The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-12

by Commissioner BROWNING is In abandon
ing the practice OF forcing tho attendance
OF Indian children ut schools far from their
homes against the wishes OF their parents.
Commissioner MORGAN was a zealot in com
pulsory education. In his first annual re-
port he laid down the proposition that the
Indians must conform to the white mans
ways, peaceably II they will, forcibly II they
must" and held that their paramount need
was that OF n school system compulsory
in its demands" Congress gave him au-
thority to make and enforce by proper
means such rules and regulations rs will
secure the attendance Of Indian children
of suitable ago and health at schools
established and maintained for their ben
eft" The rules he thereupon established
prescribed that whenever Tho good OF the
children shall clearly require TINT they be
sent away from home to school," they
must go. The consent OF the parents was
ordinarily" to be secured, "if practical
ble," which was mode OF saying they must
20 anyhow. Refusals to allow children to
be sent to schools or resistance to officers
attempting to put the children to school
we're to be referred to the Commissioner,
and "such punishment or penalties as the
circumstances may seem to call for will be
prescribed by this Office" 1t was made the
duty Of agents and other authorities Ito
secure the attendance at school Of all Indian
children within their reach" and, when
authorized. the agents might use the Indian
police force for that purpose.
This dragoonlng both Of the youngsters
and their parents was compulsory educa-
ton with a vengeance but the movement
went still further. and sought actually to
employ the United States army in cases
OF resistance The affair OF Chief BLACK
HORSE and the Navajos brought the system
to q climax. and the attitude OF Gen. Nc
Cook put an end to the plan OF relying on
troops for these ends. But In the Indian
Appropriation bill OF last March a clause
was inserted authorizing the Secretary OF
the Interior to withhold food and clothing.
as we'll as money solemnly pledged by their
contracts, from Indians who refused to per-
NIT their children to attend school.
What the result might have been Of put
ting into execution this extraordinary law
1t Is hard to say. Commissioner MoRGANs
term Of Office came to an end. and his sue
cessor has refused to resort to the meas
ures contemplated by that law. He has
gone further. and refused to allow children
to be sent out Of reservations to schools.
when their parents object; and even on
the reservations he regards the forcible
sending OF children long distances
from their homes without the consent
OF their parents as OF doubtful expedi-
ency. Mr.. BROWNING recognizes no less
than his predecessor the value OF educa-
ton. but he thinks that even ignorant
and superstitious Indians have rights. and
that their desire for the companionship and
care Of their offspring Is entitled to consid-
GRAFTON. This Is peculiarly true in view Of
the terrible mortality sometimes known
among Indian children sent far away. To
an Indian mother the forcible carrying OF
Of child that she may never expect to
see again must look like kidnapping and
brutal tyranny. To some white enthusiasts
the act would probably seem to be in the
highest degree humane and benevolent, in
somuch that they. aided by a law Of Con-
gress. would actually starve that wretched
mother or father into giving consent to the
tearing away Of the child.
We think the attitude Of the new Com
missioner is the wiser. The progress made.
as we have shown. during the last ten
years In the Indian school system. Is WON
derful enough without driving it still
harder. and eking out the rolls by few
more names through process Of Govern
ment kidnapping. The Indians themselves
are steadily awakening to the advantage of
education for their children: and brighter
days for the race are at hand.