The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-11-25
STRINGENT POLICY
TOWARD INDIAN IS
limited IN REPORT
Government Board Would Not
Spare Red Man 'Disci-
pines of Freedom

washington, NOf. lo.-1 VllClcS Uc.
signed to make the Indian self sup
porting were urged in a report filed
with the secretary of interior We'd
nesday by the Board OF Indian Com
miss.oners, created by congress to ad-
wise it on the Indian problem.
The governmental aim, as set forth
in the report, is to help and lead the
Indians out from wardship into the
privileges and responsibilities of self
sustaining. self-respecting citizenship"
but how this is to be done is not dis
closed. Some hint of more stringent
Indian policy is contained, however,
in the suggestion that the Indian
should mot be spared all the healthy
discipline through which self-respect
and self-reliance are won."
TOO often" the report says, pol
icies are urged or legislation proposed
based apparently on the idea that the
Indian is to be forever dependent on
the bounty Of the nation. Not only
is he to be given free schools and hos
pitfalls and protected all his life in
FNiSOAA oA1N pAOPCACy AAOAAA VAC Va AAAAnAJ
contacts of modern life, he must be
housed and nursed and guarded and
guided until all self-reliance is drained
out of him. He is not even subject to
the laws by which other American cit
liens are governed and must not be
held responsible for his misdemeanorS.
If he uses a road or a bridge, the
government must build and repair it;
if he enters into any business rela-
lions, the government must stand be-
hind him and see that he meets with
no loss. He can not absolutely be
insured against bad weather, drought.
and grasshoppers, yet there are not
lacking tender hearted folk who blame
the national government when these
affiliations befall him.
Perpetuates Dependents
Granted that such a policy is pro-
posed in the name of kindness, yet is
not its inevitable effect to perpetuate
a race of dependents?
IF the Indian is to be a permanent
charge upon the public. like the physi-
cally disabled or mentally defective,
then all our effort to train and edu-
cate him is 50 much waste motion.
ITO much paternalism may be as
bad as too much harshness. The
manhood of the race must not be
further sapped under the guise of
benefit.
THE board refuses to believe that
an Indian Is incapable of living the
life of normal American citizen and
pledges its support to every endeavor
to hasten the time when the Indian
can be justly expected to forego the
special exemptions and privileges that
set him apart from other citizens.
1--WE can not believe that the gov
eminent should plan its activities
upon the idea that people must be
kept under protection and restraint
until no one of them shall ever make
an unsuccessful bargain or do some
thing wrong or foolish and suffer for
it.
1T should be plain enough that We
are not going toward independence
when We multiply and draw closer the
bonds between the Indian and the
federal government.
Denied Perils of Free
I'VE talk of training an Indian for
life, but too often We hesitate to give
him chance to live as a free man,
exposed to both the privileges and
the perils of freedom.
Even if he makes mistakes and
fails in forethought and industry and
thrift, how is he to win capacity if
the cold hand of authority Is always
to guide him or the warm hand of
sentimentality forever shield him from
the rough contacts Of the everyday
world?
In protecting him from his weak
nesses We may make it impossible for
him to develop his strength.
Shall We not refuse to encourage
pauperism and dependence and direct
all our efforts to Fastening the time
when our Indian fellow citizens will
stand on their own feet and hold out
their hands to their white neighbors
in fellowship instead of in supplica-
tion?"