The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-22
THEIR SACRED PRIVILEGES

the severity of the government order that
the government must wear short hair,
stop stalking about in blankets and paint
ing their faces. He has cautioned agents
not to actualize this order, too suddenly,
but to effect the reform as gradually as
possible. OF course, this is the better
method. 1t is reported from La Crosse
that one of the Winnebago chiefs has en-
phatically declared that if the order is
enforced the Indians will go on the war
path and die in the last ditch rather than
relinquish the blanket, paint and long
hair, which will be retained just as long
as the red man takes fancy to wear
them. It is likely that this is only an
empty threat, but it is evident that the
reservation Indians generally regard the
governments order as a blow struck at
their vested rights.
The American Indian naturally thinks
he is very important person. The
United States government has spent upon
the Indian population during the past
third of a century something over $780,
100000, which for a people numbering
1870 900 is a very liberal sum. There has
long been talk of making the Indian a
useful member Of the community. In fact,
the Indian commissioner uses such an ex-
preston in his last report. But it is OBJ
vious that no man of any color can be-
come very useful member of an Ameri-
can community who wears an enormous
and movement hindering blanket around
his person and has to paint his body in
divers and sundry symbols every day or
two. The order of the government was
based Oh sound principles but sumptuary
laws are not popular in this country, even
| among our red brethren. The Indian takes
as much pleasure in arraying himself in
| blanket and paint as a white society belle
! takes in the manipulation Of her puff
| ball and powder and the disposition of the
| folds of her skirts; as much pleasure as
| white man takes in tying his cravat,
| waxing his mustache and getting the
proper crease in his breaches.
Still, there IS difference. The Indian
| is generally averse to work. He objects
| to it as heartily as do the natives of the
South Pacific islands, where the acquisi-
! ton of food requires the minimum of toll
| Our Indians have only, in recent years,
been seriously lectured upon the neces-
! sity of personal exertion and self-support
| Well supplied with comforts by the gov
ernment, the Indian sees no necessity for
| going beyond the minimum of work. The
government has tried to make him work
| to be sure, by supplying him with agri-
cultural implements and seeds, but the
is still dependent on the government fol
EXISTENCE mechanics wait on him an6
farmers still aid him, but che is little, II
any, nearer the goal of independence thar
he was thirty years ago, and If the pres.
emit policy is continued he will get little
if any, nearer in the thirty years. tt
/ come"
This Indian question, one would think
/ ought to occupy the attention of the gen.
tlemen who are so tearfully solicitous
| about the fate of the natives Of the
Philippine archipelago and their rights
Here are people, red in color, who have
for a century past been kept out of VIVA
! your Philippine philanthropist calls tn
rights of man." They have been tough
and massacred and robbed of their lands
and cheated in the annual distribution
Z. of supplies. They have risen in blint
fury to avenge their wrongs and have beef
stricken down by force of arms. But you
/ fervid philanthropist has his eyes turne'
toward the orient, the antipodes, and al
his element Of the humane is given t
Tagalog rebels against the United State
government.