Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1893-01-26

renee | feel for this system which
robs children for the sort Of fellows
who make politics a trade and my
contempt for any man-every man
who apologies for or defends
this accursed spoils system.
But the school systems which
have fulfilled (if any have) the ira.
dilional aim cannot adequately
meet the demands of the future.
California with its proud pre.emi-
nence over all our States is giving
only a 1.-THE, a tenth, of what the
immediate future shall demand;
the wiser of our public men are
studying how this demand is to be
met; where the money is coming
from is a question which discour-
ages only the weak and faint-heart.
ed; money is sure to be found; one
thing is certain, namely, when the
spoils devil is chained much of the
money now wasted in governmental
extravaganza will be applied to the
better education of our young.
But why must schools become
more costly2 In a word, because
poverty with its attendant miseries
is increasing at as fast or faster
ratio than wealth or productive
ness; the 4" Bitter Cry of Outcast
London " is the bitter cry of every
centre of large population. Lon.
don and Glasgow are becoming in
tested by as large a population of
human rats, as of the lower species,
who sally forth from their holes
and dens with the setting of the
sun; both species live by preying
upon human industry; both, alasl
are an offense to the sight and are
doomed to extinction as the price
of human progress. | am more
concerned at the present with the
cure than the cause of this poverty.
/ know better, how ever, than to
give credence to the fanatics and
ignoramuses who say that the
causes are social; that financial sys-
TENS, for instance, have anything
to do with their cause or cure. The
cause is individual, not social.
Adam fell before the gold or green
back question was thought of; the
fall from innocence to depravity Of
million sons and daughters of
Adam within the sound of the great
bell in st. Paul's Cathedral ac-
counts and more than accounts for
the woe of London's perishing and
dangerous classes; the wonder is
that things are no worse; that law
is obeyed, that property is secure,
that no man, who wants to keep il,
need lose honor nor woman virtue;
it is a wonder that the million or
so of human beings in London who
are guided or restrained by no
moral principle, who have no law
but fear, do not turn London into a
pueblo of bowling maniacs ieasting
on each others blood.
The cause belongs to the histori-
an; the cure to the legislator. /
shall describe the part which l
think the schools are to have in the
great amelioration, but | shall en-
deavor not to arrogate to them
more importance than they actually
possess. Schools alone can do
nothing; the fundamental condition
OF all amelioration is the gospel of
the New Testament; this is a state
ment which, like some others, |
would not discuss with any man;
the man is lacking in proper intel
ligence or hopelessly blinded by
prejudice who supposes there is
betterment of human conditions
anywhere in the absence OF an ac-
tive Christianity; but the Christi
anity which will save society must
be embodied in conduct, that is in
the individual life, and in politics;
that is in the life of the communi-
ty; the mere utterance of pious
sentiments in the ever narrowing
circle Of the pulpit and the prayer
meeting makes no devil quake; the
pillars of Satan's temple will not
fly from their foundations as long
as men counted respectable are
willing to soil their hands with the
smutch of Doodle (unearned gain
and soil their hearts with the love
of it; the willingness that others
sons and daughters should be de-
bauched as long as mine are not,
will not protect my son or daughter
though / support o missionary and
make the welkin ring with my
prayers; the detestable creed EN-
bodied in the motto, Every mar
for himself and the devil take tn,
laggard and the weak" must b,
changed for the conviction that W,
are the keepers and guardians o
each other; there is no lasting sep
aration between individual and ma
tional safety. Next to God, mar
is the greatest fact in the univers,
and the nation which does not pro
tect the weakest human creature il
his natural rights will fall anC
ought to fall. Victor Hugo, here
and apostle of this modern Chris
tian spirit in society has uttered
words | cannot forbear quoting:-
{" Take heed Of this small child OF earth, he /