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