Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1898-09-17
FREE LAND.
JOHN r. ROGERS.
downright: all rights reserved)

downright all rights reserved)
whist another man has no lana my title
mine your title to yours, is at once Vita
d-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Immediately adjoining the little
tv in which / live lies compare
vely small Indian reservation con-
sting of a few thousand acres of val
bble land. On this land, nine-tenths
which is uncultivated and untouch-
bv the hand of man, some four or
re hundred very peaceable Indians
brsue the daily round of life. Each
mily has it's cabin, it's little field and
domestic animals, in greater or
baller supply, as measured by its in
stry and application; for all are the
oduct of the unaided labor of the
dians themselves. The land is held
severalty by the different families
d males over 81 years of age are
owed to vote.
By a convenient fiction the land is
ID as belonging TO the Uuited States
d so escapes taxation. This secures
rec home to every member of the
be, for if subjected to the heavy
kation prevalent hereabout the
kriff would disposess them all. AL
bugh the tribe has sold and is sell
through the U. S. authorities,
ne of its surplus lands, a family
nestead, l understand, IS reserved
fch can not be alienated. Each
nlly is thus in possession of a sutfi-
mt portion of the earth's surface
self support, made free and in
Enable. Aside from their labor
" have no other means of support.
he results of these natural con-
ditions are not far to seek. They
patent to all who care to observe.
Though these people are not high
he intellectual scale they are rea-
ably good citizens; crime has
tcely an existence among them
being in full and free possession
THAT the Creator without question
ended as the birthright of every
and daughter of Adam they are
surably free: an inalienable home
the soil has made them so. They
free, too, from care; the future
no terrors for them and their chill
have only to till the soil, as their
nts now do to some extent, to be
red of support. A good school is
htained and two little churches
Ter in the religiously inclined: in
these people are in the posses
of one eff the great natural rights
an, the right to a home upon the
right with which nature or the
tor, has endowed each and every
born into the world, yet now by
avs largely denied to white citi-
would appear that white heads of
lies should be at least as we'll
ided for as the Indians. If hun
Anglo-Saxon families were pos
ID of like privileges, the situation
d be materially changed and
improvements made; neat
Rges and vine-clad bowers would
nd, for the conditions present
make possible the existence of
eal community. A public library
ecture hall, the example of the
trious and the studious and the
ng influences that come with ad-
Ed knowledge would as surely
the standard among white men
session and security have raised
ong the simple and unintelligent
gines.
the other side and also immedi-
adjoining the reservation lies 4
some $4,000 inhabitants. Some
p these are rich, but many are
Perhaps it is not too much to
nat a majority of the people
IN this city would be glad to
nge places with the Indians.
see them upon their streets
scarcely any are SO poor as to
Prlved of horses and conveyan-
one kind and another, and
much of their personal appear
capable of improvement their
nor is quiet and modest and the
tages they enjoy are apparent
ana enviable to most, and espe-
so to those who are subject to
Pdern fearful struggle for bread.
Is been frequently and rather
thy said by many that "the
lasses" do not desire land and
not avail themselves of home
country, even if the opportuni-
afforded them, but this is a
E In the main. 1t is true that
rage farmer Is at present dis