Page:LewisMeriam-TheProblemOfIndianAdministration.djvu/130

A word here should be said regarding missionary activities. Here too, many persons look for quick results. Several elderly missionaries were visited who look back over their efforts and almost despair at their lack of converts who measure up to their standards of what a Christian should be. Others, notably the Roman Catholics, have a different view. They appreciate that their task is a long, slow one extending over many generations. A little is achieved here, a little there, but a primitive people are not made over in a generation. What they are and what they have cannot be hurriedly crushed out and something else quickly substituted. The only way is to take them as they are with what they have and patiently guide and slowly build, having faith that in the fullness of time, devoted and intelligent service will bring results.

Finally should be mentioned two classes of Indians who want fee patents and release from wardship. The first are those who are not getting along very successfully and see in a fee patent and release from wardship the opportunity to sell their capital and live on the proceeds, without the vision to look into the future and consider what will become of them and their children when the capital is gone. The second are able, intelligent, often well educated Indians who are themselves fully competent. Many of them have already received fee patents and been released from wardship. They think of themselves and cite themselves as typical Indians. They say, “ We are Indians. Why should the government keep us as wards.” The truth is that the government should not keep competent Indians as wards, but these Indians are not by any means typical. Often they are mixed bloods, not full bloods. Sometimes they come from tribes where many of the full bloods are still far too primitive to be entrusted with the defense of their property against white greed. A well educated mixed-blood Indian farmer on one reservation felt this situation very keenly. He said in effect, “These educated advanced Indians can’t think of the Indians who haven’t had the opportunities and haven't advanced like they have. On this reservation we have hundreds of Indians who would be ruined if they were turned loose, and yet these educated Indians go about all the time agitating to have all Indians turned loose. Many of our Indians aren’t making a living without having to pay taxes. They won’t be ready to be turned loose for a good many years.”