Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-01-23
THE INDIAN AT THE WORLDS FAIR

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0 THE INDIAN AT THE WORLDS FAIR
i Our territory readers will be pleased
: to learn that there will be an Indian
E display at the worlds fair. Mr..
Honoro ]. Jaxon, a Metis Of the far
northwest and graduate Of the Uui-
versity of Toronto, has been appoint
ed chairman of the committee on
Indian invitations and receptions and
Il is the intention 10 have all the vari-
GUS tribes of the United States and
Canada represented at the fair. In q
private letter TO O friend Mr.. Jaxon
says: "There is q thorough UNDER
standing between the Metis nation OF
the far north and the great Dakota
and Absaraki nations Of the Missouri
valley. We and as many nations as
will join with Us, propose to come
down with our exhibits, pitch our own
encampment, hold our own council and
In short, manage our own affairs with
out permitting the dictation Of Of
icials not Of our own blood, or the
interference of notorieiy seekers"
In plain words the intention lie to
show TO the world the advance to-
ward civilization the Indians have
made aud are making and not permit
the Indian exhibit to be turned into a
wild west or Buffalo Bill menagerie.
| II the plans as proposed are carried
out successfully 1t will be to visitors
one of the most interesting features of
the fair. Indians from Maine to Mex
leo and from Florida to Alaska will
be gathered together in one grand en-.
campment with their variety of pro-
ducts and different implements OF
agriculture, warfare and religion and
there will be found greater diversity
among these widely separated tribes
than exists among any other nation OF
the earth.
The five civilized tribes will be able
to make grand display and go far as
civilization 10 concerned will surpass
all others, but our friends of the Qua
paw reserve must not be forgotten.
No tribe or nation have made greater
progress in the same length Of time,
and those who have taken their lands
in severalty will compare favorably
with the best agriculturists Of Kansas
or Ohio. We do not refer especially to
such men as McNaughton, Drake,
Merriss or Diveley, but the people as q
whole are on the high road to prosperi-
ty, and although they still retain some
Of the religious superstitions and
traditional customs of their forefathers,
vet in point OF morals, manners, In
tegrity, industry and enterprise they
will average up with the inhabitants
of the surrounding states.
We would urge upon our Peoria.
Miami, Ottawa and Quapaw friends
the importance Of making as elaborate
a display at the worlds fair as their
means will permit. 1t should be .
matter of national pride with them
and they should not be outdone by
their red or white brothers. The
ghost dances of the Sioux, the dog
feasts of the Arrapahoes, the blankets
of the Navsjoes and the soothing pro-
ducts of the Kentuckians may attract
moro attention from the multitude of
visitors who will attend the fair, but
the agricultural and mineral products
of the Quapaw reserve and the refined
educational attainments possessed by
many of its citizens will grade well up
with the inhabitants of any school
district in Kansas. The work should
be begun at once and proper space
procured 90 that cooperation can be
had with the Indian committee and
the managers of the fair.