The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1916-05-26
Menomlnee Again Heard From.

TRY like the United States. True dis
Ecipline is needed on the Menoninet
Indian reservation.
}. The average Menominee Indiar
would become exceedingly FESTIVE TN
der the true acting system of the Fed
erai Cove nment. But Oh the Menonl.
inee Indian Reservation, under the In.
terror department political appoint
ee acts as superintendent with q
crown on his head dignifed Scbrea II
whose laws grips the Indian at almost
every point Of his daily life. The writ
er's own experience Of this system, q
member Of the tribe at times almost
pushed him to the point of profan-
ity. =
While the policy of stringency is
carried on to harmful extreme in
regard to the uplift Of the Indian in
his upward climb towards civiliza-
ton, one can, nevertheless, appreciate
the advantages that up to a certain,
point accrue from it, and if the Fed
ersl government should ever decide
to dispense with q position Of what it
has in excess, the Menominee, Indians
would be very glad indeed to wish that
so much of it as the interior depart
ment do dispense with that it would
be a good policy to send over to the
Menominee Indian Reservation to be
used in stiffening up the methods Of
their domestic and judicial admins
Efn,. Ia hwy II: L
a political appointee with the dig
nified crown Serbia II, presump-
live upon the grounds that this being
1 free country superintendent was
at liberty to do as he liked among
the Indians whom he regards as
.savages, is altogether an exaggera-
lion to the actual facts, and not
limited to the application Of the
American Constitution. In the. mind
of the savage Indian, there is III the
American Constitution a clear and
sharp distinction between liberty and
tyranny.
Liberty is the privilege of doing
what is right. Tyranny is the privi-
:ege of doing what superintendent
likes whether it is fight or not, and
fnoreso it is inconsistent to the
Anne. lean constitution.
The advantage resulting from the
rigidity of law that is constantly en-
forced does not consist only in the
resulting security from damage to
The Indian and his posterity, but in
quality Of character that is wrought
under pressure Of resistless author
lty. This pressure, especially where
carried into petty details, will work
an evil result of it's own and convert
the subject Of such pressure into au-
ton.ta that have so much exterior
will be forced to the Indians as to
become weakened in the exercise of
their own will, but such pressure,
held within due limits, does effect
solidifying character, and this the
Indian knows, to be so even in mod |
'ern civilizations
But the fact with the Menon1inee
Indian is that lis individu l:sr
has gone slightly. crazy from undue
reverence of the past, and for the
achievements of the fact which has
caused them to be dreamers, who VIII
not progress. Physical, social and
economiio isolation has removed
them from, the influence of stimulus
standards or goals of achievements.
The next generation will show still
further advance along insaneliness un-
less somewhat more of the American
principle of positive authority steadily
exercised is carried on the reserva-
ton and applied to all those who are
endeavoring to reach the goals of
modern society.
Obedience to law is a lesson that
has to be learned, it is true, and
there is also only one period in life
when it is learned effectually.
1t is the slack pressure on the
Menonninee Indian Reservation Of the
true American principle of positive
authority that has opened the flood
gates Of unrestfained utterance in all
places and Upon all matters.
This is no plea for narrowness or
bigotry, nor any pettifogging, but in
the true sense of the word. the Men |
omnee Indians need the true Amer
lean principle Of positive authority to
stiffen the methods of their Judicial
administration. There are great
many of the Menominee's who feel
hat the records Of the past five years
s evident demonstration Of that nee
essity.
Because the Menominee Indian
earnestly believes that this reserva-
ton is consistent past of the Unit
ed States where the government is
vested in the people rather than
King, Emperor or Gear, therefore
here is rot single reason why it
;hould BE administered with any less
aecisiveness.
Government governs or It is no
government, and 4 tight run is even |.
more necessary for the Governments i
ocSnio1S y1,,oro