The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1916-05-25

the point where he does not need
crutuhes be lays them aside as a
useless incumbrance to locomo
ton.
| The Indian Bureau will never
do away with itself. 1t has be-
come 80 extended in the matter Of
Office holding that it exists now
more for the purpose of aiding the
politician than for any good to the
Indian.
II has become a formidable
branch Of the government and it
is going to be a difficult thing to
grt it out of the way. 1t furnishes
d living to such a large number of
persons that it would be useless to
try and legislate it out of exis-
tence. We realize that it would
be abolt as easy to remove a
mountain as it would be to get a
bill through Congress abolishing
the Indian Bureau. 1t therefore
becomes absolutely necessary to
terminate it's existence by getting
the Indians out of it's control; and
like mill without grist to grind,
it would soon be out of business.
1t is stumbling block in the road
which the Indian is compelled to
travel.
Those connected witt: the Bur
eau in an administrative capacity
we'll know if the course we sug-
gest is pursued the Bureau
would be put out of business; and
therefore, the plan which must be
adhered to is to keep the Indian
where he is and thus provide an
excuse for continuing the Bureau.
This is what keeps the Indian
where he is today, neither in nor
out of civilization. He is neither
independent of the government
nor yet part of it. On the reser-
walton there is nothing to stimu
late him to action. Nothing for
him to look forward to. Moth
ing to excite in him hope of bet
tering his condition.
4 human being cannot be statl-
onary. By virtue Of his construc-
ton he is either going forward or
backward. This is the situation
of the Indian on the reservation.
Withdrawn AS he is from those
influences which surround men IN
the midst of civilization he leads a
mere negative existence. He is
doing nothing to improve himself
or those around him. He is with
out even the pleasure of entertain
inc bright hopes for his children.
There is nothing to encourage him
in any direction. He does, how
ever, entertain hope which, though
not SO realized by him, is an ex-
ceedingly vain and foolish one,
namely, hope that through the
Indian Agent there will come to
him, in some way, at some time, a
relief from his degrading environ
ments and that he will be brought
into the life which he sees the pale
face enjoying; that he will become
a man among men wit all the
rights that men generally have.
The Indian is thinking, reason
inc being, endowed with like fac
ulties as are given to other men.
And though untutored he IS not
unmindful of himself as to what
he is: and his sense of pride and
his spirit of independence are
wounded by the attitude which the
government assumes toward him.
He IS not reconciled to his situa-
ton aid it cannot be expected
that he should be. His condition
j. at variance with natures laws.
The Indians have been for many
years ready and willing to recog-
nize the restraints incident to civ
llizatiou. He desires to be a part
of this civilized people and is will
inc to do what is required of him.
He therefore feels that he ought to
I- H., ,ri-ilnrac that are piyen