The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-01-26
HOW INDIANS FARE.
Or. PARkHURST WOULD RATHER BE
A MALAY.

Indian AHitirs, Tells How Much Worse
or the Doctor Would lie II lie Were a
yellow subject of Spain.
DIR. Parkhurst of New York recent
ly preached q sermon in which he said:
II would rather be a Malay subject
to Spain than be an American Indian
subject to the Indian Bureau. SO
long as II is an understood thing that
office is spoils we may well pray to
be delivered from the responsibility
of governing dependencies"
Hon. L. j. Morgan wrote the Tribune
in defense of the Governments care
of tlN, Indians as follows:
by Malay" | suppose is meant any
inhnbitant of the Philippine Islands;
and assume that Dr. Parkhurst
means by his statement to institute
comparison between Spain's treatment
of the Philippines and our treatment
of the Indians. ! do not raise the
question, Would DR.. Parkhurst rather
be Malay" or an Indian? rs | do
not suppose that is involved. Let us
glance then for Il moment at what
seems to me a fair statement AS to the
difference in the Spanish method of
dealing with the Philippines and our
method of dealing with the Indians.
First-Span has derived from the
Philippine Islands Il large revenue by
system of taxation which has borne
very heavily upon the inhabitants.
She has sought to force from them the
largest possible amount of money, and
has spent upon them for their own
benefit n mere pittancc.
We have never regarded the Indians
as subjects Of taxation or sources of
revenue. On the other hand, we have
treated them as wards and have he
slowed upon them as gratuities large
sums of money. When we have taken
their land it has been by agreement,
and we have paid them for it large
sums of money in the aggregate. y
large part of the present expense of
the Indian Bureau is incurred in the
payment to them of stated annual
sums in fuliilmcnt of treaty stipula-
tions.
Let me give one single illustration:
The Usage Indians. now living in In
dian Territory, Il remnant now of
about fifteen hundred people, hold in
common large reservation on which
they live, where they have for the
most part comfortable homes, eXten-
sive farms, stocked with cattle and
horses and supplied with II fair
amount of agricultural implements.
From this land alone 1t would be pos
sible for them to obtain an abundant
subsistence; with proper industry no
Indian would suffer want But in ad-
dition to this landed estate-in the use
of which they are protected by the
Government there is to their credit
in the Treasury of the United States
$S0OO,00O, on which the Government
pays them lii cash every three months
the sum of 100000. Besides this, the
Government maintains for them large,
wcll-equipped boarding schools. A
good many white men have thought
it well to go among these Osages,
marry their daughters and identify
themselves with the tribe in order to
share in their wealth. If an instance
SiulIIil W lltiS Nuu Dt ltoluttu oul uN
DR.. Parkhurst in Spain's treatment of
the Malays, | should be exceedingly
interested in reading it.
Second-The five so-called civilized
tribes-Cherokees. Greeks, Choctaws,
Chickasaws and Seminoles-in the In
dian Territory have for many years
maintained their position as nations,
each tribe having its own autonomy,
it's landed estate, its system Of legisla-
ton. administration, courts and
schools under the protectorate of the
United States. The Government is
seeking through the Dawes Commits
sion to prevail upon these people to
surrender their autonomy ard identify
themselves with the people of the
United States as citizens. | do not
know of any similar instance Of abso-
lutte self government among the Ma
lays under Spanish protection. If
there is such will DR.. Parkhurst kind
ly indicate it?
Third-Any and every Indian has
the privilege of separating from the
tribe. assuming civilized habits, Hc-
ceptirg allotnents of LAND and becoln-
ing citizen Of the United States, with
the fun enjoyment of all ordinary
privileges OF citizenship and with
some special safeguards and eXemp-
tions which his white feilow-ctzcns
do not enjoy,
Fourth-The United States, through
the Indian Bureau, is maintaining
among the Indians of this country Il
system of pablo boarding schools Mt
cost of about $1,000 900 annually, in
which there are now enrolled no less
than twenty-four thousand Indian pu-
| pills, who are fed, clothed, instructed
| and nursed when sick at the eXpens"
| of the United States. From the best
| information that | have been able 10
| obtain, Spain has adopted no such
| scheme of education for the Maiays
under her control, and | had supposed
that the outlook for the Indian boy
| and girl who can receive free OF cost
| the advantages offered in these great
| .nhrI1c