The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-06-30

with all the fluency and volubility OF
native. 1t is remarkable fact, too,
that when an Indian speaks English
it is in its purity. Grammatical laps.
es arerare and there is not a suggestion
of brogue or foreign. WHY'S it? The
girls apparently "civilize" more read
lily than the boys and the contrast be-
tween the old and the new life is more
marked. 1t is hard to believe that
the Witch of Endor over in the Tepee,
as savage and barbaric as her mothers
of hundred years ago, is the mother
of the bright, neatly dressed, modest
appearing girl who comes forward to
show you her fine needle work, and
whose well modulated, lady-tike tones
cause you to look with establishment
into the great dark eyes and wonder
from whence came the soul that
shines from their clear depths. She
is full blood Caddo, with the rich
olive complexion so easily distinguish
ed from the sallow, swarthy skin Of
the mixed bloods. She reads and
writes readily and is fair musician.
On visiting these schools one would
say "here is the solution of the Indian
problem" But is it? The Indian
children are easily managed, they
learn rapidly and while under the
immediate control of the white take
kindly to their ways; but turn him
loose, send him back to camp again
and Immediately he is an Indian, liv-
ing in Tepee, wearing breechclout
and blanket and not a word of En-
glish can you can get out of him.
The government schools have been
for years turning out educated Indians
only to see them drop back and sink
beneath the turgid tide of sloth and
standardization that has held its sway
over these people too long to be light
ly cast aside. One leason is that edu-
cation and the adoption of the habits
duu CuotOillco vi ehc WhitCo OceioOioOo
and isolates an Indian from his peo-
pie, and it is easier to lapse than to
progress. However, education is the
only way out and it should be follow
ed up vigorously. Like the spread of
Christian religion, its influence may
be for a time hardly percept ible, but
as the old non-progressive element
dies out and new generation as
sumes control the advance may be
more rapid.
The taking of land in severalty is a
long step in the right direction, but it
would be much more effective if the
Indian could be compelled to live on
his allotment. That, however is
hardly practicable at present. They
are a gregarious people and could not
be coerced into separation. Under
the present arrangement the allot-
ment of lands does little good. He
knows that certain lands has been
given to him, and sometimes he knows
where it is-sometimes he don't. The
allotment lies there idle; it never Oc-
cured to any one, least of all the In
dian himself, that he should make his
home on it. Those unacquainted with
the Indian character would naturally
suppose that he would now turn to
stock raising and that he would sue
coed at it. He is a worse stock man
than farmer; if herd were put in his
hands he would simply kill and eat
them. He has no idea whatever of
providing for the future. He will cut
down a fruit tree if that is the easiest
way to get at the fruit. He will pull
wild grape vine down every time in
stead of climbing the tree.
The Kiowas, Comanches and Apach-
es are tribes that have given the gov
eminent great deal of trouble. They
were good fighters and brave men.
They were persistent enemies of the
whites and only buried the Ratchet
when surrender was inevitable. But
once conquered they accept the situa-
tiop gracefully. While you will occa-
sionally find surly savage among
them, as rule they are good natured
and apparently have the most cordial
good feeling for the whites.
1t does not require the mantle of
prophecy to foretell the final destiny
of these people. That they are DOOM
ed to extinction is evident. The cid
Indian will die in his tracks. He will
not learn by precept nor profit by ex-
ample. Stolid and immovable he will
remain to the end. Those trained in
the schools will be more tractable; es-
pecially as their number increases to
a respectable minority. They are
rich in lands and annuities and will
intermarry with the whites; and the
time will come when many fine FAM
lily will trace its ancestry with roman
tic pride back to some great chief of
the brave and warlike Cemanches.
s.