Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-01-17
POPULAR IDEAS coNTRovERTeD.
Commissioner Morgan Gives a Few Facts
About Dir. Lo.

Comm issioner Morgan Gives "A Few Facts
About Mr. Lo.
WASHINGTON CITY, Jan. 17.-Commis-
sioner Morgan, of the Indian blreau, de-
livered a ! aarkable lecture before the
Young Mems Christian association last
night on Some Mistakes About Indians"
Some of his best points were the follow
ing:
l. Gen. Sherman is mistaken when he says
that the government Is feeding 2JOUy able
bodied paupers. There are but 24.Oo Indians
all told, and ls5 900 OF these self supporting
2. II is mistake to suppose that the Indians
will not work. Many OF them labor hard In
Arizona Indian women cut hay with butcher
knives, and carry It a long distance to market
TO compete with the Mormons
Q. II is mistake TO suppose the Indians can
not be civilized. There are l60D Indian boys
and girls in the various Indian schools. making
as good progress any OF the pupils in white
schools This is not question OF theory, but
question OF history.
Some Odious Comparisons.
4. II Is a mistake TO have more Indian wars
The Indians are not unfriendly 10 the whites
and only go to war for just reasons The In
dams are not bloodthirsty. They do not shoot
each other as I'm the Oklahoma legislature; they
don't need to can out the militia for protection.
as In the Nebraska Legislature; they have not
cabsls, as in the Colorado Legislature. They
have their -four hundred. and are not bent on
war. But when we steal their stock shoot
down their women and children. murder their
men. break our engagements with them they
have manhood enough TO fight for their rights
and their manhood. which we never sue
coed in crushing out
Four More Mistakes Noted.
8 II is mistake 10 expect Indians 10 earn a
comfortable support of lands and under condi-
tons where white people would starve. They
have been driven to the refuse OF the land ON
this continent, 50 stubbly and stony that almost
any other human being would starve in cult
waiting il.
q. 1t is mistake 20 suppose there Is only one
Indian problem Every Indian family is an In
dian problem.
Z. II is a mistake TO suppose that Indians are
| generally drunkards. In one white town in the
Indian reservation would wager my reputa-
| ton that more liquor Is consumed by the whites
than by all the Indians In he-United States
9. 1t Is a mistake to suppose that Indian
service Is corrupt for IL Is es iean AZ either th
| postoffice or war department
| Our s.lionai Dishosor.
| :. - mistake to fail TO keep faith with
4 ..se Ind Jams. II h a national dishonor and a
very costly experiment 20 deceive them. One
Of the XII cat secrets OF the present disturbances
In Dakota Is that the so-called war" wa
brought about in part by the failure OF the
government 10 fulfill the promises made by the
commissto lon sent out TO negotiate with the In
dams. 1lreRard IL rs unwise, costly, and a ma
| tional di4honor not to keep strictly To the let
| ter of ous agreement with any tribe.
10 1t is a fearful mistake not to make ampl,
provisionl for the education of all the Indian
| children Ii would only cost S30U00oO to edu
cate all the sons and daughters Of every Indian
| family This sum would give each child no
| only q coz.amon school education. but a thor
| ougi.iy good Industrial education In one gen
| Grafton the Indian question would be solved
| and il would be solved for all time.