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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1887)
TIIE INDIAN SCHOOL AT CHEMAWA. 7 the slaughter of thousands of innocent the tribal title has been rcwguiml so men, women and children, the expendi- long, it is now too late to luwmmo Hint it tore of millions of money, the infliction does not exist, and the Indians must U of much cruel punishment nvA the per- cespcUd for &a WI liiua U'umi. petration of many acta of monumenUl The purchaso money should m applied injustice, we now find ourselves com- honestly and intelligently to the sot pelled to do what should have been our tlcment of the individuals upon their re policy from the beginning deal with spective tract, and the supplying of the Indian as an individual We must them with necessary facilities and in break up the tribal organization, give the struction for gaining a livelihood. This Indians land in severalty, make them also includes their protection from the responsible to the law for their conduct rapacity of soulless men, who would, if and dependent upon their own exertions permitted, soon become the possessors for a living, and educate them to become of every acre of land allotted to the In intelligent, industrious and harmless cit- dians, leaving them with nothing what, izens. As a legitimate result of our old ever to depend upon. The next step is policy, we see the Indians herded to- the education of the children in the gether on reservations, shiftless and im- common branches taught in our public provident, scorning labor, dependent on schools, and their instruction in the or the government for support, and unac- dinary trades and in agriculture. It is tuated by the first impulse of a desire of the utmost importance to instill into to improve their mental and social con- the Indian mind the idea that lalior is dition. Ostensibly for their benefit, honorable, that industry is commend great tracts of land, millions of acres in able, and that to be a property owner extent, are withheld from occupation by and self-supporting is to occupy a much industrious settlers. Of this land they higher position than his present one a make no practical use, and much of it roving and improvident idler. To do never feels the tread of an Indian's foot this, time will be required, for the natur from one year's end to another. As a al impulses, rooted and grounded in a huntiug ground, now that game has al- race for generations, are not easily suit most disappeared, it serves but little to planted. Much effort has been made in add to their support, and of its soil they this direction, but the reservation ays will make little use so long as they re- tern lias almost completely nullified il tain the idea that the government will, It is of little use to undertake to inctil and must, support them. The reserva- cate principles of industry in the mind tion system is devoid of a single virtue of the young, when they see them con to which it can appeal for support, but stantly ignored and scorned by their el on the contrary, it sUnds, like a granite ders. Even when children are removal wall, across the pathway leading to the to a distance, ami given instruction in elevation of the Indian race. such schools as those at Cheraawa, Car- The first step to be token is the sev- lisle, Lawrence, and other place, the ef erance of tribal relations and the weak- feet of their training are quickly over ening of tribal influences, by the assign- come by their contact with, ami almost ment of specific tract of land to each necessary particijtion in, the derooral individual, and the throwing open to king methods of the reservation. Pre settlement of all lands now included cept makes but slight headway when op within the limit of reservations, not posed by example. The taatf r of ed. thus apportioned to the Indians. A cation on the reservation has U-n very