The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-07
1T is UP TO Mr.. 10.
Indian at the Stage Where He Mus
Go TO Work.

Guthrie. o. T.. Jan. 6-In the course OF
I an editorial the Enid Eagle says:
IN his message TO congress the rresi-
dent recommended measures TO make the
/ Indians self-sustainins: and in accordance
/ with that recommendation II appears
probable that some very radical steps viii
! te taken Included in the proposition is
/ the breaking up OF sribal relations. and
the holding Of the tribal funds by the gov
! eminent for the benefit Of the Individual
members OF the tribes. to be finally dis
! t;ihuted among them.
After more than a century OF oxperi-
mcnt it remains an unsolved prof en-
whether the Indian is capable Of being
/ made self-sustaining citizen Little. If
any progress has been made IN that di-
rection. The Indian clings 10 his tribal
habits. and 70 his shifress and child like
nlodes of life with the tenacity Of death.
Every effort to lead him 70 accept the
ways Of civilization IS indignantly re-
ru!sed. The example Of the white mans
Progress makes no impression upon him.
He sees great cities growing around him.
and all the advancing developments Of
modern genius and energy overwhelming
him; but he would rather die than WELD
In this popularity of his nature the
government policy has INDUCED and en-
couraged him. IT has fed and pamnered
him, and protected him in idleness and ig-
norance. It has pandered TO his natural
inclinations. and perpetuated him in n
worthless and obstructive existence. To
treat with him on the basis OF his own
level and 10 shift him from place to place
as necessity has required seemed easier
than TO grappie with the problem of his
civilization in radical way. And 50 he
remains an Indian stili-the same Indian
that he was when our ancestors began
TO ocupy his dominiOns and to crowd upon
his primeval authority
NO race could have made progress
under such conditions. White men so re-
stricted and fettered would degenerate 10
an equality with Indians in a few gen
eratoins. And the Indian, with his stub
born instincts, could not be expected 10
advance, or change his character while
Systematically encoura ged in adherence TO
his ancient habits and inherited preju-
dices. Improvement comes through ueces-
sity and self-reliance. The incentive 10
individual effort must De present. one
must feel that ne Is upon his own re-
know that effort viii De rewarded 10
arouse his energies. A mere dependent.
INDUCED in vices and trihiug pleasures.
viii never rise above his level or become
useful as a citizen. And the Indian saouid
be thrown on his own resources and be
made 70 know that he must root hog. or
die. just as other people must 90.
This of course. should not be done violent
~ or hastily Due regard should oe had
for his weakness ana incapacity. But
gradually he should be lead 10 realize that
he must work; that II he eats bread. he
must earn it. When ne fully comprehends
that he can not be maintained 90 laxiness
and fed like hogs in a pen, ne viii have
new thoughts and turn his eyes in new
directions. That Is he will 90 so. II there
is anything IN him Of value. whatever II
may be that his nature is too obstinate.
ana his character Too firmly fixed, 10 per-
nit OF change. Whether 10 IS or not can
only he determined by experiment-bv Civ
ing him a chance; or. rather. hy forcing
him 10 take a chance. There Is 10 other
way 70 make anything useful out ~ Kim.
II he fails. his existence IS "a matter ~ DO
value 20 the world He vii become
'cumbe7er Of the ground" and pass
away. leaving behind him only the record
Of 2 Wild untamahle race. such. how
ever. IS the fate before him under existing
conditions. and IL can he no more f1eti-
table under the experiment of Compel
ing him 20 accept better rnofhoss ~ ufa .
HIS only hope is in embracing tie wars
os civilization and Joining its forces ll
the resistiess march 81 rroEreeFf