The Tomahawk., 1925-11-12
What Civilization Shall
Be Passed Along?

generaClOn ShOuld regard their
position as that of responsible
shapers of events and the makers
of history. Never before, per-
haps, has that responsibility been
greater, or the duty to proceed
wisely, and thoughtfully more
binding than at this time. 1~--
In preceding eras of the worlds
progress every nation was, so to
speak, a law unto itself. Contact
came. usually, if at all, only upon
those occasions when conquest was
attempted or redress sought. Di.
plomacy was formal and little
more than a pretense. 1t was not
that free vehicle of understanding
Interchange which it has been
made by the operation for the
gaining Of characteristics of neigh
boring or widely separated peoples
form but quicker and more effici
ent means of communication. ~
But this somewhat informal in
terchange between nations and
peoples still lacks something. 1t
has not yet been divested of that
. super6ciality which seems some
times to add the actualities and
cloud the real issue at stake. Pro-
gress has been made, but not yet
do all nations speak freely and un
derstandingly with each other. 1t
may be said that as between the
principal English speaking coun
tries there remains little of con.
fusing formality, and nothing at
all which counsels or tends to
deceive. 49, -s-=,E.sac,,.-r q -...'-
Unfortunately, however, the key
of this fuller understanding exists
among those people who have not
yet swept away incumbering
forms, or made interchangeable or
Understandable the language.
simple and convincing-when right
interpreted, of neighborliness and
brotherly love. Is it to be wonder
ed at, then, that the North Ameri-
can Indian stands today be ewildered
and confused at the complex called
''civilization"9
One is convinced, in considering
what means or methods might be
most certain to promote this freer
interest and freer understanding,
that they are neither battleships
nor battle planes, nor anything
which might be construed as used
to emphasize one nations superior
ity over. another nation, or one
peoples greater advance along the
road of progress and civilization
than that made by a backward or
less favored nation. III. 49,
1t has been emphasized by the
recent visit of the United States
feet to some of the islands of the
Far Pacific that the eyes Of those
distant neighbors of America rest
appreciatively on the material
things which that country has had
q large part in providing for their
comfort and advancement, indus.
trially and otherwise. They trace
the automobile, the motion picture,
the radio, and other convenient or.
necessary accessories, to the ever
present constructive genius of the
American people.
These same foreign people, how.
ever. cannot understand American
treatment of her own subjects, the
North American Indians. They
cannot understand now a ward.
jackson Barnett, whose estate of
million dollars was dissipated with
in years time by the United
States Government Indian Bureau.
These foreigners cannot under.
stand why rich nation like the
United States will no fulfill her
treaties with the American Indians,
though these treaties are in every
instance legal and binding
Is this the civilization that is to
be passed on to the future genera
tions of young American man
hooda