The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1914-01-30
Reservation System
BY Carlos Montezuma. NJ. ID. Apache


The very name Reservation" con-
tradicts the purpose for which it was
instituted. Reservation Is from Re-
serve. Reserve in this connection is
to set apart, and to set apart means
to separate them; and to separate
from, means to deprive the separated
from all relations to that from which
it Is to be kept Therefore, the p,fr-
pose being to ciyilize the Indian, the
way to do 1t Is to keep him discon-
nected from civilization. And this Is
what the reservation. even IL not 80 ,
designated, has been so highly sue
cessful in accomplishing.
In one respect, we have always been
and are ready to give credit, where
credit is due, and we must therefore
acknowledge that the thing which
the reservation, though not so des-
ignated, was yet certain to accomplish,
has been thoroughly wrought out.
The Indian has most certainly been
reserved, and is still reserved. He is
still to be civilized, because he has
been reserved from civilization. And
after all these years we are thankful
at least that those who are and have
been most interested (for personal
reasons) In this reservation of the In
dian, have come to see, to some ex-
tent. what a Capitalization the whole
system Is in itself That they now
see, Is not so strange, as the fact that
they have been so long in getting their
eyes opened.
AS we have said before the reserva-
ton, in it's very name. and the system
embraced in the meaning
of the word, carried with it, at the
day OF its adoption. its own prognosis
of the fate Of the Indiar WHO should
be so unfortunate as to be included
within it's limits. There are few
not all belonging to the Indian race
have for years known
that the outlook for the Indian was
dark" indeed, and these few had
this foresight simply because, know
ing the seed, they knew what fruit
would spring therefrom. In other
words, 1t is the old, old story over
again. No figs from thorns, nor
wheat from tares. You reap what
you SOW, and can expect nothing else.
The reservation system has been
monument to the want of knowledge
Of human nature on the part OF those
who have been instrumental in per-
putating It.. The failure to recognize
the brotherhood Of man In the IN
dian, that he was a multiple being.
however ignorant he might be, and
not moro unified in his natural en-
dowments and faculties than other
men subject to similar conditions and
has been his greatest
handicap. And 1t has been, and 1T Is,
this reverse idea Of the Indian that
has given rise to so much impractic-
able specializing or the subject OF the
American Indians relation to the rest
Of the people.
In this respect the supporters OF
he reservation system and the bureau
behind it, have been travelling In ono
direction, while they started the In
Han at an angle of go degrees on an
,ther road. And, now, after so many
5ears, they wonder why they are so
ar apart.
In conclusion, we will add that
whether the Indian reservation system
8 inherently wrong, in principle. In
10 longer an open question, but, that
t is so, Is an established fact; and
is practical workings, therefore. nee
,ssarily a failure in respect of what
,ught to be accomplished toward
ringing the Indian into civilized life.