m
VOL. 10.
JANUARY 31, 1908.
NO. 32
A
Mam
Splendid Article by a Keen
Observer
When the Anglo-Saxon speaks of in
dustrial education he generally has in
mind its skill and intelligence rather
than its moral side, yet this latter is the
one most needed by the backward races,
who have never learned the- value of
steady habits in industry and independ
ent self-support. The white man with
fixed habits of industry can develop the
moral side without the inherited resist
ance with which we have to contend.
White boys and girls take up higher
branches of industrial education with
enthusiasm, fascination, and the firm
hope that helps them to rise rapidly to
that standard of knowledge which secures
them the reward for which they seek.
But in the case of Indians, whose per
manent habits are so different, w6 can
not suppose that it will succeed quite as
fast. From my experience with the
Anglo-Saxon civilization, 1 think 1 can
see some of the reasons for our discour
aging condition. In the first place the
Indians naturally wished to live by
themselves and continue the life which
they believed to be the best. Hence,
whenever they are forced to make treat
ies they always insist upon separation
and the other party is only too glad to
grand it. In this way the reservation
system became established and we have
been allowed to remain in barbarism
even to this day. In some parts of the
country where the tribes are supposed
to be in the midst of civilization, we
have gone into worse than barbar
ism because, having lost our primitive
virtues and being in our infancy, we can
reach only the lowest fruit on the tree.
The best grows on the higher branches
beyond our reach. The cure is not to
amputate our poor hands but to train
them to help us, through the training of
our heads and oar hearts also, to rise
higher to where industry becomes cheer
ful. No man willingly engages in any
thing he does not love and no intelligent
man loves a work that does not inter
est his mind. Industrial education in
its broadest sense awakens his interest
and therefore offers and indefinite oppor-