| | 1 | Author: | Oskison, John M. | Add | | | Title: | "Friends of the Indian."  | | | | Published: | 1995 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | | Description: | At last year's "Lake Mohonk Conference of Friends of the
Indian and Other Dependent Peoples," Mr. Bonaparte quoted a naval
officer as once declaring that "the service would never be worth a
— until all the well-meaning people in it had been hanged." He
hinted that something of the same tenor might have been said with
equal justice of the activity of champions of the Indian who are
merely well-meaning. Knowledge and discretion in those who have
undertaken unofficially to influence the conduct of Indian affairs
would have tempered their zeal usefully in the years when service
was most needed; and, though little fault can now be found with the
methods and personnel of the Indian Rights Association and similar
bodies, there is still a too noticeable tendency to let good
intentions evaporate in earnest, purposeless talk. That "court of
final appeal, public opinion," has been appealed to so often that
the last advocate must needs be silver-tongued indeed to rouse more
than a momentary interest. The Indian service, bad as it has been
at times, has accomplished more for the disappearing natives than
it has been credited with in the popular mind. It would have done
still more if its critics had been inspired by accurate information
and good judgment. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
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