The second part of the concert consisted of Jubilee songs, college songs, and patriotic songs, more popular music, but to some of us it was a letting down from the heights to which we had been lifted. It was received, however, with demonstrations of delight, which could not have been expressed for the first part, if it had been felt. Almost everything was encored. The college songs were full of rollicking fun, and the Jubilee music brought rounds of applause again and again.
When “Good news, the chariot’s coming,” and “Silver Slippers” were sung, the dignified legislators got to beating time with their feet in real camp-meeting style.
“Way down upon the Suwanee River” was sung with a softness and sweetness that reminded one of Jenny Jackson in the old Jubilee days. It was listened to with breathless attention and followed by prolonged applause.
The concert closed with “America,” beautiful and grand, as it always is. The whole audience rose to their feet and joined with a heartiness which showed that the “old time” has indeed “gone,” and “new times” for the South, white and black, are already here.
This bill, known also as the Dawes Bill, for the opening of parts of the great Sioux reservation and settling the tribal boundaries of each division of the Sioux nation now occupying it, failed to become a law by the fatal objection of one man, Representative Holman.
The bill was warmly advocated by the best friends of the Indians as being the best possible compromise with the tide of civilization pressing in on these people from every side. The Black Hills were seized by the whites first, and bought afterwards. It was hoped to prevent the recurrence of such robberies. It was also felt that these Indians needed to be forcibly reminded that their condition has changed, and that they must speedily adapt themselves to the ways of civilization or go under. The majority of them accept this idea in theory, but are very slow to adjust themselves to it practically. The thing they are slowest about is to select for themselves good lands for homesteads. They are loth to separate from each other, and few of them have any idea of what good land is.
Here may be one of the ways in which the postponement of this measure will be a blessing. Time is something much needed in the Indian’s re-adjustment of himself to the new conditions of life. If he can only be encouraged now to exert himself to establish a separate home and open a farm; if he can be guided so as to avoid serious mistakes, he will come out the better for the delay. Let the Christian public throw their sympathy and interest towards securing this end. The Government is well disposed, but cannot act alone. It will do what the public demands.