The record-union., 1891-04-12
EDUCATION OF INDIANS.
A PERTINENT LETTER TO COM
MISSIONER MORGAN.
Arizona Objects to the Indians At
tending Schools Set Apart for
White Children.
Special to the SUNDAY UNION.

Special to the SUNDAY UNION.
PHOENIX "a. IT,, April 11.ASeveral
months ago Indian Commissioner Nor
gan addressed a letter to George w.
Cheyney, Superintendent of Public In
struction of Arizona, asking if Indian
children could not be placed in the Terri
torial public schools, the National Gov
ernment to pay a tuition fee of $40 q
quarter.
The A7'izOnG Republican will to-mor-
row publish Cheyney's reply, bearing
date of February 10, 1891, in which he
says: "Out of 167 schools in the Terri
tory but thirty-five responded to the cir
cular letter sent them containing your
communication, and only six favor TAX
ing Indians into the public schools. The
whole thing was answered in nutshell
from Mojave County, whose reply reads ::
we have too much respect for our chill
dren to think of educating them in such
mixed schools. No white person familiar
with the Indians habits and his manner
of living could consent to have his chill
dren educated in this way. The Indian
children are low in habits, wear little or
no clothing. except q breech-clout, and
are very filthy and lousey.'"
Continuing, Cheyney says: "You are
at the head of particular branch of the
Government charged with the care of the
Indian. His welfare occupies constantly
your attention, but you suggest plan
that would not result in the elevation of
the Indian, and would result in lowering
the white.
''In the Hampton ReUieD, in an article
credited to you, you ascribe to the Indian
all of the virtues ofthe highest civilization
and fhDf hn only m fhn Nxra,., of /,
when his stock is stolen, his women and
children shot down and his men muir
dered Can it be possible that you would
permit the budding infant minds of these
poor victims of the white mans avarice
and barbarity to mingle with the cubs of
the oppressors? Would not there be
danger of our instilling into them some of
our own tiendish proclivities? We might
teach them to steal, lie, debauch and
murder. No, Mr.. Commissioner, your
plan is not a feasible one, and in propos-
ing 1t you show ignorance of our stand
ards and aims.
I'VE have no desire to found a race of
| 'squaw men, nor to encourage a mania
for Indian miscegenation, now applauded
and practiced in certain prominent In
| dian circles. In your own city you pro-
vide separate schools for the negroes
and whites, yet the negro is infinitely
| superior to the Indian. Our children are
| % 'AS<tA W NAo NChASs anu bdlG say you
would not dream of suggesting to the
mother of your children that she turn her
! babies over to the companionship of such
| naked, dirty barbarous and diseased
! little pieces of humanity as the Arizona
| Indian children.
THE records of our settlements TEEN
with stories of rapine and murder in
| fiicted by Indians. Our Territory still
| suffers. AT the present moment, within
| fifty miles of Tombstone, where write,
a band OF your gentle wards are depopu-
lating the country, led and generated by
an Apache named Kid, who was educated
at Carlisle.
Il am fully aware of the fate of this re-
| port, and that you will regard it as an
! other evidence of antagonism to the In
| dian and in opposition to- his advance
ment, which you have determined to be-
| lieve exists in the West, and which you
| perpetuate and intensity by every means
in your power. Our years of trial, peril
and loss have taught us lesson we
would have you learn-teach the Indian
to submit TO the source of control, and
! punish him for crime as you would a
white man for the same oflense."