Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-27
ideas or life. The word progress, - related h
society, has no place in his meager vocabulary

ideas or life. The word progress, - related 10
society, has no place in his meager vocabulary.
CoSCEIrED, sULLEN oBsrINAcY.
When one penetrates beyond their Outside Of
gentle courtesy he encounters . conceited,
sullen obstinacy which stoutly resists efforts to
introduce an education, which means change,
new customs, &c. One long familiar with the
Puebios said: "They cannot be instructed be-
cause they know everything; nor surprised be-
cause their fathers had all wisdom before you
were born. Show them the most curious and
beautiful article you possess and they survey 1t
with stohd composure a. an object long
familiar. Like the Chinese they
30 much resemble. nothing can be named which
they did not have years ago, and having 40 long
possessed all knowledge they steadily resist
your efforts to show them their ignorance
They think themselves the envy of the civil
Tho recent attentions they have received
from curious visitors and archaologists have
doubtless confirmed their conceit and thew are
contented to still travel the old, deeply worn,
rocky footpaths that lead in and out Of their
villages, beaten by centuries Of wayfarers, far
back in unrecorded ages. This persistent ad-
herence to the old Pueblo system Of ideas is
baleful In its workings retarding all efforts
from without to help them to better conditions.
1t promotes constant clash with American
government, civilization and education, and
should be tolerated under an intelligent, repre-
sentative government. This religion is fetich-
| ism OF the ~grOssest kind. complicated with all
natural phehomena, and the atmospheric ele-
ments are it's symbols. 1t places animals on an
equality with mankind, sometimes recognizing
them as mans superiors. His religion
assumes mans utter helplessness within the
natural realm and excuses crime. There is no
greater slave than the Pueblo Indian. Every
motion Is guarded by superstitions. We won
der at his lack OF truthfuiness. consistency and
moral consciousness. The crimes for which we
would punish him he commits without any re-
greet. Nature, defed by him to innumerable
personalities, exacts from him the conduct we
blame. He is q timid, feeble, fettered being
| II this everywhere present religion made better
| character and improved the life the case would
be more hopeful, but it is far otherwise, not
| outstanding the yerdicts Of some superficial
/ observers.
THE OBJECT OF THEIR RELIGION
| is not to impart such quality. but to provide
lamentations which may protoc: them fscm evil
genii and keep them in favor with wind and
water. They perpetually steal from each other
and cannot trust their gardens and fields against
each other 8 rapacity in harvest time. As for
| faith, they seldom trust to any one A Pueblo
| never seems to have faith even in his wife, for
his idea Of virtue, il he has any, does not re-
| quire such faith. know this is terrible in
| better Pueblos, but it accurately describes
| many. very many. Their peculiarly consti-
tuted political autonomy, whose source is their
pagan priesthood and whose chief function is
to perpetuate and enforce their old customs
and religions, is another difficulty.
TERRITORIAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
The Pueblos do not participate in the terri
torial government. Though giving a quasi
assent to it and never fighting directly against
it, yet they stand wholly aloof, pay no taxes and
take perceptibie interest in territorial affars
The Puebios also stand aloof from each other,
having no organic connection as Pueblos and
taking little interest in each others affairs.
In Local government these Pueblos have al
ways been practically Independent, electng
| their own officers Some Pueblos are little
better, some q little worse viewed from stand
point Of an American civilization. but doubt
less the same radical wrong exists in all Of
them untouched by their peculiar government
What an intensely interesting pueblo is Zuni,
with Its ceaseless ceremonies; and yet in this
pueblo Is the grossest corruption. There is
constant stealing, not only from cattlemen and
| the Nayajoes, but stealing and selling each
others cattle. each others crops, &c. Several
cases of murder of Mexicans passing through
| the reservation were reported to me as having
occurred within a few years. unprovoked
| purely for plumber, and the murderers are well
known and at large in the pueblo. Bastardy is
DscinIine and nnnisbment Tor a. nrr,,nso ~
promoting moral and social ueIfsree are NJ VI
! known s1bjs Ia trna ~ oil tha nnahlos rh.
Slightest deviation however frpm their LA
tir,o ousto,,s "a oI;S,;o,,, =, ao'la 49, '.o
| yerelv nnnisbed 40 DC
II has beer cnstomorx for ANNA ,,-o,,;,o,.
New Mexicans 70 b;nhIy cnu,n,;u,nn. ptpa ,nn
ality ns the PnebIo fni;ans at,d 20 III ,o.
| the fact that thew are seldom brought into the
courts for trial. But this, / am persuaded.
after spending some time In eighteen pueblos,
10" ~, nape hcAI we" oi !ne case. Inc INDIANS
a,e ie, W lesI,ate 'neif own hsefhai affairs
ao 1niy s sa -. cnss vi onehses' therefore,
.ho uaTusn. 70 INC puphc houce. wnhln
e;ni YES tneir omh sl1hdhro OF moral ana
s Ssa; Graer seneraiiy does NOT eau Tor much
.ha a1; An .Ae'i es.lhnuoh ohehses asaihs'
W iesioue ceremonies oahces, &c,
ale lne most serious ana call
ITr seVerer punishment. 1helr customs are
an i"Aea viii tnese op'erVahceS, nominations
anu % lor,n. anu ,ne power OF theif govern
. mem i i De eAercised 70 preserve them In
uo.. ING srossest lnmo,anty exists among
.ne H put u Is regarded as no otense and
CALLS 'of ho interference.
THE PUEBLO SYSTEM
is communistic in its cbaracter-not In respeet
IN nro,ertv tbon,b tho no,an, ~ .o,,, ~.