Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-02
CHILDREN

q S. MCCLURE. the publisher visit
N ed the United States school for
Indians at Carlisle, Pa. and said
the time was rapidly approaching when
our public schools everywhere would be
confronted with the necessity of so
shaping their educational methods as
to make the education for which they
stand Of definite practical use to the
young people of America. This remark
must be taken in connection with the
circumstances which gave rise to it.
1t was elected by Mr.. McClure's frank
surprise at the much greater care, fore
thought and common sense bestowed
on the education of Indians than of
white folks. What he said had the ef-
feet of a statement that by and by the
government would awaken to the i'm
portance of using in the public schools
the same modern methods Of special
training that are used in the Indian
schools. The solicitude shown for Ia
dian children is in marked contrast to
the indifference with which white chill
dren are regarded and treated in the
United States. The herrlfying an
nouncement that a carefully prepared
report showed the number of white
children OF tender years employed in
the mills and factories OF the United
States was almost two million was re-
ceived with little or no excitement. But
it worried a few students-worried
them a great deal-and it worries them
yet.
The increase Of illIteracy among the
white people of the United states may
lead to mischief so serious the existence
of the republic may be endangered. Of
ficially, who cares, as long as the In
dian children are we'll educated and
well fed and well housed and we'll en-
ployed? Indian children deserve the
best treatment this nation can give
them. But white children also are en-
titled to the best treatment this nation
can give them. Why should the nation
take better care OF Indian children
than it does of white children?
Well, there is a reason. 1t is not al
truism that causes the Indian children
to be better cared for than they would
be If they were mere. everyday Cau-
casians. Some pledges were mace on
paper to the Indians. The government
placed itself under written obligation
to them.
But Is the nation not also under writ
ten obligation to the white children?
What is the meaning of the following
passage: "An men are created equal
and endowed by their Creator with GER
tain unalienable rights, among which
are life, liberty and the PURSUIT OF
HAPPINESS. Are the starveling gut
ter children and factory slaves of the
east pursuing happiness? Is the guar
antee OF the pursuit OF happiness as
real to them as 1t is to the Indian chill
dren? The covenant with the Indians
is kept. The covenant with the eau
casians is ignored.
Another instance of discrimination
against white children is found in the
south. Everybody knows about the So
called poor white trash Of certain
southern regions; the derelicts of eau
casianism, who, abandoned to their fate
by our rich and prosperous nation,
have reverted. Is it not a fact that in
the south more money is spent on the
education and care Of negro children
than of white? Benevolent government
tai philanthropy takes great pains and
expends much money in order to bring
about the greatest good for the greatest
number of Indian and negro children.
But the whites are only Caucasians. If
they cannot take care of themselves,
they are not worth bothering about. 1t
costs too much money to educate, feed
and clothe white children. Every avail
able cent is needed for the poor Indians
and downtrodden negroes. Besides, if
the white children were taught too
much and fed and clothed too well they
would not work as willingly in the fac
tories as they do. Happy Indian child!
Happy negro child! Tenderly cared for
and educated under the stars and
stripes, while the poor white child tolls
and moiIs in the mills and the mines!