INTRODUCTION. ^ XUC 



the religious ceremonies of this people without being deeply impressed with the fact, that what Paul said of 

 the Athenians is true, to a very great extent, of the Dakotas, xarol -ravra us SsKSiSaifLovsiTs^oi, in all 

 things very worshipful. It will not, then, be regarded as an unnecessary work, to make known to 

 such a people the God who made the earth and all things therein, and who has appointed a day in the 

 which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that Man whom he hath ordained, even the Lord 

 Jesus Christ. 



That the aboriginal tribes of this continent are destined to become extinct, and that consequently 

 there is little reason to hope that any thing can be done for their permanent good, seems to be a very 

 common impression. In regard to this point there are a few questions which deserve to be noticed briefly. 



First, it must be conceded, as a matter of history, that many tribes and bands which once inhabited 

 the country now occupied by the people of these United States have greatly diminished, and some of them 

 have disappeared altogether. War, and 'spirit-water,' and the diseases introduced among them by the 

 white people, have wrought out their legitimate efl'ects. A different course of treatment would undoubtedly 

 have greatly modified or entirely changed the character of these results. But, admitting the woret in 

 regard to the past, an interesting question here presents itself, viz. : How far has the diminution of the 

 Indians, as such, served to increase the numbers of our own white population ? 



Secondly, in reference to the question of decrease, there are some sources of deception of which most 

 persons do not setm to be aware. The Dakotas, for instance, twenty yeafs ago, were supposed to number 

 thirty thousand ; but our investigations have led us to estimate them at twenty-five thousand. If, twenty 

 years from this time, it shall appear that they do not number more than twenty thousand (which may be 

 the case), the natural inference will undoubtedly be that they have been decreasing. But we think there 

 is evidence to show that this has not been and is not now the fact. Where an account of the births and 

 deaths has been kept at a village, it is found that the former usually exceed the latter. If it is asked, 

 ' Whence then comes this supposed diminution of numbers V I answer, from the fact that in most if not 

 all "cases the wild Indians have been greatly over-estimated. It has been found not only difficult, 

 but oftentimes impossible, to take a correct census of those bands who receive annuities from the 

 United States Government. But the difficulty is greatly increased when we go into their camps on 

 the great prairies of the West. The traveller finds them very sensibly impressed with their own numerical 

 importance, and not unfrequently has his gravity disturbed by the question, whether the Government of 

 the United States would not probably be defeated in case of a collision with them, lie also finds much 

 opposition to his making any systematic efforts to ascertain their real numbers. The only practicable 

 method one can adopt is to count their tipis, or skin tents ; and it were easier to count ten thousand 

 buffaloes, scattered over a hundred hills and valleys, than to make a reliable estimate of a tribe of Indians 

 who are constantly roving over the western prairies. With this experience in efforts to ascertain the number 

 of our wandering tribes, we are forced to the conclusion that in most, if not all cases, they have been over- 

 estimated ; and consequently the reduction of their computed numbers has arisen only from a closer 

 approximation to truth, and should not be received as evidence that they are decreasing. 



But there is one way in which a diminution of some tribes is taking place, viz. : by ceasing to be 

 Indians and becoming members of civilized society. In Minnesota all persons of mixed blood, i. e. of 

 white and Indian descent, are recognised as citizens of the Territory. Let this privilege be extended, on 

 certain conditions, to the whole nation, as well as to all others, and many of them will soon come up to the 

 stature of men. The Indian tribes of our continent may become extinct as such ; but if this extinction is 

 brought about by introducing them to civilization and Christianity, and merging them into our own 

 great nation, which is receiving accretions from all others, who will deplore the result ? Rather let us 

 labor for it, realizing that if by our efforts they cease to be Indians and become fellow-citizens, it will be 

 our glory and joy. So may our Christian American nation go on gathering into its fraternal arms all 

 peoples and languages, and thus work out its mission of peace and good-will. 



