THE SIOUX BILL.
The friends of the Indians have sought earnestly and successfully to secure proper legislation looking to the civilization of the Indians. The Dawes Bill and the Sioux Bill have been hailed with joy as important steps in this direction.
But Senator Dawes himself and other intelligent friends of the Indians have foreseen the possible difficulties in the way. The refusal of the Indians to sign the treaty at the recent council at Standing Rock, and the indication at this writing that the same refusal will meet the Commissioners at the Cheyenne, Rosebud and Pine Ridge Agencies, present the picket lines of these difficulties. But beyond all these lie the stronger hindrances. The great trouble is that the Indian is still an Indian, in his ignorance, his want of training for civilized life, his dislike of work, and his incompetency to make profitable use of the lands and teams and implements proffered to him. Of what use to any man, white or Indian, is 160 acres of land if he doesn’t want it, if he doesn’t know how to use it, and can’t make a living on it? After all that has been said and done, the thing that the Indian needs is a Christian education. If he has that, he will know how to work and will be inclined to work, and will become a good and self-supporting citizen. Christian friends of the Indian! rally to the great work of Christianing these Indians. The primer and the New Testament are their great want.