The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1894-04-13
INDIANS REAL AND IDEAL.

the truth Causes to BanlSk.
The student of ethnolegy finds no
more fascinating branch of humanity
than the Indian Not the race as de-
picated by Catlin, Schoolcraft and
Drake, who have painted him in glow
ing colors, but the Indian as he exists
today. The time has come when the
truth about Indian life should be told.
The gentlemen mentioned gave much
thought to the subject of which they
are now the accepted authorities, but
he who goes among Indians as a stud
ent will at once perceive that the whole
externals to the exclusion of the more
secret and inner life that discloses the
real character of the race. The follow
ing paragraph appears in the introduc-
ton of brakes masterpiece:
''There was found in him (the Indian)
an unbounded= hospitality, friendship
vouched for with life itself, and unfail-
ing remembrance of a kindness done
him, a nobility of soul that held it firm
~ to his ideas of honor, filed him with
reverence for the sages and heroes Of
the tribe and inspired in him an ardent
longing to emulate their renown. In
social and domestic life kindness and
self control were constantly manifest
ed, wrangling and strife being unknown
in the Indian dwelling"
It is difficult, says the Pittsburg Dis
potch, to conceive of a more incorrect
statement of the case regarding the
mental attributes Of the Indian. In
addition to the error that has been
constant in the minds of the people
though such statements and ideas as
romatic and prejudiced writer's have
given out as chronological data, there
has been a fundamental error in the
study of Indians in chasing or group
ing them all together. It is true that
there are certain constant characters
tics among the Indian, just as there
are in the Caucasian race, but it is also
true that the mental and physical diff
ferences between tribes are more
marked than between the European
nations.
viewed the outside or apparent life Of
Indians that the world knows almost
nothing about the dominant charac-
teristics of the red man. In civilized
circles the belief is current that the
perceptive faculties of the Indian are
highly developed; that he is acute in
all things, and that his mind almost in
tuitively grasps philosophical subjects;
that he is born orator with natural
rhetoric; that he pierces the fallacies of
sophistry with, almost divine powers of
analysis; that he has evolved a re-
ligious system and worships one God
under the title of Great Spirit. These
are the mental attributes with which
he is clothed by those who have been
accepted as authority. His physical
He is supposed to be bundle of mus
cles and nerves, capable of almost
superhuman endurance. His eye is SO
true that he distinguishes objects and
tells their characteristics before they
come within the range of vision of the
whites. Owing to good aim his mark
manship is phenomenal. His idea of
location is so highly developed that he
finds his way over untrod plains and
mountains, and notices the slightest
displacement of stick or stone.
What are the facts? The Indian is
not an orator. He expresses himself
with extreme difficulty and in the
simplest manner. He has neither
rhetorical nor analytical power. His
philosophy is of the crudest sort, and
he has no religion. He does not wor-
ship a great spirit, except as he has
been taught by the whites. His mental
powers have nothing supernatural in
them. Physically he is the inferior of
the white as he IS mentally. His mus
cles are weaker and his nerves more
easily unstrung; his eye is less keen
than that Of the white plainsman, and
he is a tyro at workmanship; his idea
OF location is bounded by his environ
ments. He sees few sights, hears few
sounds, smells few odors and tastes
few fiavors. The result is that his
whole life is narrow as the facts pre-
, sented to him are few. His perceptive
faculties are of low order and his
powers of discrimination small. This,
however, is a rule which, like all other
rules, has exceptions, for there are now,
and have been in the past, elevated
minds among the Indians.
Senator Hoar dictates all his CORE
spondence to his stenographer in the
senate chamber while the senate is in
session.
Richelieu was called innumerable
names by his enemies, who went SO
far as to style him the "Pope of the
Huguenots.
In Pennsylvania henpeeked hus-
band was relieved from the yoke of
matrimony because .'the defendant
struck this plaintiff violent blow with
her bustle.,
DR.. Reed of Ohio, has introduced in
to the senate of that state bill per-