The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-02-28
INDIAN SCHOOLS FAIL
STARTLING CONCLUSION REACHED
BY COMMISSIONER JONES'

the Indian, taken as a whole. says
Commissioner of Indian Affairs Jones
is practically a failure or at least Is
not calculated to produce the results
go earnestly claimed for Il and SO hope
Iully anticipated when II was begun.
lie has no doubt his conclusion will be
received with some surprise. but a
hrlet review of results, he thinks, will
convince the most skeptlcal that It IS
correct.
Ihere are now in operation" he
says, lib boarding schools for the In
dams with an average attendance OF
something over 10000 pupils. ranging
nom to q years of age. These
pupils were gathered from The cabin,
the wichup and the tepee They were
chosen not on account of any particu-
lar merit OF their own, not by reason
OF mental fitness but solely because
they had Indian blood in their veins.
The Indian youth finds himself at
once, as if by magic. translated from
state Of poverty to one of amuence.
He is well fed and clothed and lodged.
Books and all the accessories of learn
ing are given him and teachers pro-
Vlded to instruct him. Matrons wait
on MIN while he is well, and physi-
clans and nurses attend him when he
is sick. A steam laundry does his
washing, and the latest modern appIi-
ances do his cooking. A library af-
lords him relaxation for his leisure
hours, athletic sports and the gym
nasium furnish him exercise and recre-
alton, while music entertains him in
the evening. He has hot and cold baths
and steam heat and electric light, and
all the modern convenienees. All OF
the necessities of life are given him
and many of the Injuries. All of this
without money and without price or
the contribution of a single effort of
his own or of his people.
Here he remains until his education
Is finished, when he is returned to his
-home-which by contrast must seem
squalid indeed-and left to make his
way against the ignorance and bigotry
of his tribe. Is it any wonder he fails?
Is it surprising if he lapses into bar
barism? Not having earned his edu-
cation, it is not appreciated; having
made no sacrifice to obtain it, it is not
valued. 1t is looked upon as right
and not as privilege it is accepted
as a favor to the government and not
to the recipient; and the almost newt
able tendency is to encourage Deepen
dence, foster pride and create a spirit
of arrogance and selfshness.
1T is not denied that some good
flows from this system. 1t would be
singular if there did not, after all the
effort that has been MADE and the
money that has been lavished In the
last 20 years fully $45, 100000 have been
spent by the government alone for the
education of Indian pupils, and it is a
liberal estimate to put the number of
those so educated at not over 10000.
ii the present rate is continued for
another 20 years it will take over $7O,-
100000 more.
What, then, shall be done? And
this inquiry brings into prominence at
once the whole Indian question 1t
may be well first to take a glance at
what has been done For about a gen.
Grafton the government has been TAX
ing very active interest in The well
fare of the Indian. In that time he
has been located on reservations and
fed and clothed; he has been supplied
lavi5hly with utensils and means to
earn his living, with materials for his
dwelling and articles to furnish it; his
children have been educated and money
has been paid him; farmers and me
cnanics have been supplied him, and
he has received aid in multitude OF
different ways. In the last SO years
ever $240,000,0OO have been spent upon
an Indian population not exceeding
10000, enough, if equitably divided
to build each one a house suitable tt
his condition and furnish it through.
out; to fence his land and build him &
barn; to buy him a wagon and team
and harness; to furnish him plows anC
the other implements necessary to cul
tivate the ground and to give hin
something besides to embellish anC
beautify his home
what is his condition today? H
is still on his reservation; he is still
being fed his children are still beinl
educated and money is still being pait
him; he is still dependent upon tn
government for. existence; mechanic
wait on him and farmers still aid him
he is little, if any, nearer the goal o
Independence than he was 30 years age
and if the present policy is continues
he will get little. if any, nearer in 8