Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-12-27
NEW INDIAN POLICY.
Important Changes Proposed by COM
missioner Leupp.

Chicago Tribune.
Mir. Francis r. Leuprl commissioner OF
Indian affairs. makes some sensible sugges-
tons in his annual report regarding the
future treatment of the II dians by the gov
ernmcnt Although only Aecently appointed
to his present ONCE, Mr.. leupp has been
close student of the red \men for twenty
years. His Investigations have convinced
him that the nations past policy in dealing
with its wards has for the most part been
extremely unwise Its mistakes have been
mainly due to misunderstanding of the In
dams nature. His well wishers generally
have looked upon him as either simply a
" hite man with red skin" or classified
him Unfortunately with non-Caucasians
such as the negro. The truth that he po-
ssesses distant individuality has been
overlooked
1t has been fundamental error, Mr..
Leupp thinks. to try to coddle the Indians
into civilization. Penning them up and
feeding and clothing them at public eX-
pense has detoriated them, as it would any
people. 1t is time for new policy. II
would be futile to try to change those past
middle age. But much may be done for
the young First of all, they should be
educated. There are $1,000 or 10000 Indian
children of school age in the United States
Most Of the boys have become farmers in
the west. the rest ditchers, lumbermen
miners, etc. They and the girls who will
become their wives should not be taught
ito reel off the names OF the mountains in
Asia, or extract the cube root of 123456IS9,"
but should be given training which will
later be practically useful to them. They
should all be taught to read and write. and
cipher. Beyond this the boys should be
shown how TO repair n broken harness.
TO fasten loose horseshoe. to straighten a
sprung tire on a wagon wheel, the girls how
to cook. sew and iron. If an Indian boy or
girl desired higher education he or she
would, of course, have the same opportunity
as anybody else 20 get it. But the govern
ment should not give it to those who don't
want it and probably never will use It,
Mr.. Leupp's suggestions are in line with
the most advanced educational thought
of the age There is a growing tendency
TO make the education of white children
more practical. The reasons why that Of
the Indian children. with their compare
lively limited mental capacity, should be
made so are even stronger.
When an Indian gets capable OF taking
care of himself the leading strings that bind
him to his tribe and the government ought
Independent as white men are in respect
both to property and citizenship and sent
forth to hustle for himself The govern
ment should quit straining itself to find
something for him to do. Mr.. Leupp has no
doubt that the Indian will find means Of
supporting himself II Uncle Sam throws
him upon his own responsibility. Let the
process of readjusting the red men to sur
rounding conditions be but carried on grad
ually but steadily and they will i'm a few
years be practically assimilated to the peo-
pie about them. The Indian problem" Of
so many years will then cease to trouble
the nation.
The policy Mr.. Leupp outlines is perhaps
the wisest that has ever been suggested.
The Indians cannot be kept forever in tute-
lage. They cannot remain forever a sepa-
rate entity in the nation. The scheme pro-
/ posed seems well adapted to relieve them at
once of their leading strings and melt them
down into the mass of the people in a way
that will do neither them nor anybody else
any harm, either temporary or permanent.