Weekly Chemawa American., May 13, 1910, Page 8, Image 8

THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
REV. EDWARD MARSDEN.
(Continued from page 1.)
cussion with a well-meaning gentleman
in Portland. He was expressing his be
lief, saying that the Indian Schools are
not doing very good work for the Indian
boys and Indian girls. I asked him if he
had ever visited an Indian School, and he
. acknowledged that he had never visited
one and yet he felt qualified to pass criti
cism upon them. Theje are so many peo
ple who are ready to criticise us Now, my
friends, let us not give them any chance
to criticise us by our. actions, our weak
ness, by our carelessness, and let our op
portunites pass by. Let us show ihni
that we have learned a great d-al in
these schools so they can not criticise the
work carried out by this great govern
ment, that is doing so much for us and
for our race
I have worked with men who have at
tended this school, going back north af
ter leaving here. Many of them ate do
ing good work today; some of them are
making names for themselves. They
are holding responsible positions; they
are forging ahead in spite of all dif
ficulties. And again I am sorry to say
that some have only been drifting about,
and when the wind blows they blow for
ward. They are like sticks on the water
that flow whichever way the water is
flowing. Now we do not want to be that,
let us not be drifting sticks on the water.
I plead with you to make the best of it,
learn all the things you can, even if you
cannot remember them afterwards; they
will be a means of your good acts. This
country calls upon the Indians to take
part in the welfare of its great country.
Indians in the past have not held a
very high place, but I am very glad to
say that the Indians are now coming
up, accomplished by the splendid schools
that have been offered our race by
government. I have not a single word
of criticism- to speak against these schools
even if it is the smallest school, even if
turns out only one graduate once in ten
years, I am grateful for its work, to lift
up to a higher sphere and to better the
life of my race. Let us make the best of
them, let us move on, let us rise higher
and I am sure the country in which we
live will be glad to see us.
There are friends who are glad to f0U
low us on our course and help us in our
struggles. Nowhere is Mr. Campbell
I have known hitn-for many years. He
told n.e today that for the first time the
door is now open for our Alaskan boys
and girls who can come to this school.
It is something wonderful to me. I
would noi have known it if I had not
come down-here today. I am glad that
this goveniunt can oprn one of its great
est schools to our young men and young
women of the north to come down here
to lea: n.
Although 1 have not f-aid much yet
the one or two things I have told you
come from m heait May the Chemawa
School continue, as in the past, its good
work here, and 1 trust that the day will
come when our Indian race will be rais
ed out of the level of heathenism and ,
the old life and will be a part of this
country in which we live.
LOCALS
A. J. Watkins, formerly . nightvvatch
man of the School, spent Sunday at Che
mawa; Captain 0. C. Applegate, General In
dian Supervisor for the Oregon Census-',
spent Monday afternoon at the school
checking the census report.