the part
of Congressman Haskell. of Kansas, who
lived just long enough to see the beginning
of its usefulness.
At the time it was founded and for several
years previous the Western people were dis
satisfied with the results being achieved in
the matter of Indian education, and clam
ored loudly for an institution somewhere in
the Western country near the frontier.
The cause of this dissatisfaction was not
on account of the methods of teaching or the
manner of training employed in the schools
at Carlisle, Pa, and Hampton, Va, as
might be supposed, but because it was far
more difficult TO gain the consent Of Indian
parents, and to arouse the desire of their
children to 60 to the far-away East to
school, than would be hecase if the school
was situated nearer the "trail" and ''hunt-
ing ground" It is true that there were
A NUMBER OF INDIAN SCHOOLS
in the West at that time, but not snch insti-
tutions as were desired. The need of a
school from which the child would come q
proficient scholar. tradesman or mechanic
was keenly felt, and in 1884, on September
IA, when Haskell Institute was thrown open
to the Juvenile redskins, that long-deferred
hope of the ranchman, farmer and trader
throughout the West was realized.
Among people who know that the Govern
ment feeds, clothes and schools Indian
youths free of charge, no matter what the
circumstances of themselves or their parents
may be, the belief prevails that those
parents and children would be uniformly
eager to take advantage of "Uncle SANS
generous proposition. In this particular
the general public is in error. Indian chill
dren love the wigwam and the wilds Just as
their parents do. They have all heard
countless stories of theravages made on their
domain by the "pale faces" and dread
with common accord the dawn of the future
that is to wipe out forever the existence of
their race.
THE INWARD BELIEF.
Down deep in their hearts the old war
riors believe that the time rapidly ap-
proaches when no savage Indians will in
habit America. This the children have
learned, and they look upon the acquisition
of an education as a sad farewell to all that
the Indian heart holds dear, as viewed from
an uneducated. Indian standpoint.
1t cannot be wondered at, that these chill
dren reluctantly leave their homes and 90
away to school, believing that they will be
taught to forget, to disregard all the lessons
of youth, home and parents. It is no light
task, though one be of an inferior race, to
cast away the traditions, traits, anticipa-
ton, inclinations, hopes and everything
that birth has given, and then to take up
the thread of life extended by race of peo-
pie who ride the rapid wave of progress so
gracefully as do the Americans.
But they are making the effort. and right
bravely, too. 1t is plain to be seen that
they will succeed, for there is no alternative.
They must succeed; ifnot in this generation
in the next or the succeeding one, for in
that day sayagery will have ceased to be an
American wonder. Year after year, their
territory grows smaller and the inducements
for ldleness and nomadic life diminish in
like manner. And as they look to the
North, South, East and West, and survey
their surroundings, the fact is made plain
that the ''pale face" hold sway, and that
their will is the only law of the land.
THE FIRST STEP GAINED.
Thus the initiatorr step in Indian educa.
lion has been gained. 1t 10 NOT nearly 50
difficult to secure pupils now ss was the
ease few years ago. The reason is clear.
OF late years a great many Indian boys and |
girls have returned home educated to be |
useful and accomplished men and women.
Their advancement has pleased the better |
class of savage parents, and spirit Of emu
Iation is thus aroused in the hearts of the |
,hildren. These influences and the exist |
ence OF great institution like Haskell so
near their homes has induced hundreds to |
seek an education.
Before an Indian child can be admitted |
INTO one OF the industrial schools, the Super
ntendent must have secured the consent of
is parents, of the agent who is in charge of |
he tribe and Of the child. The first is rare
y done without coazing, and the second is