New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-17
TR4INIYG PRIMTTITE PEOPLES.

The change in the administration of the Car
| isle Indian School ought to mean the introduce
| ton of a spirit and purpose into that 1nsti-
| tuition. The theory which Colonel Pratt pug
| Eaclously preached and strenuously put in prac-
| tlce meant, in the end. the divorce OF the edu-
Gated Indian from his own people. This was
| in sharp contrast with the method of Hampton,
| which sets up the ideal Of social service and
| trains the Indian or negro to help his race.
Colonel Pratt himself described his process as
feeding the Indian to civilization" while he
held in contempt the contrasting policy OF reed
ing civilization TO the Indian" a piece of
sentimentalism fit only for the hated archfeol-
Ogist' who wanted to sacrifice the progress of
the individual to the preservation of an archaic
society. He held, perhaps rightly. that his
method made possible higher civilization for
the particular student. Certainly it may be
conceded that il made possible for him more
conventional civilization. \ great deal of civil
liza tiOn has to be fed TO and assimilated by in
dividuai Indians before the character of whole
tribe can be changed, while single Indian can
be fed to civilization and transformed by it.
Only, In the process of digestion, the Indian dies
He becomes imitation white man, and is
likely to be absorbed into the white community
This may he well enough, if the governments
purpose in spending large sums for education
is TO benefit few persons rather than n whole
race and If the highest good of mankind is TO
be promoted by the extinction of the Indian as
an Indian. We think that neither supposition
is true. What becomes of any particular person
is of little account to society. Its concern Is
for the community. Ten Indians made into
peaceful moral industrious farmers, living
among their own people, are worth more TO it
than ten Indian lawyers, doctors mechanics
who settle in Pennsylvania or New-NOrk and
make comfortable living for themselves. The
educated Indian should be a missionary 10 his
people. and he does more good so. even though
he less completely throws off harharism, than II
he remained by himself. Colonel Pratt might say
that his method. carried to its legitimate CON
cusion, would result I'm the highest civilization
for all and their absorption into the white COM
nunity; hut. even If desirable that is slow
process, and means the desertion Of those who
are at any time left I'm barbarism by those who
ought most 10 help them. II tends 10 make the
Indian ashamed Of being Indian, just as the
same method in the South tends 10 make the
negro ashamed of being a negro. 1t is, more
over based the false notion that the back
ward races have in their primitive civilization
no contribution of value TO make 10 society
Race pride is Just much the duty OF the
Indian and the negro as of the Anglo Saxon. II
tends 10 self-respect, 10 worthy ambition for
genuine achievement rather than a mere veneer
Of white manneriSms. and 10 the preservation
for the whole world of all that is good and beau
tiful in primitive life. The Indian industries,
pottery basket making and weaving should be
encouraged, and Indian music should he pre-
served. They are contribution 10 the worlds
store Of beautiful motives. From them might
develop a characteristic art without which the
world would be poorer. At any rate, civilization
which is based on the natural traits OF people
develops them in harmony with their own en-
vironment and teaches them 10 honor their
fathers and mothers and help their brothers
and sisters is worth far more 10 society, and
in the long run TO the individual. than any arti-
fetal culture which substitutes selfish indivId-
ualsm for the feeling Of community interest
and missionary responsibility.
We do not want limitations. We want men
who proud Of being themselves. An Ameri-
can would not wish 10 be n Russian, but he
would not think much of n Russian who, though
he might admit the superiority OF American
civilization in many things and desire TO adopt
new methods. was not proud of being Russian
and happy I'm the thought OF the future of his
race, strong like AntGus in its still close contact
with the soil and powerful with primitive ere
ative impulse. So the negro in spite of all his
burdens, should be proud TO be negro, and
strive to bring to perfection his race and scorn
TO be the parent OF either physical or spiritual
balfbreeds and the Indian should find an in
SEPARATION in the task OF keeping the primitive
Americans from extinction, and showing the
possibilities Of an Indian civilization which the
world will respect and admire.
-------------