OCR Text |
Show REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF INDIAN SCHOOLS. 381 On the 2d of December, 1882, the Secretary of the Interior issued to the Indian agents a letter of great wisdom and value in regard to <'hindrances" iu the may of the civilizatiou of the Indiar~sc, ontaining these words: Another great hindrance to the civilization of the Indiana is the influence of the medicine men, who arealvnys fbund with the antiprogressive party. The medicine men resort to various artifices and devices to keep the people iinder their influence, andare especially active in preventing tho sttondenoe of children in puhliosohools, and tlain- their ooqiurars' arts to prevent tho people from nbs~ldoning their hea-theninhrrtes sndcustoma. Whilethey profess toonre rliseaa~shyedmioi~tering~few simple remedies, still they rell- mninlj- on their srt of eoc~juring. Their services are not required even for the ndministrabion of the 'few sirnple remedies they are com-petent to recommen<l, for the Goverolnent sopplies the several agencies with skill-f i l l phyaioiana, who practice atuoug the I n , l i a ~w~i~th ant oharjin to them. Steps should be takeii to compel t,hese i~upostersto r bendo on this deception and disoon-tinue their practices, vhieh sre not only withoot bonefit to the Indians, but pori-tively injurious to them. I do not know how far tliese instructions were ever enforced on the reservationsas a whole, but 1 have found afewfrotn which this evil spirit 1138 beer1 cxort isell. to tllr lo;i~~iti.ls~t eueut0 1' the r rser \~at i~~nSsu.o ll ufrcr tl~esei ~~s t l~~vtriroerlet sIS SI ICL~l: c\.. Jlr. Si cke r s~)U~n~it.t .cl S~liltes 111tlinn: #-c enti ~tth e k1~1111;Iit{l~z s P ~ v ; I~~O~I~I IItIhI~i,s evil armyill:. itscJli actively against good order, aud some kiilings mere perpetrated in con-sequence. Agent Nickersou, with charactesistic decision, proclaimed to the Indiar~st hat "these practices mnst cease at oirce and forever; that he would not allow them any longer," and they were then a.nd there stamped out. Wheu I was at Kl;tmar7tbi,n Angust of 1890, Imas introduced to one of the old lnedioi~re men. I asked him "How now about Indian medicinel" With an appropriate gesture, he promptly replied "Long time quit." And a gracious deliverance it was. That reservatiou shows the good effect of the action of that heroic ageut. Why can not more be done iu this directiou? Can not the Depart-ment stimulate the agents to act effectively for the suppressiou of this . great curse? And at least might not very material progress be made tomards its suppression? 111 the language of United States Indian Ag.e nt Fisher, of the Fort Hall Reservation- The time is a t hand when this wild sun l~wl e sesl omeutshoukl be m ~ d teo reelioe that they mill not be i~.llon.octl o oppose and sueer a t orders given theal lly the U~lit,e<I States (iovrr~~ment. MISTAEEN XETHODS. Costly experience in the line of presents and annuities has provecr beyond doubt that gifts of food, money, and blanket8 to an Indian who can work do not inake him any less a savage, but on the contrary teild to intensify his obnoxious traits. With some of the tribe8 this system may continne for a time under treaty stipulations; but it is hoped that the period of this stipul~tion is near its close, for the system is rot promotive of true progress. The better solution of the problem will provide for the reconstrnction of Indian character, the inspiration of self respect and reliance, the development of integrity and industry, and a fostering nf the virtues of civilizatio~rb y the life, teaching, and help of a truly civilized man. When the Ir~diar~fus lly understalld that the Government mill uot support them in idleness, but mill aid them in industry, then, instead of spending their nights in gambling and riot, they mill become stea~lya nd iudustrions. But it is the duty of the Goverument to furnish these people ~ i t shorn e industrj by wl~iclk life can be ~ustained. |