The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-04-26
Education of Porto Ricans
and Indians Dis
CuSsed.
TWO INTERESTING PAPERS
entertaining Sessions of the Association
winch Have Been Held Daily for a
Week Come to an End-Benefts De-
rived From Meeting.

'es COMMISSIONER oil Indian Afialrs,
yesterday were the features of the clos
ing exercises of the American Social Sci
ence Association at Columbian University
Rev. Joseph Anderson. chairman Of the
department of education and art, presided.
The meetings, which were brought TO
close yesterday. had continued since last
Monday. Herbert Welsh corresponding
secretary of the Indian Rights Association,
speaking upon the Indian question said:
Education of the Indian.
fifty wears or more ago the fayorite
theory for solving the Indian problem was
to make great Indian State west of the
Mississippi, into which all the tribes wild
er than the Creeks, Choctaws and Chero-
KEGS who formed its members. should be
herded. The Indian was to be civilized
by segregation. But that idea has broken
down utterly. and 70 the past twenty
years TIE Governmer and nearly all
friends of the Indians have been commit
ted TO the wiser policy of civilization by
absorption.
general Grant, the soldier, started
the peace policy which wisely aimed to
direct the churches of the country TO the
work of Indian civilization through the
quiet paths of Christian charity, of edu
cation, agriculture, and justice. Great
good came of the effort. Gen. S. C. Arm
strong. of Hampton, aimed to inspire the
Indian student with the missionary spirit
that would send him to his Western home
TO leaven his race with new life; Captain
Pratt, of Carlisle, sought to make him
leave and forget his race and seek direct
personal salvation by immersion in the
stream of modern life at its swiftest flow
ing point. Both ideas were excellent and
each had compensating advantages.
Treatment of Subject.
Two important questions at this juno
ture were how best to change the hos
tile sentiment of whites toward Indians
into one friendly and rational, so as to
produce both favorable legislation and
executive action at Washington. and how
TO overcome Indian conservatism on the
reservations and distrust of whites so as
to make the former line OF activity to
the fullest degree successful.
"Oue of the greatest obstacles in the
way of just settlement of the Indian
problem is the difficulties encountered in
protecting Indians in the possession Of
their lands. The pressure OF white de-
mand is hard TO resist. The case OF the
Sahoba Indians In southern California is
one where some 400 Mission Indians were
threatened with eviction by rich land
claimant The case at first went against
the Indians in court, but an appeal to the
Supreme Court of the State resulted in
decision in their favor. Very recently
case which was apparently similar. known
as the Warner ranch case, was decided
against the Indians, and that decision was
affirmed by the Supreme Court of the
United States. In both cases the associa-
ton took an active and costly part in de-
tending the Indians.
Indians Should Be Absorbed.
ITO summarize in conclusion: The
North American Indian should be alb
sorbed by our civilization. In numerous
cases he has shown himself capable OF an
earnest, faithful religious life. of self
supporting industry, of mental refine
ment and development. His race, how
ever. is distinctly feebler, more Juvenile
than ours. But he is subject TO the same
great moral and physical laws that gov
ern us and on which our welfare is de-
pendent He must be protected during the
intermediate period between sayagery ana
civilization from the cupidity and vices
of ;he white race by organized popular
efforts. such as the Indian Rights Asso-
citation represents. The right working of
the Governments humane purpose for his
welfare depends largely on this unofficial
popular interest and aid
1.-THE probabilities are that many In
dams will thus be saved TO honorable and l
usefuI. though humble lives. which other /
wise would inevitably sink into hopeless, |
gypsy-like vagabondage and decay.
Rev. FraTl Sewell, of this city, spoke
of art in public places. and Mayor &. G. /
Gron. president of the Porto Rican board
of education under the military govern !
ment. read paper experimenting that Of
Prof. Brumhaugh-
Education in Porto Rico.
In his address on Education in Porto |
Rico" Prof NJ. G. Brumbaugh said in |
part:
when the smoke of the Spanish Ameri- |
can war lifted from the islands OF the |
sea our Government found itself in pos |
session OF new territory and new prob
lens. Among these new acquisitions the |
most interesting and the most hopeful is
Porto Rico. The people OF the island not
only did not oppose, but they joyously |
welcomed American occupation. When, /
therefore we took the island under our |
protective care and began TO study II, we
found an island approximately 100 miles
long. and forty miles wide, containing
about 1900 square miles
Along the coast is level alluvial plain
rich in sugar estates. The interior rises
abruptly to an altitude of almost 1900
feet at the peak, 'El funca, and upon the
slopes of these mountains grows an ex-
celient quality of coffee. In the rich in
land valleys. caused by the rushing tor
rents. grows tobacco. Coffee, sugar, and
tobacco. are the chief productions Of the
soiI Tropical fruits grow Wild and in
orea, profusion. Hatmaking and lace
work are also significant hand industries.
.Irpon this area are crowded almost
= 0o0 600 human bengs-2S per cent being
~ tho black race, and about 80 per cent
N the remainder poor whites with some
a d,nIxture of old Borenquin Indian blood
/. nj ,bo remainder the rich landlords and
men These latter, being for
The most part pure Spaniardb, were the
univ element who at any time gave the
American Government any concern or OPP
position. Eighty-eight per cent of the
population was illiterate. BY an act OF
Congress OF the United States civil gov
ernment was established in the island May
i. 1900. IL was the first attempt OF this
Government TO establish colonial policy
and its results were destined to be iar-
reaching, because IL not only involved the
destiny OF the people OF the island, bui
also as an experiment IL was destined
TO become a precedent for government IN
all our other possessions.
Porto Rico had not one public school
,ouse until civil government was estab-
,isbed one structure for school purposes
was erected by the military government
49,. s..-nyad a. July 1q00 Two hum |