Because the Indian was cruel to his enemies, it does not necessarily follow that he was bad. Among every band there were bad and wild young men who could not be restrained. This has been admitted in the testimony of Red Cloud, Spotted Tail, and many other prominent Indians. Red Cloud, from the Indian point of view, considered it no more cruel to kill his enemies than for us to compel people to work as slaves. He heard we made women and children labor from daylight to dark. This, as well as our long hours for mill-hands and laborers, he considered cruelty. He indicated this in a conversation with me many years ago. One of the prominent Southwestern Indians, when asked by Colonel Dodge, “Why are you Indians so cruel?” cited many things of common occurrence among white people which were considered perfectly proper by them, but which the Indians would not tolerate. It all depends on one’s point of view. In condemning Indians for cruelties, we must remember that the patriarchs of the Old Testament, in the name of religion, destroyed more innocent persons in a few of their wars than have the Indians in all of their wars.
I do not agree with the widespread belief that through our general education of Indians, we have raised their moral and religious tone. We have improved some thousands, but the greater number of Indians, observing from the treatment accorded them that we do not practice what we preach, have less realization of their responsibilities and exhibit less integrity than formerly. A letter addressed to the average Indian trader who has done business with Indians more than twenty years, will bring a reply to the effect that their business obligations were more faithfully kept in the past than at present.
As to missionary endeavor among the Indians during the past sixty years, I find that there are upwards of fifty Protestant denominations who maintain mission stations in various parts of the Indian country. These include every denomination, but those most prominent are the Presbyterians, Baptists, Friends, Congregationalists, Methodists, Episcopalians, Moravians, Lutherans. In addition there are the Home Missionary Associations (interdenominational) and the National Indian Association. It is impracticable to present details of their work. The National Indian Association is one of the strongest of these bodies, and was organized thirty-five years ago. It has fifty-two stations scattered throughout the West, and some idea of its good work may be had by the illustration presented of the Good Samaritan hospital maintained at Indian Wells, Arizona. (page [275]).
The educational and humanitarian work of the Association has been the helping to right political wrongs; gathering of Indian children into schools; stimulating and preparing capable Indians for wise leadership among their people; loans of money to Indians to enable them to build homes or to carry on business. The Association has done a large and influential educational work, and through its Home Building and Loan Department has enabled Indians to build homes which have become civilizing centers of family life. It has also made loans to Indians for the purchase of implements of labor or for stock needed to begin some useful and paying industry. By such methods the Association seeks to put the Indian in a position to earn his own living and to become self-supporting and self-reliant. It has maintained library, temperance, hospital, and other departments; trained Indian young women as nurses, and assisted Indian young men and women to obtain training as physicians and teachers, some of whom have long been working to help their own people. The Cambridge (Mass.) branch of this organization is especially active and has contributed generously. The work of the missions maintained by the Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Baptists, Methodists, etc., comprehends general religious education and charitable work among the Indians.
Rev. Thomas C. Moffett, Chairman of the committee on Indian work of the “home missions council”, has just published an interesting book entitled, “The American Indian on the New Trail.” This presents an excellent review of missionary labors among Indians, including much of a statistical character. The review is broad, and covers the entire United States.
The Bureau of Catholic Missions, Washington, has in charge the many missions maintained by the Catholics. I have visited a number of these in various parts of the West, along with the Protestant missions, and find most of them well equipped and doing splendid work.
The California Indian Association has concerned itself more with the securing of homes for dispossessed Indians. In Chapter XXXI, dealing with California conditions, the secretary, Mr. C. E. Kelsey, has commented on the work of the association.
The Indian Rights Association is the most famous of all the benevolent organizations. Organized in 1882, its work has grown and expanded until at the present time its activities cover most of the reservations of the United States. It has frequently been in sharp conflict with the Indian Office, but at the present time the relations between Commissioner Sells and his able assistants and this and other organizations, are most friendly and helpful. The pamphlet, covering the activities of the organization, the number of steals of land it has prevented, the reforms instituted, dishonest employees forced out of the Service and all other recommendations, covers some hundred or more instances and places.
Its corresponding secretary, Mr. Mathew K. Sniffen, returned from Alaska in September of this year, after having spent three months investigating the most deplorable condition of the Alaska Indians.
The Indian Industries League of Boston was organized in 1901 and has done much to encourage arts and industries among certain Indian tribes. It does not attempt to do missionary work, although it has educated a number of Indians. In recent years the League has held fairs and disposed of large quantities of blankets, baskets, bead work, etc., thus aiding many old Indian women in New Mexico, California, Washington and elsewhere.