Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-07-04
COMMUNICATIONS.
The Indians Fourth of July.

The Indians Fourth of July.
| To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
| 1t has not been customary to connect the
thought of Indians with Fourth of July
celebrations. Too long they have been
treated as aliens, shut up on reservations,
away, not only from the stir of business
life, but from the spirit of our national
| holidays. When the Indians are taught
that, as Americans, they have a part in
| the work and rejoicings of American life,
there is hope of their rapid progress. Gen
eral Morgan, with his usual wisdom, has
| endeavored to inculcate patriotism by hav-
ing the American flag displayed on all gov
ernment schools, and by having the ma
tional holidays duly celebrated and the
pupils taught patriotic songs and recita-
tions. Last year the Nez Perces of Idaho
celebrated Fourth of July in quite an
original manner. Miss Alice G. Fletcher,
who has recently been given a fellowship
in Harvard university, and who has been
and is doing valuable work in making al
lotments of land to the Nez Perces, gives
this interesting account of the event:
Several days prior to the Fourth groups
of Indians living in this vicinity came
winding over the mountain trails with
their pack horses, swimming the rapid
Clearwater river, and pitching their tents
under the pine trees that cluster about the
little church nesr by. Soon over 500 were
present. and the place. otherwise so quiet,
resounded with the laughter and chatter of
old and young. While this deep valley in
one of the canyons of the Clearwater was
yet in shadow, though the mountains were
golden in sunlight, the songs of the morn
+ha
Fourth; for all the people had gathered
under wide awning tied to tall pines.
About a. m. the children and their
parents, clad in citizens dress and decked
out in their best, gathered in front of the
church, where on the porch sat the four
elders who led the singing. Some of the
boys carried small American flags, and all
Joined in what seemed to be an improvised
song, the words being
''We'll stand, Fourth July
closing with ''Hurrah, Fourth July!" all
the men and boys lifting their hats. AS
walked about was greeted with smile,
much as we say "Happy New Year"
Before long a procession was formed,
the boys leading, graded as to size, the
larger ones in advance, the girls following,
arranged in same manner down to the lit
tie tots. Then came the men, the women
bringing up the rear. The column moved
sedately around through the trees, singing
as they went ''We'll stand, Fourth July"
until it returned to the front of the
the church, where all the people seated
themselves, and the native pastor intro
duced the various speakers, all of them
Indians. These men commented upon the
happiness of an orderly, Christian life, as
contrasted with the wild, rowing habits of
former. times, and urged all, both old and
young, to be good men and women. One
man declared at the close of a similar
speech, ''I do not fully understand what
we celebrate to-day, but Fourth of July is
to be celebrated" Just as returned stu
dent was stepping forth to deliver the his
torical story of the day the crier an
| nounced that the people must prepare the
| dinner, and the audience melted at the
| summons.
Beef and salmon were roasted before
| large fires. and dinner was served under
| the awning, upon tablecloths spread on the
grass, with china plates, cups, &c. A
| blessing was then invoked. All the large
company fell to with zest to comfortable
| meal of beef, salmon, canned fruits, bread,
cake and wild potatoes.
| In the evening some Indians provided a
| few fire. works, to the delight of the child
rem Then once more gathering together
under the stars, while the camp-fres burn
ed low under the trees, the people joined
| in fervent service of prayer and song,
and as happy and peaceful day as ever
/ saw came to an end.