THE CHBMAWA AMERICAN
7
certain extent the increasing interest and
geuerousity in the matter cf Indian eduea
tion. I well remember during my first
year in Congress, when so poorly supplied
by the general government we did not
have the service that is now rendered these
people. It became necessary even, for
liiw boys and girls of this, then small, in
stitution to get out into the hop yards and
pick hops, the wages from which became a
fund which was expeuded in the purchase
of 80 acres of land which was then deeded
to the government of the United States,
and forms today an important part of the
estites of this institution."
To the people, the patriotic people, the
educational people and the lovers of right
and justice, all of them of the city of Salem,
may we say a kindly word, for it was due
to the people of Salem that the up-building
of all these magnificant structures, and
it was due to the generousity and foresight
of the people ot Salem that the first foun
dation was laid for this institution. It
was they who contributed the means to
purchase this magnificant plot upon which
we stand today.
These bui'dings will testify in a large
sense the wonderful growth in develop
raeut and education. At cue time some
few humble frame buildings, mere shacks,
stood here, in which education was taught,
aud today look at the surroundings. I
often recall the beautiful historical saying
of the celebrated Emperor, Augustine of
Rome, who boasted that he found Home
built of brick aud left it in marble. So it
may be said of the promoters of this in
stitution, that they found it in humble
frame buildings and left it in brick. When
other liue marble buildiugs take the place
of these, I expect, and 1 predict that this
institution of Chemawa will rank, if not
first, second in importance and in number
of pupiis, aud in its results among all the
institutions of Indian learning in the Unit
ed States. Let us then lend our efforts to
bo honor this institution and bring about
the wonderful benefits and that the day I
have predicted will soon come to pass.
"When we look over these five or six hun
dred pupils from various reservations
throughout the land, we find them to be
raw material. But when they leave here
they are the finished product. There is
nothing like the Indian education of our
government. Nothing like it in past yeais,
and nothing like it on mother earth. The
government insured tbej grand future in
auguratiug such a superb system as this
which has its magnificent operations before
it as witnessed day by day. Our govern
mentin extending its generous aid to Indian
education accomplishes a two-fold purpose;
that of humanity, that ot Christianity, that
of reaching down and then of lifting uo, of
going down to the base and bed rock and
lifting them up to a high plane of civiliza
tion and eulightment. Secondly, it has
the further object of making good citizens,
of welding these little fellows as the corner
stones, as it were, in this magnificant
fabric of republican government. They
will take our place in the course of time.
They will stand with your children and
my children as the voters of this country,
as law-makers of this country and as those
to execute law3 of this country.
Therefore, it is vitally essential that our
institutions shall so mould these little fel
lows that they will become useful; valuable
and responsible citizens. As our children
areiaught today, so our government will be
tomorrow. The most important problem
in any government, that especially, is good,
government. The more moral are its ele
ments the better will be the easy enforce
ment of laws, the greaver respect of law;
the greater the discipline of law; the
greater advantage to society, the greater
stimulus to the people; the greater and
stronger will be the stability of the foun
dation of the government itself.
To these circumstances we can hold two
things: First, Indians as they are, that
they are now coming into condition in life
and under policies inaugurated and main
tained by the government that will guar
antee to them fair chance and fair play in
the race of life. We find frequentiustances
where the Indian has excelled, where he
has gone out into civilization. And I re-