I am no idealist. I am quite aware that there are good Indians and bad Indians, as there are good white people and bad white people; but I contend that if there is a general breaking down of the Indian character—which may or may not be true—it is due to us and not to the Indian.
As to his sense of honor, and his morality, Leupp presents the following:—
“Has the Indian a basic sense of moral responsibility sufficiently robust to be capable of high religious development? Let me tell you a true story. A number of years ago a group of twenty Indians who had been in controversy with the authorities in Washington entered into a solemn pact not to accept certain money which the Government was preparing to distribute among their tribe in three or four successive payments, because they believed that that would be a surrender of the principle for which they had been contending. Later the questions at issue were cleared up by a judicial decision which left the Indians’ protest not a leg to stand on. Nineteen of the twenty, including a candidate for the chiefship who had led the party into their attempt at resistance, bowed to the inevitable, took the money offered them at the next payment, and applied for the instalments then in arrears. The twentieth man, whose English name was Bill, stood out alone in his refusal to touch anything, but refused to tell why. Soon afterward I visited the reservation on business, and he sought me privately and opened his heart. He was poor, and his family were actually in need of some things the money would buy; so I tried to make him feel more comfortable by assuring him that the withdrawal of the others from their mutual agreement left him free to do as he wished.
“‘No,’ he declared; adding, in a phraseology which I shall not try to imitate, ‘we are all bound by a vow. I swore that I would not take my share of that money, and I must not. The others may change if they choose, but they cannot release me from my oath.’
“‘That is honorable, certainly,’ I answered; ‘but if you feel so strongly about it, why did you come to me for advice?’
“‘There is something you can tell me, and I am afraid to trust the others. I vowed for myself and not for my family, though they have not drawn their shares either. Now, can they get their money even if I don’t touch mine?’
“I said that I could get it for them.
“‘What becomes of my money if I don’t take it?’
“‘It will accumulate in the Treasury, and be paid to your heirs after your death.’
“‘You have made my heart glad,’ exclaimed Bill, laying his hand affectionately on my shoulder while his face beamed with satisfaction. ‘That is the way I would have it. I felt right in standing out, but I did not want my wife and children to suffer if I were wrong.’