The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-07
TRAINING THE RED MAN.
GEN. MORGAN ON THE CONDITION
AND PROSPECTS, OF LO.

W CuL savage EODulhLlOH.
More Than 200 Distinct Tribes Which
Own More Than 100, 100000 Acres.
The Civilized Indians Their Remark
able Culture and Their Great Wealth.
Savages Who Are Worth $4,000
Apiece, and Whose Cattle Are Equal
to Those of Job-Indian Schools and
How the Indian Girls Are Being
ething About Indian
Colleges and the Elevation OF the
Indian Marriage Tie-Indien Vices
and How They Should Be Cured.
tCopyrightl
WASHINGTON. April NO man in the
United States knows more Of the American
Indian than Gen. Thomas J. Morgan. AS
commissioner Of Indian affairs he has had to
deal with our savaRes during some of the
most trying times in our history. The Sioux
trouble, the questions relating to the par
tition of the Indian Territory, the opening
and the closing Of the reservations and other
great questions, such as Indian education,
have been most ably handled by him, and
he has throughout il all manifested a
wonderful knowledge of the character and
and possibilities of these people. Your
correspondent asked Gen. Morgan Co give
him general idea Of the Indians of the
United States as they are to-day. lie replied
The number of Indians that remain
within the jurisdiction OF tho United States
Is about 900. 900. They live upon the differ
ent reservations. except some 10000 or
1900 who are scattered here and there
through the states and territories. They
represent mere than 200 distinct tribes
Many Of the latter have dwindled to hun
dreds, while some have become SO nearly
extinct that they can only muster IA few
score. They are but "reminiscences of the
aboriginal age, long since departed. The
largest tribe Is the Sioux, which, in its
numerous branches, numbers some 1000.
There are l4O reser yations, large and small,
occupied and belonging to the Indians.
They have total area of $4,000 square
miles, or l16 ,000,0 900 acres The ancestors
of these people were once the sole occupants
of this great country. We might say they
owned it all. For 300 years civilization has
crowded them from their savage homes and
hunting grounds until now only these few
huddled groups and communities are left.
At some time, not very far in the future,
the Indians, as distinct people, will dsap-
pear. CIvilizing influences and the mixture
OF blood is causing gradual but sure ANAL
gamation of the races. For them it was
hopeless struggle from the day the white
man set foot upon the Atlantic shore. IL Is
a clear case of the survival of tho fittest
and the strongest
"What in your opinion is the first duty OF
the government toward themp
II have very decided opinions on that
point. Some people think mo radical, and
perhaps am. l do not believe in the policy
that was too long pursued of supporting
1 the Indians In idleness by paying them
| annuites Of food, clothing and money. 1t
| is ar better for them aud for US TO put
them in the way OF supporting themselves.
There is no reason why they should cling
to their old barbario modes OF living Let
them be educated in the English language
| and taught the arts and trades of oiviliz cd
| life and no " to till the soil / would break
up the tribal relation. allot the lands in
| severalty and then, as fast as IL could be
properly done, / would invest the Indians
with the full rights and privileges OF citizen
ship. Let them feel that they are
part OF the government and not
mere dependents living upon its bounty.
| Their absorption. into our national life Is
inevitable. They ought to be no longer
| Indians, but Americans. / believe that bad
the right policy been pursued in the past,
this point would have been reached long
ago"
"You would hardly agree with Cen Sher-
man that the only good Indian is dead
| IndianW
"Assuredly not, nor do | imagine that
the old soldier intended the remark to be
taken otherwise than in Jest. There have
been, and are, bad Indians and bad white
men. We cannot blame the Indians IL they
are not conspicuous eKemplArs of all
| the Christian graces and virtues.
But, while we may admit such TO be the
/ fact as TO their mental and moral condi-
| ton, 1t does not prove that they cannot be
educated, civilized aud Christianized We
do not expect to make them all college pro-
fessors or doctors of divinity, but we insist
that they can become good citizens"
| "Whnt success has thus far been attained
Ia improving the condition Of the IndianW
Certainly, as much as there could have
! been expected. There are several tribes
notably the Cherokees, Greeks, Semlnoles
Choctaws and Chickasaws, which have
reached a high degree Of civilization,
scarcely inferior TO that Of
the Cherokee nation, In Indiana Territory,
are bright and shining example Of what
| may be done for the Indians. They are en-
tirely self-supporting. They live in comfort.
some Of them almost in luxury. They are
characterized by industry, thrift and good
morals They have complete system of
government, and are in all respects an
orderly and prosperous community. The
same is true in perhaps a somewhat less de-
gree Of the other tribes | have mentioned.
| All have schools and churches, comfort
able homes and good farms
Many have learned the mechanical
trades. aud there are carpenters, black
smiths. masons, printers, etc., as good work
men as you will find anywhere Generally
speaking, these people are industrious and
| economical in their habits. They are saving
money and already many have become
measurably wealthy. Take, for instance.
the Osages in Indian Territory They are
probably the richest in proportion TO their
numbers. There are about 800 OF them,
and many have, lii property and money,
! from $l5, 600 to $50 900 each The Navajos,
large tribe In New Mexico, are also ex-
ceedingly prosperous. They are principally
stock raisers, and are rich in lands and
| herds.
"You will understand that these tribes
are exceptional, but what they are to-day.
Others can be in time. Many Of the Indians
have made little advance and are living
in condition of Incidence, degradation and
brutishness. All these can be reclaimed as
| Others have bean. 1t will take years of
patient effort, for progress must necessarily
| be slow, but it can be done-it must be
| done. Teach the Indians TO take care Of
themselves and they will cease to be bur-
den upon the notion to the amount Of many
millions Of dollars each year.
without exception, they are doing well.
| II system Of education had been begun
forty years ago and energetically pursued.
| / belieye the great mass of the Indians