News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1898-08-10
SOME WHITE INDIANS.
Members of Tribes Who Were Not Prop
err Government Wards.

err Government Wards.
There are too many white Indians, says
a writer in the st. Louis Globe-DemOcrat
The increasing value of the reservations,
the distribution of great sums of money
by the government to members of tribes,
the development of splendid educational
institutions for the exclusive benefit of
Indian children, these and other advan-
tages have had the effect to draw back into
tribal relationship thousands whose title
depends upon a small strain Of the blood.
These changed conditions are stimulating
marriages between white men and Indian
women and between Indian men and
white women. In the Indian school at
Lawrence, Kan, can be seen blue eyed,
fair haired little Indians receiving living,
clothing and education at the cost of the
government. The same is true at Carlisle
and at Hampton and at all Of e Indian
schools. The richest people 1Jcr capita in
this country are the TA15ers of some Of
these tribes. The - Of the five civ
ilized tribes is complicated the presence
of too many ''squaw men, ,rhite men
who have married Indian wome- to the
great advantage of their personal fortunes.
1t is enough to bring tears to the eyes of a
SIdNCh llliuEO " llOul NA4OGO 1bu ~AASA
talk of the wrongs of the poor Indian.
Governor B~rockmeyer of Missouri went
down TO the Indian Territory some years
ago to transact business with one of the
tribes. When he came back, after having
driven a hard bargain for his clients, he
commented on the people he had dealt
with.
"Indians!' said he. "These fellows are
not Indians. They are mighty smart Yam
KEGS, tanned a little"
The new superintendent of Indian
schools is impressed with the growing
numbers Of white Indians, and he calls
the attention of the government to them
in a forcible tanner.
Inspecting officials" Superintendent
Mailman says, ''are frequently embar-
raised on visiting boarding schools by the
discovery that among the children there
are many who apparently have very little,
if any, Indian blood. On inquiry these
children claim a slight degree of Indian
blood, varying from one-siXteenth to one
sixty-fourth. In a number Of instances,
however, it is found that they are the chill
dren of white parents who were adopted
into the tribe previous to the censu for
registering it's members. In most cases
the parents of these children are sufficient
ly well to do and able to provide for their
education.
For a number of reasons the presence
of these white Indians in the schools is
Liable to become a disturbing element in
its life, either through the greater natural
turbulence of white blood in their veins
or through fancieG superiority of race.
Moreover, these children upon graduation
may seek employment in the Indian serv'
ice and gain admission thereto without
being subjected to the civil service exam
ination Which stands between other whites
and appointments.
ION technical grounds all this may be
correct, but in equity it seems to hold ele.
ments of unfairness both to the real In
dians and the white citizens of the United
States, who pay the bills for the education
and maintenance Of these people. Inas'
much as there seems to be no remedy fol
this in existing laws it is imperative in
the interest of justice to both races thai
congress should at an early date indicate
by statute what degree Of blood snail con.
stitute an Indian and to what extent
adopted Indians shall be entitled to gov.
ernmental support in matters of educa
ton"