Among the Apaches, Part I [pp. 311-322]

wAmong tIke Apaches.
that I would, knowingly, steal a cent
from any man?"
"No," answered the inspector, "were
I on oath to testify to my own knowledge
of your character as an honest man and
a gentleman, I would swear that you are
both."
",Vell," was the rejoinder, "while I
would die before I would steal, as a thief
is understood to steal, I advise no one
to give me a chance to make big or small
money out of Uncle Sam- for I'11 take
it every time. It is not theft to rob a
thief, and you will find pretty much
everybody around here of my mind on
the subject. Instead of helping us
poor pioneers of civilization in the wilderness-the government so hampers
us with absurd paper technicalities, before we can get our rightful dues, that
sometimes years pass before we are paid
for the hay, wood, and barley we have
furnished to the troops and the Indians,
and then the total amount is cut down
as if we had tried to rob it in any way
we could. One may as xwell be a thief -
in that way -as to have the name and
treatment of one; so don't give me a
chance at the treasury surplus, or I'll
reduce it without any congressional
help."
Anl, honest, truthful man, and gen erous, whole-souled gentleman as he was
accounted by every one who knew him,
he would have done it without the slight est compunction of conscience.
One very important auxiliary in trans forming men from savage to civilized
life, is the influence brought to bear up on them through the labors of Christian
men and women as educators and mis sionaries. This has been forcibly illus trated and clearly demonstrated among
the different Indian tribes, by the mis sionary labors of the various religious
societies in the last few years. Civiliza tion is a plant of exceeding slow growth,
unless supplemented by Christian teach ing and influences. A liberal encour agement by the government to all
religious denominations to extend their
educational and missionary operations
among the Indians would be of immense
benefit.
In one year, not long since, there was
expended in cash by the different religious societies for regular educational
and missionary purposes among the Indians, the sum of $216,680, and doubtless
much more which was not reported
through the regular channels. This was
just so much money saved to the government, which is an item of some importance; but insignificant in comparison
with the healthy influences created by
men and women who have gone among
the Indians, not for personal benefit, but
for the noble purpose of helping these
untutored and uncivilized people to a
higher plane of existence.
In no other manner can our Indian
population be so speedily and permanently reclaimed from idolatry and savagery, as by the educational and missionary operations of the Christian people
of our country. This kind of teaching
will educate them to be sober, industrious, self-reliant, and to respect the
rights of others; and it is not only the
interest but the duty of the government
to encourage these efforts in the most
liberal manner. No money spent for
the civilization of the Indians will return
a better dividend than that spent in this
way. Not that all the good people are
inside the churches, and all the bad ones
outside; but a little observation will
convince any one that a very large pro portion of those who sacrifice time and
money for the good of others is found
inside of some Christian organization.
If we expect to stop sun-dances, snake worship, and other debasing forms of
superstition among Indians, we must
teach them some better way. This,
with liberal appropriations by the gov ernment for the establishment of indus t'rial schools, where the thousands of
Indian children now roaming wild shall
be taught to speak the English language
1889.]
317