The Helena independent., 1892-07-05

destruction Of property and ornsltiss which
| have been shared In by both parties. The
century Of dishonor, charged TO the white
| man, has IT. explanation in part--but In
part only--its explanation, but not It's justi-
| hcation--in acts OF ssvagery committed by
| tho Indians.
"But great change has come about. and
| II is significant fact that ON this Fourth
| OF July, 1892, there are nearly 1900 Indian
youths In schools who are joining with ua
American liberty. Our Gag 10 their flag,
our JOY is their Joy. and our future il their
future.
"By the passage Of the soveralty law.
known commonly as the "Dawes Bill,
which received the presidential sanction
entire policy Of dealing with the Indians.
In this bill-the rcd mans charter of lib.
orty--provision ia made for Offering citi-
Zenship to every Indian upon the simple
condition that he will accept Of his land in
severalty.
been wisely intrustsd to 4, ,0OO, 600 slaves can
safely be given to 900 Indians, and that
our eommon schools, our churches, our free
press, will mould into intelligent citizenship
the red man. as il has moulded men Of
other colors. It IL an assertion of tho rec
ognition Of the manhood of the Indians
and of their right to share with us in the
blessings Of freedom guaranteed by law
and protected by the courts. It 10 an sx-
tension to them Of the Fundamental idea
which undsflies the Declaration Of Ipde-
psndsnce when II declares that all men are
created equal, and it blots out the artificial
distinction which has barred from partioi-
patton in tho benefits Of our civilization
the original occupants Of the soil. SO far
as it goes it is recognition of the mistake
which has been made by tho government
hererofors in keeping from them the right
and privilege of citizenship. II offers to
tho present generation what IL has prac-
tioAlly denied to their fathers. 1t is q ten
der to these. our ancient enemies, of the
olive branch, asking them to bury tho
hatohet, TO lay aside their antac conism,
their bitterness, their fear, their suspicion.
and to accept as AZ brothers and CO.
workers.
The commissioner then detailed tho con-
aiderations which appeal strongly to them
to dissuade them from becoming a people
like ourselves, chief among them being
medicine men," the unscrupulous meth
DDS Of corrupt chiefs, support Of Indians by
the governmentc wild west" shows, ras-
caliy traders, dishonest agents and CON
tractors. trespassing stockmen, whisky
sellers and squaw men. and the policy Of
crowdinR them of their reservations into
worthless and sterile sections. Then he
continued:
This discussion suggests few practical
Cou6lueEhU!o0s. Inc HTsS ID tnaC tlo In
dians themselves should be made to under
stand by agents, teachers and all others who
come in contact with them, that this policy
OF the government has been entered upon
deliberately, and that the wise thing for
them to do is to accept and adjust them
selves to it as to tho inevitable. II ought
not to be considered great task for .
mighty people like ourselves to bring
to bear upon the 10000 young In
dians who are now growing up
such influences as will completely trans
form them. Making all allowance for
heredity, it is not too much to say that the
formative influences of education and en-
vironment are sufficiently strong to develop
the common human nature which the In
dians with us in such lines that the differ.
ences between us will be reduced to the
minimum, and we may expect that the sec.
ond and third generations, at the farthest,
will retain q mere trace of the original In
dian type of character. 1t goes without
saying that in all our dealings with them
we should. as the stronger, superior race, be
scrupulously honest in fulfilling our otli-
cations, just in our bargains and in the ad-
ministration Of law, generous In our SYM
pathy, and in our representatives we should
illustrate to them tho superior excellence of
our civilization" )"