The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-10-15
THE INDIAN PROBLEM
AS IT NOW STANDS
How il Originated; Our Pre-
sent Policy Of Public In
tereSt in the Indian


The Twentieth Annual Lake Mo
houk Conference Of Friends Of The
Indians will be held on the invitation
of Mr. Albert X Shirley at Mo1onk
Lake. n. Y, October %, % and "a.
The u,dian pooblem in the United
States is one Of long standing ltI
has existed since colonial times and
many Indian wars bear witness 10 fhe
fact that It was Of grave concern 20
our forefathers. It is a matter d
history how the Indians were gradu
ally forced westward by the extension
OF white civilization, and how when
our people invaded the great west apd
the red men could retreat no further,
they We're finally brought together and
confined on certain tracts of land
known as reservations with the es-
tablishment of which the United
States became responsible for the wei.
fare OF the entire race On the res
ervation the Indian. deprived of his
great hunting grounds. led a life OF
idlencss supported by the govern.
ment. subject to no laws save those OF
his own making, maintaining his trib-
al life and customs and frequently
giving expression TO his savage nature
in the Indian outbreaks which have
made so many terrible chapters in
the history Of the west. The many
evils Of this reservation system"
soon became APPARENT, and for nearly
generation the Indian bureau has been
actively engaged in the tremendous
task. still far from completed, OF per
fecting a policy which shall be in.
harmony with modern civilization.
/ II has gradually come TO be rec
ognized that tribal life on reserva-
tions is detrimental both to the In
tribe as a unit must eventually disap-
dians and to the country; that the
pear; and that It's members must be
saved by absorption into the govern
ment as citizens. The task then,
/ that confronts he Indian bureau In
pursuance of this policy Is, first, to
educate the Indian according to his
needs; second, to give him a home,
aud place within his reach the means
Of earning an honest living for him
self and his family; third, TO make
him a citizen of the United States;
and fourth in time, to throw him up
on mis- own resources subject TO all
the privileges and restrictions OF cit
izenship. Gratifying progress has al
ready been made in this direction.
With the spread Of education, Indian
revolts, are becoming rare and IL is
hoped have ceased altogether; and
within twenty-five years over 10000
Indians have been given homes and
have become self supporting citizens.
But the work is a stupendous one and
/
tion. Grea difficulties are yet to be
overcome. and the Indiaa service
needs the encouragement and support
of the entire country.
The indian bureau must from time
to time have assistance from con
gress. aud congress can only act ef
fectively as the representative Of an
Interested public. The American peo
pie must be made 10 fed that thell
government is responsible for the vel
fare Of quarter million Of Indians
more than half Of whom are still un
able TO read or speak English intelli
gently, and one-sixth OF whom still re-
tain heir sagaye dress and many OF
their savage customs. To arouse and
wisely direct thi- much needed public
interest Is one OF the chief aims OF tbs
Lake Monook Conference which i'
about 10 meet.