The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1939-08-17

Travel note-There are still those who 60 west
and who go east, but biggest in travel out OF
this center this year is-Minnesota Fair west and
Fair east but Minnesota is doing good job of hold
ing its own with its native folk. . /. And the news
in travelling that many from this city have headed
for Minnesotas North Shore batch of wilderness
and invariably ended with crossing into Canada
It's novel enough to be fun; it's back-to-nature
enough to attract those who rarely got real breath
of good, countrified air. It's near enough for a
decently non-exhaustive trip. Many have found
trouble In week or two going to the far corners
OF the country and viewing the scenery from a car
whisking at sixty miles per hour /. . Strange how
travel to be good must be just that-a whisking off
to far places I've talked with people who have seen
the four of the country but who have missed
Minnesota's iron range, its northern back woodsy
flavor. I am not the tourist bureau representative
peek into Minnesota does seem well-rounded
variant.
vanishing" American Is No Myth
You may not know it, but the history of the win
ming Of this country isn't done. A few miles to the
north is being written the in the finale
OF great national tragedy. Sounds ominous and
it Is. The American-Indian is a misnomer since
it was Columbus navigatonal belief he had reached
India-is a dying Statistics or no, his is a
dying Two diseases afflict him: tuberculosis
lays waste his body; ever-growng inferiority
complex is making this once bold proud untamable
savage cringing incompetent
This chapter you won't learn in history books
dams side. 1t was told to me by priest, Chip
pewa Indian, whose simple delivery held much
majesty never hope to retell it properly. For
twenty-four years he's worked with the Indians
and he thinks as the whiteman easily he men
tally falls in line with his trbesman. It all start
ed when little bark from England sailed into har-
Dor at what is now Plymouth and the Redman greet
ed the white. There great overtures of friend
illness because the Indian believed the whites ennis
saries from the Great Spirit. But quickly the In
dian disusioned. AS whites filtered to the
nIal la- biol
les with the Indian the Indian his livelihood
passing. Puzzled first then angered, he knew no
recourse except physical violence. And here the
soft-voiced priest Numbered, Il would disown any
race not redblooded enough to defend those rights"
:. He lapsed into his calm, earnest delivery, his
dark eyes shining. There was grief or resignation
as he spoke.
So the Indian turned to the tomahawk. Scaping
not of his origin. 1t was customary IN the carry
colonial days to rid oneself of enemies by killing
them Often hirelings were used, and as proof that
enemies could further modest them, colonists re-
quired that the scalp be rendered Payment was
then promptly made. Even the sanctimonious FIJI
they come seeking relglous lreeooii
would nav for no scalp unless both ears were at
tached Then came the mad, historical push TO the
west The Indian bled and beaten ceased his strug-
gles He was given reservations ianelea prot tisa
"a problem in a land of which he alone was natNe.
Land was parceled to him. treaties said forever
Yet out of the eight reservations established IN TINS
state, only one remains: tore'e e. tne Mns Of
this priest THE Indian is a dying race All the
grief.like sickness that engulfs a man from whom
something precious life is passing was III hiS
voice and his manner.
Here in this valley where now is our town,
Indians once fshed, hunted raised food. Here the
same moon that shines smiled Indian
brave wooed his maiden. Today, huddled on reser-
vations, where this once sef-sufficient tribesman
roamed free, he is regarded ward of the state
an incompetent, problem His inferiority within
himself mounts Even yet an Indian is fined and
thrown into Jail for drunkenness. But what of the
man who sold him the liquor who took advantage
of his weakness, led him in his ignorance. His
tendency towards diseases arises. No, his explola-
ton goes on Here in our own backyard is the dra-
matte story of the ruthless push of civilization
whole of noble people, with the highest
of moral codes, religion, family relations passes
His sin: He is different color.