The herald., 1896-04-05

and the Indians get the tail end of it.
There would be no problem
in dealing with the Indians
if a proper administration
had been rendered when the depart
ment was first established, and accord
ing to the idea of George Washington;
then we would not need to have q
reservation here today in Carlisle.
This is reservation. The Indian
could have been civilized aud would be
holding a much better position than at
tho present time. The method that
has been adopted by the administra-
tion has been adopted for the benefit
of the contractors and others, and has
| tendency to encourage the reserva-
tion system, which has been q curse to
the Indian and will ever be blot upon
Indian legislation. The people Of the
United States in their ignorance have
good intentions, but the social laws of
the Indians have made them vaga-
bonds. The Indians of the United
States are today in worse condition
practically, considering what has been
expended in their behalf, than they
were fifty years ago. Indians are sus-
ceptible to education and civilization,
and they are much better than the
average immigrants who come into the
country aud who at once receive citi-
zensnip.
The Indian as the ward of the nation
has been denied the rights in the
courts of the United States. He has
been denied the rights that are given
to the Immigrant on his arrival in this
country. He is denied the redress for
any trouble that may occur. Here Is
an Indian on reservation, and the
agent is an absolute monarch. His
authority is as great as the Czar of
Russia.
The people Of the United States want
to see the Indians progress and be-
come self-respecting citizens, but this
reservation system has been curse to
them. They are just like herd of
cattle in corral. There is no reason
for that today. Take the most savage
tribes in the United States and with
proper administration they can be
brought up in five years time. It is
possible, but there is only one thing
to be done, legislation has got to pro-
ceed upon the broad principles Of JUS
tice and humanity. The Indians are
willing to work. / have seen them
work. Some people have an idea that
the only thing an Indian is good for is
to draw rations, but it is the younger
generation that we have got to look to
for the future of the Indian of the
United States. I have no sym
the sooner they die out
the better. It has been great detri-
ment to the progress of the young, in
going back and living among their own
people, who are full of ignorance and
superstition. They naturally have to
adapt themselves to the rules of the
community in which they live. The
future of the Indian lies with the
younger generation. They have got to
60 out and hustle. I would no more
receive rations from the United States
government than I would be dog. T
have seen them throw meat at the In
dians, and have been in the ZOO and
seen them do 1t the same way.
1t is not the lack of intellect in the
Indian. but it is his ignorance that
stands in the way. The children here
no doubt look back in the centuries
when the Caucasian race was just as
ignorant as the Indians, but it took
them centuries to reach the type Of
citizenship which they now have at
tanned, and which is by no means the
most successful that has been reached.
Under proper management the Indians