Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-22
Uncle Sam and the Indian.

ment mas expended upNdruS VI %-tV,Voo-
900 upon an Indian population not ex-
ceeding $50, 600 There are in operation
at the present time for the education OF
the Indian no less than lib boarding
schools with an average attendance of
16. 600 pupils. These pupils are gath
cred from the cabin, the wick-i-up and
the tepee," says the commissioner.
Partly by cajolery and partly by
threats. partly by bribery and partly by
fraud, partly by persuasion and partly
bv force. they are induced to leave
their kindred and take upon them
selves the outward semblance of civil
lied life They are not chosen on ac-
count Of any particular merit of their
dian blood in their veins. Without any
previous training, without any pre-
paration. they are transported to the
schools sometimes thousands of miles
away. with no expense to themselves
or their people. The Indian youth finds
himself at once. as if by magic, trans
lated from Il state of poverty to one of
affiuence. He is well fed and clothed
and lodged. Books and all the aces
series of learning are given him, and
| teachers are provided to instruct him.
He is educated in both the industrial
lot
him when he is well and physicians and
nurses attend him when he is sick. A
steam laundry does his washing and
the latest modern appliances do his
| cooking library affords him relaxa-
ton for his leisure hours, athletic
sports and the gymnasium furnish
him with exercise and recreation.
while music entertains him in the even
ing. He has hot and cold baths, steam
heat and electric light and all the mod
ern conveniences. The child of the
wiewam becomes a modern Aladdin,
who has only to rub the government
lamp to crafty his desires"
And Commissioner Jones declares
that after the Indian youth has been
educated he puts off the harness of
civilization and goes back to the reser-
walton where he becomes a lazy bar
barian growing fat at the govern
ment's expense. The theory of the
government is that the educated child
viii guide the ignorant father. In
practice this theory does not work out.
1t fails primarily for the reason that
the child has no appreciation of the
and substantial ambition to better his
own condition. He does not sacrifice
anything for the white mans learning.
1t is looked upon as a right or an un-
pleasant necessity. 1t is accepted
grudgingly as a favor from the gov
| eminent. For time it may make him
arrogant and selfish among his kin
dred. but it means nothing to him as
life equipment.
| Anu, while we are ldillHS WIFI thc
children, says Commissioner Jones, we
| are making an even worse mess of it
! with the parents. After spending mill
| lions upon the Indian, the government
finds that he is "still on the reserva-
ton; he is still being fed; he is still de-
pendent upon public bounty for his
living; he is little if any nearer the
goal of independence than he was
thirty years ago; and If the present
policy is continued he will get little or
any nearer in thirty years to come"
1t is the history of the world that a
will The first requisite for an uplift
from barbarism is the birth within a
people of an ambition to make them
selves better. The course of our gov
eminent has stified whatever of indie
pendence or ambition the Indian ever
had. He has been a public charge so
long that life has no problem for him
save to get what he wants from the
treasury at Washington. The neces-
sity for work has been removed entire
~ from his contemplation by the
bounty of the white man, and if he is
lazy it is the white mans fault. And
so. reasons Commissioner Jones, the
government should change its policy
with the red man to the ends which he
sets forth as follows:
The function of the state should be
to see that the Indian has the oppor-
tunity for self-support, and that he is
afforded the same protection of his per-
son and property that is given to
others. That being done he should be
thrown entirely upon his own re-
sources. to become a useful member OF
the community in which he lives. or
not, according as he exerts himself or
fails to make ar effort. He should be
located where the conditions are such
that by the exercise of ordinary indus
try and prudence he can support him
self and family. he must be made to