The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-02

!. MhYb bbpH ulRHtY huccbhhlul. AHu
tneir Influence IL already plainly marked.
Young pc ople nre fitted tor tho vocationa
Of civilized life md the duties of the family
and home.
1.-THE education Of Indian children Ia a
work OF years. They come to the schools
ior the most part wholly ignorant Of the
iEhgllah language, unnccuatomad to study,
Impatient OF restraint. and bringing with
them many of tho vices and degrading
habits Of camp life. The work requires
inc supplanting OF 4 foreign language by
onr own; the roofing out Of barbarous hab-
lts by the substitution of civilized name .;
the displacement Of heAthenish snpersti-
ZION ~ the incubation Of moral princi-
pies ana the awakening Of sluggish minds
20 intellectual activity. 1 he eia much to
De nndoh0 before the Indian child Ia at the
start'ng point whore tho white child begins
70 learn the alphabet. Ton or fifteen years
81 instruction are considered necessary for
me WHITE youth. Can We expect the Indian
to learn as much in less time?n
Are there not also schools amor the res
ervati0ns?"
'Olh, yes, there are more thar a hundred
OF thsse at various agencies. They a Il
.olai average attendance last year OF nearly
2,oou. Many OF these schools are new, and
mostot them are i~nadeqnately provided for.
means at command to improve them.
They arc surrounded by influences which
seriously hamper them in their work.
Ihtz ale far removed from civilization and
sec none of the stimulating effects
Of M intelligent public sentiment.
to them and often prove troublesome
guests ~ reason of their clamor for the re-
lurhsof the children to the tepees. 1t il
found exceedingly difficult to break up the
use Of the tribal tongue and teach them to
use the English language. In spite Of these
dlfllcultles, however, the schools are exert
ing a good and wholesome influence directly
upon the children and indirectly upon thee
older people Of the reservations. There
goes out from them Il ciyiliz1ng force, the
strength and value of which can hardly be
oyerestimated.
Let me say h word here on the ''outing
system ns we call it., which prevails at
Iarilsle. Hampton and other schools. 1t il
the placing Of Indian children of both
sexes III white families where they are
taught and readily learn the ways Of honse-
Keeping and farming. They are brought
INTO close association with the highest type
OF American home life. Except In rare in
stances the children under such conditions
prove tractable and industrious. This ex-
perlence IN connection with their school in
struct!on goes 9 long way toward fitting
them for useful citizenship
", po any Of the young men incline toward
the higher branches Of educationY'
. Many do. and some are already carrying
out their ambitions in this direction. We
nave most worthy and excellent young In
dams who are taking courses in medicine,
law or theology, preparing themselves for
the learned professions. They expect to
live and labor among their own people. II
IS reasonable to suppose that they will be
an important factor in reclaiming and ele-
waiting the race
What ls the present condition Of the In
M raf nvat, oN -, A. -1-
tion?o
Very much better than it used to be.
and it is improving from year to year. We
to teach lessons of virtue and the
sanctlty of home and family. Naturally,
many of the Indians cling to their old
habits with a 5~enaolty that is not easily
broken. Blu the work Of reformation, if
slower than we could wish. is sure. A
stumbling block has been in the past years
the conduct Of 'squaw men, as the Indians
call them-white men who took to them
selves squaw wives, without any
In suoh cases We have compel ed tile men to
their wives or leave the reservations.
IL many Of the tribes marriages are now
regularly aolemnized. A young Indian no
longer buys with a pony the maiden who
strikes his fancy, and leads her away to his
tepee. Lawful marriage is encouraged in
every possible way and enjoined as far as
We have the power to do so. Licentious-
ness is clearly Decreasing, and this is one
OF the most hopeful signs for the future Of
the Indians"
How about the use of fire-water?''
II am glad to say that the use Of ardent
Spirits is also on tho decline among the In
dams. The vice of intemperance has al
ways been one of the most difficult evils to
contend with in the administration of the
AFFAIRS OF the bureau. A large proportion
of the Indians spend much of their time in
1QiPnAEH and ara fharafNrn ur = N &ho r. e.
with many white men. liable to indulge in
drinking and gambling. These vices
would be far less prevalent if tie
people could be employed. So I
regard it of the highest importance that
he taught to work and furnished
means and the opportunity. No doubt the
Indian is constitutionally lazy. He does
not like hard work. He would rather go
hunting or fishing. have heard of white
people who ave had a similar weak
ness. | say again that the Indian
can and must be taught to work,
and then the vices that go with
ldleness will disappear. The example of
has had a bad effect upon the Indians. I
regret to say that this applies to some who
nave been IN the employ of the govern
ment. We lave avs which strictly pto-
hibit the sale of liquors to Indians, but
this is violated to some extent in spite of
all we CHA 40. Cur DeSt Efforts are being
forth to come as near as possible to
graduating this evil. The teaching OF
temperance to the young gives good reason
hope for greater success in the future"
What will be your policy as to permit
ting Indians to travel with wild west
sbows2'' ~
The secretary of the interior has di-
rected that no more permits be granted,
| an heartily glad Of it. So far as the
Indians are concerned, to say the least.
these shows have been harmful in
their results. III all cases where en-
of this kind have been author
lied, employers have been required to
enter into written contracts with the In
dlans to pay them fair stipulated salaries,
supply them with proper food and cloth
ing, medical Attendance, etc, to protect
them from immoral influences and to en-
ploy Il white man of good character to look
after their welfare. In some instances
these contracts have been complied with.
while IN others the indians have been aban-
and set adrift with their salaries un-
paid. #
1.-The policy Of granting permission for
indiana to engage III shows of his charac-
tor has doubtless rested upon the idea that
ID addition to really earning money thew
could by extensive travel through tho
states and possibly Europe. become fnmil.
lar with the manners and customs Of civil.
lied life. But while they may earn money
md soc something of the world, their en-
ployment is only temporary. and they are
often brought into association with the
worst elements of society. Their represent
tations of teats of savage dating, showing
border life as it formerly existed. depict