President Cleveland voiced the opinion of all thoughtful and intelligent citizens when he wrote that “the conscience of the people demands that the Indians within our boundaries be fairly and honestly treated as wards of the government, _and their education and civilization promoted with view to ultimate citizenship_.”
With a chance to work, the Indian needs also the chance to learn, and this he is getting more and more. Whether he _will_ learn is a question no longer open to doubt. General Armstrong’s testimony is given above. Captain Pratt says “scarcely a student but is able to take care of himself or herself among civilized people at the end of their five years’ course.” Bishop Hare, of the Episcopal Church, who has been doing splendid work among the Indians for many years, gives unwearying attention to schools on the reservations, but says, “I cannot shut my eyes to the incalculable service which well-conducted Eastern boarding-schools have done the Indians.”
When we shall have for a few years treated the Indian like a human being, there will be no “Indian question” to discuss.
The editor is the great American schoolmaster. None other is worthy to be compared with him.
He is about as numerous as all other teachers combined. His lessons are given more frequently, they last longer and they cost less than any others.
To him forty-nine students in every fifty are indebted for the only post-graduate course they ever receive. Many others would have no education at all if it were not for him.
He does not always know his business so well that he could not know it better, but whatever he does know he imparts steadily, as well as some that he does not honor.
He is the only influence upon whom the public can absolutely depend to right any wrong which is being endured in spite of the efforts and oaths of legislators. When law is lazy and legislators are venal it is the editor, and the editor only, who comes to the relief of the public. The public will not do this for itself. It seems to consider its duty done when it casts its ballot. More than half a century ago, when editors were not supposed to think their souls their own, the first Napoleon said, “Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets.” Napoleon certainly knew the value of bayonets.