St. Paul daily globe., 1894-06-13
INDIAN EDUCATION.

The experiments thus far made In
educating the Indian race have empha-
sized what has frequently been demon.
strated before, that 1t is impossible to
make of him worthy man and citizen.
A few of the race have become eminent
aud estimable, but the vast majority OF
those who have graduated from the
white mems schools have relapsed into
condition Of barbarism far worse than
that from Which they were originally
taken. Delegate Smith. of Arizona,
has probably had wider experience
with both educated and nneducated
Indians than any other man now in
public life, and he unhesitatingly de-
clares that education of Indians at Car
lisie, Hampton and other Eastern insti-
tutions has done more harm than good.
His observation in the Western country
has shown him that the women gradu-,
ates of these schools consider them
selves superior to their Indian assO-
ciates, and turn their attention to
miners and diss0lute white men in the
Indian country, to the destruction of
the morals of the Indian girl. The male
graduates are also said to have their
vicious traits sharpened, so that they
are more dangerous class than their
unlettered brothers..
MIR. Smiths observations have re
veaied nothing new. Other men have
noted the same facts, but owing to Mr..
Smiths opportunities for observation.
and his position, his statements will
command more than ordinary attention.
They are especially important at this
time. when an extensive outlay is con-
tempiated tor enlarging the field and
widening the scope of the Indian schools.
II they are to serve TO better purpose
than to assist in prostituting the Indian
girls, and driving the young men into
association with cowboys and frontier
desperadoes. most people will be of the
opinion that the money is worse than
wasted.
The education of the Indian is prob
lem that calls for the wisest statesman
ship. The race is peculiar one. In
10 other people are to be found so many
conflicting and seemingly irreconcilable
traits. They are bloodthirsty and re-
vengeful. but sometimes manifest de-
gree of tenderness and gratitude that is
found among few peoples. They are
often dissipated and fond of self-indui-
gence. but on occasions are abstemious
and self-sacrificing to remarkable ex-
tent. They are slow in acquiring knowl-
edge by rote, but no one is quicker than
the Indian in reading nature or cor
rectly judging the human race. But he
assimilates the vices of the whites in
preference to their virtues. He seems
to be endowed with perverted moral
nature-tO be an eXemplar of what is
commonly called total depravity. He
resists all good influences stubbornly.
and acknowledges only the power of
brute force.
A little progress has been made tow
ards civilizing the Indians in Mime
sofa. But here the conditions have
been exceptionally favorable. The
''civilized nations" Ill Indian territory
are. perhaps, as near an approach to
civilization as We shall see for century.
but even there the condition of the ma
jority is little short of that of barbarism.
There are able and capable leaders
among them, but the mass of the people
are stepped in the depths of degrade
tion-are neither respected nor seif-re-
specting.
The Indian problem presents in
Vulnerable difficulties. 1t we sequester
them upon reservations they retain all
their old heathenish customs. If we per.
nit them 10 mingle freely with the
whites they become petty thieves and
incorrigible vagaoonds. One condition
seems to be as bad as the other. 1t will
take wise man to devise a plan by
which their future may be improved,
and when such plan is discovered the
country will cheerfully canonize the in