1915: The American Indians are far more interesting and far more widely misrepresented than any other race
Indians Misrepresented
1915, April 21. The Washington Times
"If Santa Fe could inspire Ben Hur, surely it has attractions of some worth. Then, of course, there are the Indians."Americans are so very anxious to go and see Europe for themselves, and yet they are willing to take all sorts of stuff as gospel concerning the former inhabitants of their own country. The American Indians are far more interesting and far more widely misrepresented than any other race."
Just at this point I found what had really charmed Miss Church, in Santa Fe, and fairly held by breath in order that I might not disturb her in her narrative, which she gave unhesitatingly at last, with all fear of "publication" gone.
"As far as my studies of the Indian is concerned, let me say again, that my work was done merely for my own pleasure and satisfaction, and my desire was to get some idea of the present-day Indian, rather than of his forefathers," she prefaced. "The most astounding startling statements concerning our Indians have already been many by men and women famous as students of ethnology and archaeology, and it would scarcely do for a practical nonentity to come forth with some broad, bold beliefs which he could not prove as facts.
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| 1915, April 21 The Washington Times |
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CHAMPION OF THE INDIANS
Volume by Warren K. Morehead Protests
Against Our Treatment and Say That Our
Process of Civilization Is Being Pushed Too Rapidly
1915, Feb 13 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Fresh attention is called to the Indian and his problem by
the appearance of a somewhat pretentious volume, entitled “The American Indian
in the united States; Period, 1850-1914,” by Warren K. Morehead, A.M. (The
Andover Press, Andover, Mass.) Perhaps it would not be correct to call this a “pretentious
volume,” but for the fact that the author informs the public that he has set
himself to the task of preparing a number of volumes treating of the American
Indian of the present and past, but that be concludes that the Indian of today
should be the first considered. His reason for this, as stated by him, is: “A
study of the Indian of this country during recent years seems to indicate that
at no time in his history that he faced a more critical situation than that
which confronts him today. * * * A helpful understanding of him and his needs
is vastly more important than further scientific study.”
A man who has set himself to such a task as is thus outlined may be pardoned if he is enthusiastic about it. Mr Morehead thinks that the Indian has been greatly misunderstood by the average American; that the Indian is a strange and altogether interesting individual. He thinks the crisis which is impending as regards the Indian race is that the tribes, generally speaking, have been removed from their reservations and placed on farms in the effort to make good American citizens of them, but that this life is one for which they are not well adapted. The Indian, Mr Morehead considers, has become the easy victim of tuberculosis, for instance, by reason of the life he is compelled to lead indoors, instead of in the Indian abodes, to which he has become adapted for many generations.
The total Indian population, exclusive of Alaska, is placed at 330,639. Oklahoma has 117,274, and Arizona, 41,505, New York having 6,029. But it must not be thought that Mr Moreheads book is given up to statistics. It is not. It is a careful and exhaustive summary of the present day Indian, with glimpses into his past. The author says many things about his subjects that are good, and very carefully omits that which is unfavorable. But in doing this he is extremely entertaining. As the reader is led along the line of Mr Morehead’s discussions he soon begins to feel ashamed of his lack of understanding of the red men, and of the manner of the red men, and of the manner of his treatment by the United States Government. Of course, it would be necessary for him (the reader) to at least glance at the negative side of the debate before making up his mind upon the questions raised in this book.
The volume is a magnificent tribute to the aborigines of this country. It is beautifully printed on heavy white paper, and is supplied with artistic illustrations, in which Indians are shown in their most stroking poses. There are sketches of Sitting Bull, Red Cloud, Geronimo and other Indians who have become noted in the history of this country.
Having given much thought to this subject and being plainly devoted to the best interests of the red men, this conclusion of the writer becomes most interesting:
The Indian must ultimately be merged into the body politic, as has been affirmed. But in bringing about this desideratum, it is not necessary to crush all happiness out of his life. For fifty years the Indian has followed a delicious and uncertain trail, in the fond hope that he might reach his journey’s end. If men and women who through unintentional ignorance have given no heed to the welfare of our red Americans, will interest their representatives in Congress, and also help to crystalize public opinion against further harmful legislation. It is quite possible that the National Commission plan may be carried into effect. After many years of study I firmly believe that the welfare of the Indian depends upon the establishment of such a commission composed of those not interested in political parties, but on the contrary of competent men who understand the Indian and his needs, of men who are willing to devote the best years of their lives to transforming the rough uncertain trail along which the Indian has toiled, into a broad highway, upon which the red man may safely travel to this ultimate destination – the civilized community. And having reached the end o f his journey, the Indian will live henceforth peacefully and enjoy to the full the blessings of liberty, equality and justice.
A man who has set himself to such a task as is thus outlined may be pardoned if he is enthusiastic about it. Mr Morehead thinks that the Indian has been greatly misunderstood by the average American; that the Indian is a strange and altogether interesting individual. He thinks the crisis which is impending as regards the Indian race is that the tribes, generally speaking, have been removed from their reservations and placed on farms in the effort to make good American citizens of them, but that this life is one for which they are not well adapted. The Indian, Mr Morehead considers, has become the easy victim of tuberculosis, for instance, by reason of the life he is compelled to lead indoors, instead of in the Indian abodes, to which he has become adapted for many generations.
The total Indian population, exclusive of Alaska, is placed at 330,639. Oklahoma has 117,274, and Arizona, 41,505, New York having 6,029. But it must not be thought that Mr Moreheads book is given up to statistics. It is not. It is a careful and exhaustive summary of the present day Indian, with glimpses into his past. The author says many things about his subjects that are good, and very carefully omits that which is unfavorable. But in doing this he is extremely entertaining. As the reader is led along the line of Mr Morehead’s discussions he soon begins to feel ashamed of his lack of understanding of the red men, and of the manner of the red men, and of the manner of his treatment by the United States Government. Of course, it would be necessary for him (the reader) to at least glance at the negative side of the debate before making up his mind upon the questions raised in this book.
The volume is a magnificent tribute to the aborigines of this country. It is beautifully printed on heavy white paper, and is supplied with artistic illustrations, in which Indians are shown in their most stroking poses. There are sketches of Sitting Bull, Red Cloud, Geronimo and other Indians who have become noted in the history of this country.
Having given much thought to this subject and being plainly devoted to the best interests of the red men, this conclusion of the writer becomes most interesting:
The Indian must ultimately be merged into the body politic, as has been affirmed. But in bringing about this desideratum, it is not necessary to crush all happiness out of his life. For fifty years the Indian has followed a delicious and uncertain trail, in the fond hope that he might reach his journey’s end. If men and women who through unintentional ignorance have given no heed to the welfare of our red Americans, will interest their representatives in Congress, and also help to crystalize public opinion against further harmful legislation. It is quite possible that the National Commission plan may be carried into effect. After many years of study I firmly believe that the welfare of the Indian depends upon the establishment of such a commission composed of those not interested in political parties, but on the contrary of competent men who understand the Indian and his needs, of men who are willing to devote the best years of their lives to transforming the rough uncertain trail along which the Indian has toiled, into a broad highway, upon which the red man may safely travel to this ultimate destination – the civilized community. And having reached the end o f his journey, the Indian will live henceforth peacefully and enjoy to the full the blessings of liberty, equality and justice.
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| 1915, Feb 13 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |
