Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-02-09
INDIANS AS VOTERS
Smart Young Red Men Dis
cuss Citizenship.
BIG DAY FOR THE INDIANS
Many Prominent People Participate in the
Eleventh Anniversary of the Dawes
Bill. Other Local items
OF Interest.

Nearly six hundred people push
their way into Within Memorial chapel,
in Virginia Hall, at the Normal Svhoo.
yesterday ~afternoon, to- witness the eel
bration of the eleventh anniversary OF
Indian day, on Which tire Dawes bin. by
which uhe red man was endowed with
the right of citizenship, was signed and
became a law. The chapel was appro-
priately decorated for the o~ccusion,
conspicuous in a background of banner
ard evergreen at the rear of the spa
clous platform, on whicb the members
OF the nd.an department We're seated,
being a portrait Uf General Armstrong.
While at the front, a few feet above the
tio0r, was a Splendid likeness of Senator
Dawes. Professor Briggs was kept busy
for more than half an hour finding seats
tor the throngs of people that climbed
the iron starways after the hall was
supposed to Zoe fuif, and hence it was
2:3o o'ch;ck when the exercises, which
should have comm need at 2.>began.
L'bcius Bishtp presided and did i. in
q manner which entitled both himself
ana his instructors to praise. After a
hrlaf address, he announced thu, first
nulrdher on the program, plantation
melodies by the school,, and a moment
later a flood of song burst forth and
fl:led not only the bouss bu the hearts
Of the people in it Bishop MeVlcker, OF
Rhode Island, then, at the chairman's
eflueSt offered, the opening PRAYER. The
Introductory remarks We're delivered by
Lucius Bishop. who spoke of the enni-
versary as thu day on which every In
dian Who is able land willing to take
care eff himself became a citizen. He
SAD that it is the duty of those who
Mrre now acquiring an %educati ton at
to return to their peop.e and
AID chem In rising above the conditions
which now environ them and teach
them to accept the blessings offered in
the Dawes bill.
w. g MrNeM, upon behalf of the col
ored students. extended a cordial greet
ing TO The Indian members Of the school.
In speaking of the right of citizenship,
now enjoyed by his own and the red
race, he linked together the namss of
Lincoln and Dawes. After referring to
the condition OF the forefathsrs OF the
Negro and Indian prior to the period of
emancipation, he saidi MY red brother
let us go forth from Hampton with the
diets animation TO become good and pure
American citizens" Music by the Wig
wana orchestra followed this address
and then Inez Spitlog and Winona
Keith delighted the ausitsnce with rec
itations. appearing SIS Two Little In
dams"
Our Problem was then discussed
by Samuel George. How can the racz
be lifted up? 4se asked, n his reply
- NA'N1N SoSAi N4S LOT HIII
s.f how he car best aid his people.
The important thing is to master self,
he said, after which it VIII be EASY to
find channels through which to lead
others 10 lives Of usefulness and honor.
Th@n there anust be organization, con-
centration and cooperation. Educated
indians going out to work have to face
ignorance and Superstition and In order
rs win success they must form a strong
band Of union. :" We win by labor and
sacrifice" said he. After the address
Lucy Conger sweetly, sang His Love is
Everlas sting"
John Walker, a Navajoe Indian u, fol-
lowed with so'ne interesting infoima-
tlon concerning his people. He tod of
t-SIr habits. their pursuits as farmers
and herdsnen on the plains of Arizona
ara Mexico and explained the numerous
a~littculties with which they have to
eSnttnd and gave am interesting ac-
c<slnt OF their ingenuity in manufacture.
He said thai the day il rot far away
when his people VIII yield to the civili-
cation df. the white man.
one OF the interesting features
OF the exercises was a dialogue in Eng
llsh. Dakota and Indian sign language.
Runsover-thH -IGnemS, an Indian chief
whose psop.e hads gone ast.ay, desired
10 learn by what means he could bring
them back. Being able to MYERS only
IN the sign language he sought Lou~
Feather, a Dakota Indian, who was able
TO understand the signs. But Lone
Feather could not in English
mis- dMficulty vas srcome. however.
through Wild Bin. who could rattle off
both the Indian and English language
at a lively rate. So it was decided that
MISUNDERSTANDING should tell Lone
Feather his story in signs, the latter
should re4brt it in the Dakota tongue
to Wild Bhq, who, On n, should q te
II to- Major Ross, the missionary, The
characters were designed, sas follows:
Runs-ov. r-the-Enemy, James wilaiarns;
Lone Feather, John Barry; Wild Bill,
Henry Fielder; Major Ross, Seymour
9ouuce. The actors were dressed in
Indian costume and the nguag and
signs were bona fide.
A thoughtful address on the Sioux, by
Matthew Ankee, was followed, by an.
entertaining tax on the music of the
indians by the Rev. A B. Clark, a mis-
sionary in the Sioux country. Then
came an Indian song by Henry Fielder.
Fred Medicine Crow, James Winiams,
Fred Badger. Henry Tativcpa, Johr
Barry. Frtd Johnson and Louis Fintau.
The Proper En- of knowledge" was
skilful.y handled by Francis Kennedy
after Whi@h a quartettes. consisting Of
ttley Conser, Elizabettp Cornelius, An
GREW EAm' and Henrys Ttivopa was
SUNG. the title being the Indian Girls
lament"
Dr. Frissell then took the stand and
read a letter form the Hon. Cornelius
y. Bliss. secretary of the Interior, ex-
pressing his regret at not being able to
attend the Celebration, DR.. FrisseIl
then introduced Hon. william A. Jones,
commissioners Of Indian affairs. who
made I short address, In which he con-
graduated the Hampton institute upon
the work it has accomplished and said
he was sorry that he was not able to.
promise the institution a large donation
from the national government. Mn,
Jones said, that the work Of Hampton
and Carlisle and other schools for the
training of 1nd5MFsfss had greatly simpli-
fied the so,ving the Indian
prollsa$ MGsVickar followed