Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-02-08
INDIANS AS CITIZENS.
Tribal Conditions Win Soon Cease
to Exist

IN less tlan two months. or, 10 be
eNac, ON tie 4th Of the coming March,
tribal government for the Indians will
cease to exist This means there w,d
be no state or territorial school Sys,
tenn to take the place Of the tribal
schools, and outside of incorp0rated
towns the Indian Territory viii he LETT
practically without means Of education
unal the next step is taken Forum,
altlN, the work OF transition will be
largely in the hands OF man who il
Wei acquainted With the malan char.
actcr and is the Indians friend and
KNOWS now to coordinate existing con.
diuons for his benefit rs well us anyone
that has ever held the responsible post
tion Of Indian commissioner. acre
are in the United States about 970,O0o
Indians, of whom about 10000 can
read and about 10000 carry ON an
ordinary conversation in the English
language,
IhHt forecasts some difficulty in
working our warus over into the chi.
zen relation; still the reason is n
str' ng one and is all the time spread.
lnE Some 10000 wear citizens dress
ana il is quite hopeful beginning
for such a consderate number TO look
IKE citizens, Mr. Leupp has strong
y emphasized the fact that we cannot
mako the Indian into n white man arc
that our .,ne of effort lies In improving
ms condition as an Indian SO that ne
may be fitted TO assume the duties and
ENJOY the privileges OF citizenship
Inc breaking up of the tribal relation.
while II may entail some hardships at
good results, 1t will deprive the nm.
the start will, in the long rum show
good results 1t will deprive the nm.
scrupulous Indian agent Of some of
those opportunities that he has so net
lively improved in the past to rob nj
once both the Indian and the govern
mcnt, but II will invest our wards with
larSer dignity and responsibility and
give them a new incentive to work for
their own salvation.
The allotment system has been ac
cepted by the majority of the Indians
as their new industrial basis. while
others have complied with the condl
tons of the law by adopting the GUS
toms of civilized life This latter tend.
ency is doubtless one that should be
encouraged, It is well TO recall again
what Colonel Pratt, former superln
tendent of the Carlisle Industrial
school, said that one-fourth of the sum
expended In supporting the Sioux on
their reservation for the last twenty,
six years, would have suiliced by dis
trlbuting them through various com.
munities TO make them self.support,
ing. Other men who have been study.
Ing this question have reached similar
conclusions, AT the recent Mohonl,
conference Frank Wood said The
system Is such that If This choice com
pang, gathered from all over the land,
could be put upon a reservation sub.
icct 10 all It's rules subject to the
tyrant who controls inside it's walls,
that fence our liberty, the gospel ana
education, and fence in idleness. bar
barity and paganism In the course OF
a generation 1t would not be much bet.
ter than some Of the worst of the In.
dian reservations
He also repeated what General
Crook, the old Indian fighter once SAID
to him: IF ! were an Indian and had
TO bear the wrongs that they have
borne, would be worse than any
Indian | ever saw" We have In many
Instances seen II TO be true of the
indian what Or Johnson said Of the
ScOtchman: Much can be made Of
him If caught young MANY Of the
tribal leaders have shown qualities
that under proper direction would
have made them distinguished In ciyl,
lied life But under the influence OF
ne tribal system Il has too often hap
pened that those who have had the
benefit Of educational facilities have
lapsed into the demoraliaed condition
mat their environment encourages.
Instead Of trying to get rid Of the In,
dian let us test the humanitarian ex.
pertinent OF seeing what can be made
Of him with our help and his own ma.
tural capabilities and endowments.
Such policy offers a prospect Of Sc
curing a social and industrial factor
Of value 70 our country.