8 GKN. R. H. PRATT: 



Are not the conditions we have forced upon and main- 

 tained among and about the Indians entirely the cause for 

 their non-acceptance of our civilization ? Is the fault at 

 all theirs ? 



We make a great pretense of helping, and do give inordi- 

 nate sums of money in purchase of land and for their support, 

 their schools, for their agricultural and other necessary devel- 

 opment in preparation for citizenship, but does it accomplish 

 the purpose ? 



None of our Indian tribes, and very few individual 

 Indians, have been favored with anything like the same oppor- 

 tunities to acquire the true spirit of America, which we at 

 once freely give to foreign emigrants. 



Many individual Indians have risen far above what their 

 privileges would imply, and all Indians within my knowledge 

 are fully up to their opportunities. 



I can therefore safely say, " The Indian is No Problem." 



The United States Government has expended in material, 

 machinery and instruction in agriculture for the Sioux Indians 

 a sum that will exceed many times in value the amount that 

 could have been realized for all they have ever raised, due 

 entirely to improper and inefficient control and meagre 

 instruction remote from practical examples. 



In twenty-six years we paid forty million dollars for sup- 

 port of the Sioux, and almost as much more for lands pur- 

 chased from them, and Army expenses to keep them on their 

 reservations. 



Suppose one-fourth of this vast sum had been expended in 

 the proper education of their children in the surroundings of 

 our American thrift and in encouraging and helping them, 

 old and young, to immigrate into and distribute and make 

 themselves useful throughout our communities, can there be 

 any doubt that the Sioux would now be English-speaking, 

 intelligent, useful, self-supporting citizens? 



Of the many demoralizing influences we have devised for 

 our Indians, we can count upon money annuities and the 



