180 BULLETIN OF THE 



been diminished or been destroyed by oppression and violence, 

 their loss has been in large part compensated by gain among 

 others, that the "blight "and "withering," or ferse naiurse theory 

 is proved to be absurdly false, and that, though some temporary 

 retrogradation must always be expected among individual tribes, 

 at the crises of their transition from savagery or barbarism to 

 more civilized habits, yet now the number of our Indians is on the 

 increase, and will naturally so continue unless repressed bv causes 

 not inherent to civilization, but to criminal misgovernme'nt, until 

 their final absorption into the wondrous amalgam of all earth's 

 p.eoples which the destiny of this country may possibly effect. 

 Neither from views of their physiological, religious, or sociologi- 

 cal characteristics, should they be regarded as an exceptional or 

 abnormal part of the human race, or so treated in our national 

 policy. Only those legislators and officials, who are prepared tO' 

 encourage downright murder, can neglect their duty under the 

 Satanic consolation of the convenient extinction doctrine. With 

 continued injustice more Sitting Bulls and chief Josephs, driven 

 into the last refuge of despair, will require expenditure of blood 

 and treasure which simple truth and honesty would prevent,, 

 while judicious and consistent treatment would preserve, reclaim,, 

 and elevate a race entrusted to our national honor, which may 

 with no interminable delay become a valuable element in our 

 motley community. 



Mr. Powell spoke of the greater permanency of the larger 

 confederacies of the North American Indians; also of the knowl- 

 edge of medicine attributed to them, and their having poisoned 

 arrows, as fallacious. They used charms and charmed arrows. 

 The popular idea of their languages being meagre, and requiring 

 facial expression to convey their meaning, is incorrect. 



Mr, Woodward remarked on the danger of generalizing from 

 one country to another. The South American Indians have poi- 

 soned arrows. 



Mr. Mason spoke of the arrows from blowpipes of the South 

 American Indians, and of the "black drink" used by them, which 

 is a purgative and an emetic : also of the immense ancient popu- 

 lation in the Valley of the Mississippi, as evidenced by mounds, 

 monuments, and remains. He further remarked that the truth as 

 to the number of Indians in North America at the time of its 

 discovery by Europeans was probably between the extreme esti- 

 mates at first and the subsequent skeptical doubts ; but there' was 

 very little ground to stand on, and admitting widely different 

 speculations. 



