10 The Book of Woodcraft 



sad and hopeful task, at this late day, to have our people 

 realize. 



We know more about the Redman to-day than ever we 

 did. Indeed, we knew almost nothing of him twenty years 

 ago. We had two pictures offered us ; one, the ideal savage 

 of Longfellow , the primitive man, so noble in nature that he 

 was incapable of anything small or mean or wicked; the 

 other was presented by those who coveted his possessions, 

 and, to justify their robberies, they sketched the Indian 

 as a dirty, filthy, squahd wretch, a demon of cruelty and 

 cowardice, incapable of a human emotion, and never good 

 till dead. 



Which of these is the true picture? Let us calmly ex- 

 amine the pages of history, taking the words and records of 

 Redmen and white, friends and foes of the Indian, and be 

 prepared to render a verdict, in absolute accordance with 

 that evidence, no matter where it leads us. 



Let us begin by admitting that it is fair to take the best 

 examples of the red race, to represent Indian philosophy 

 and goodness; even as we ourselves would prefer being 

 represented by Emerson, Tolstoi, Lincoln, Spencer, Pea- 

 body, General Booth, or Whitman, rather than by the 

 border ruffians and cut-throat outlaws who were the prin- 

 cipal exemplars of our ways among the Indians. 



It is freely admitted that in all tribes, at all times, there 

 were reprobates and scoundrels, a reproach to the people; 

 just as amongst ourselves we have outcasts, tramps, drunk- 

 ards, and criminals. But these were despised by their own 

 people, and barely tolerated. 



We must in fairness judge the Indian and his way of life 

 and thought by the exemplifications of his best types: 

 Hiawatha, Wabasha I, Tshut-che-nau, Ma-to-to-pa, Te- 

 cumseh, Kanakuk, Chief Joseph, Dull Knife, Washakie, 



