The San Francisco call., 1899-07-27
INDIAN SCHOOLS.

DHE Indian School Teachers institute, III It's
meeting in Los Angeles, resolved in favor OF t'e
immediate establishment OF ten Indian schools
for 900 pupils each, in wel-populated and sutaOie
districts, as remote from the tribe as possible
While appreciating highly the spirit OF sefsacrhce
which animates the and women engaged IN edu-
eating Indian youth we must insist that there is much
room for criticism OF the method employed. Actual
civilization must precede education The Indian IN his
natural state lived by the chase The dog and horse
are the only animals he has domestcated. lhe morse
served as OF transportation, for the chasing
of game and in the pinch of famine both horse and
dog were used for food. The natural progress from
that primitive state toward civilization is through the
ownership and care OF other domestic animals to sup
ply the demand for food which continues after the
disappearance OF game The civilized races took pre-
csely the same steps. 1t is far cry from the cave
to the millions who dwell in houses and have the
arts, but the civilized made that long march
From the chase they went on to the possession Of
focks and herds and wandered with them as nomads
seeking the natural pasture. When this failed to sup
ply sufficient forage the next step taken by the
domestication of plants and their artificial produc-
ton. This was the beginning OF agriculture, the
mother of all the arts When had developed that
far he in control OF his food supply and there
fore of the OF civilization by the development
of wants in OF the primitive need OF TODD and
shelter When all his time was occupied in supply
ing these he had none left for development. Applying
this natural process to the Indian is impressed by
the sickening mistake made by our Government Ill
dealing with him, it. indeed, it desire to cvillze HIM
and preserve his race. He is put on a reservation,
where he has no cattle sheep to take the place
of the game on which he has lived but he is left his
pony and dog the connection between him and the
chase and therefore the link between him and
!, hi
remote from the tribe to school in a strange eli
mate and in the midst OF surroundings not natural to
them and are taught algebra and the catecllism to
equip them for self-support! When they educated
they go back to the reservation to its degraded con-
facts with degraded white men, to its white vices and
their awful results Having had glimpse OF better
state without the least equipment for sustaining them
selves therein their shattered education is milestone
around their necks to drag them deeper than they
would have sunk if left to their gee-string and ban
ket. If the greed OF the white could be re-
strained from invasion OF Indian rights, wisdom
would dictate the training of the red men IN taking
of cattle and sheep; in the agriculture necessary
to produce food for focks and herds in the preserva
ton OF the products OF their animals, the meat hides,
pes and wool and their preparation for food,
clothing and shelter. 1t is known that wherever an
Indian has become the owner OF cattle and has been
protected in his right to them he has prospered Ii
this course were pursued every reservation would
supply its beef and mutton and tile hides and
wool would in exchange bring back shoes and blan-
kets and clothing. All these supplied now by the
Government, while the Indian is idle his reserva-
tion sweltering in the vices acquired from white
While he was in his savage independence, the prim-
itive wants. food and shelter, developed in him the
terprise and craft needed to supply them from the
stores of nature around him. He is jumped out OF
that independence to a reservation, is fed and
clothed, after fashion, by the Government and is
not permitted take for himself the first step toward
civilization by learning substitute the lost game
with the domestic animals which take its place.
1t is idle to try to make blacksmith carpenter
out OF him, painter, sailor soldier. He must have
the natural entry into the arts through agriculture,
and must know that it takes the place OF the chase by
which he once lived.
When he has made that much progress give him
schools for his children in the midst of the tribe and
let the curriculum be such that the savage father
his son better equipped by it for getting food and
shelter Then the influence of education will be upon
young and old.