The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-12-26
THE INDIANS.

The annual report of the commissioner
of Indian affairs is full of interest to hui
manitarians and to the people OF the west
generally. The commissioner shows what
is being done towards bringing the Indians
to different and better mode Of life, and
he expresses the opinion that in time they
will accept civilization fully. The methods
employed by the government are better
than those in vogue a few years ago, and
as a consequence better results follow.
Civilization is but another name for educa-
ton, and education is the means by which
the red men are being elevated. There are
now in existence, the expense being borne
by the government, 239 Indian schools, the
enrolment in which numbers 15,7o4. The
great majority of the pupils are young and
unmarried, Though in the schools at the
agencies many of the middle aged men and
women are regular attendants and inter
ested students. Another plan which
works well is that of placing the young
men and women from the Indian schools
among the farmers Of the east. Many are
thus employed four months of the year in
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland,
Ohio. Massachusetts and other states, and
the intention is to extend this system as
fast as possible. The report says:
1.-THE system admits of large expansion
and will be productive of the happiest re-
suits. These young Indians are brought
into the most vital relationship with the
highest type of American rural life. They
acquire habits of neatness, industry, thrift
and self reliance. They acquire good
working knowledge of English and prac-
teal acquaintance with all kinds of domes-
tic land farm work. They associate with
the farmers children, eat at the same
table, attend the same church and Sunday
school, and four months of each year at,
tend the same day school. A better scheme
for converting them into intelligent, hon
est American citizens, self-respectful and
self.helpful, could scarcely be devised
Every little while we read that the
Young Indians, having been freed from
school. have returned to their homes and
friends and gone back to the ways OF their
people. in a little while even doffing their
civilized garb and taking up with the
blanket and moccasins. These statements
are referred to as arguments against the
possibility of elevating the race to the
plane of modern civilization, and editors
and others assert that the Indians are
doomed to disappear from the face Of the
earth as a distinctive people, The line OF
reasoning is not good, in our opinion.
Some, after a course in school and on the
farm. NAV return to the degradation from
which they were taken, but the great ma
ioritv will retain muca of what they 40
ouire of civilization, both in the matters of
ideas and practices. Having been given a
fair insight into the advantages of educa-
ton and learned something of the purposes
and necessities of life, very few will go
back fully to their old ways. The ambi-
ton inspired in them to be somebody will
induce many to put forth efforts, and the
necessity, which the most of them will dis
cover. to look out for themselves will
impel them to exert themselves in COM
mendable ways.
In the opinion Of THE HERALD the gov
eminent is gradually getting in the right
track in the matter of the treatment CT In
dams Guns are giving place to farming
implements and school houses are sup
planting forts. The red man is being made
to feel that the nation is not his enemy
bent first on his robbery and then on his
humiliation, and the more he feels this the
less will his hand be against the white race
We believe that if the nation had begun
with its present policy of Cancellation
peace and civilization twenty-five years age
most of the Indians would today be self
supporting, trustworthy, reliable citizens
a source of strength and revenue to thu
government instead of a threat to thu
frontier and a heavy expense to the nation
The apportionment of land to the Indians il
seyeralty is q proper step, and if followed
with reasonable encouragement and assist
ance on the part of the govern
ment. it will not be long before tn
aborigenes will be industrious, thrifty AM
independent 1t has been demo nstratet
too often to admit of doubt, that the Indi
ans are capable of development and a higl
degree of civilization, and it is for the gov
eminent to adopt such measures in thei
treatment as will bring about the desires
results. 1t is a mistake to suppose tina
the Indians are doomed to extinction. TIL
course that was being pursued towar
them WOQlQ III Il llOl1S Hn44O nave iSonVS
in their humiliation; but with the discor
tinuance of the warfare against them, an
their treatment as reasonable creature
they are increasing in numbers. Thei
food is better than ever before and the
obtain it with greater regularity; they al
better clothed than formerly and are les
exposed to the clements; contagious di'
eases which used to play such havoc anon
them can now be checked if not controlled
and all the conditions for promoting healt
and longevity are greatly improved owe
what they were few years ago.
Under all the circumstances the outloo
for the Indians is not hopeless or forbi'