INDIAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION, 
 Office, No. 1305 Arch Street. 
 
 Philadelphia, February, 1888. 
 
 THE COLLEGES AND THE INDIANS. 
 
 Some years ago, while conducting a thorough and systematic 
 canvass of the State of New York, with the object of developing, 
 organizing and directing public sentiment in favor of the pur¬ 
 chase, by the State, of the land around Niagara Falls, for the 
 purpose of restoring and preserving the scenery, I addressed a 
 letter to the Presidents and other officers of the principal col¬ 
 leges of our country, in which I respectfully asked their co5per- 
 ation in the enterprise, and offered to send to their libraries 
 various addresses, discussions and other publications, which I 
 was then issuing in aid of the movement. After a brief and 
 clear presentation of the facts involved, I iftquested the gentle¬ 
 men at the head of each of these influential institutions of learn¬ 
 ing to send me an expression of interest in our effort which I 
 could use as a stimulus to the discussion of our object, and to 
 public spirit in the State of New York. Most of them very 
 kindly complied, and their letters and signatures gave me signal 
 assistance. The influence of the colleges was, on that occasion^ 
 a perceptible contribution to the success of an enterprise of great 
 public importance, an object which was happily accomplished. 
 
 CONDITIONS OF THE TIME. 
 
 The conditions of the present time are such as to stimulate 
 interest and activity regarding public affairs on the part of our 
 higher institutions of learning. We have increasing need of the 
 influence of men of trained and disciplined intelligence, of the 
 example of recognized teachers and leaders of the people, to 
 encourage, authorize and widen the discussion without which 
 public questions can have no valid or permanent decision in 
 
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 America. Our colleges can aid distinctly, and very efficiently, 
 in awakening and concentrating public attention, in creating 
 and sustaining local centres and sources of interest and knowl¬ 
 edge regarding matters of public concern, and in developing a 
 spirit of patient and thorough inquiry. The time has come for 
 a much wider and fuller application of the modern scientific 
 method in the study of public affairs and social conditions, a 
 method which sets the direct and competent observation of phe¬ 
 nomena aibove all a priori theories and subjective impressions 
 regarding the nature of things. 
 
 A CRISIS IN INDIAN AFFAIRS. 
 
 We are rapidly approaching a crisis in the condition of many 
 of the Indians of our country, especially in the matter of the dis¬ 
 position and ownership of the land of their reservations. After 
 long apathy and inaction in relation to these interests, the coun¬ 
 try appears somewhat inclined to sudden and impatient decision 
 of the whole matter. The pressure of railroads, of the cattle men, 
 and of other representatives of powerful business interests upon 
 some of the reserva^tions is so strong, and the feeling of white 
 men in general is so one-sided, and so indifferent to the interests 
 of the Indians, that there is danger of action that may be too 
 sweeping and violent in its effects. 
 
 There is need of fuller investigation of special conditions, and 
 it will probably be found necessary to deal with the different reser¬ 
 vations more in detail than the country is, at present, inclined to 
 approve. Very little is known of the character and adaptations 
 of the soil of many of the principal reservations, yet this is a most 
 important factor in determining the nature of the industries by 
 which the Indians are to obtain subsistence. While it is true that 
 existing knowledge furnishes an inadequate basis for general and 
 final legislation disposing of Indian interests, it is also true that 
 mere postponement and inaction would be highly perilous to the 
 interests of both Indians and white men. Changes are inevit¬ 
 able. It is imperative that the measures which determine the 
 character and extent of such changes should be well considered, 
 and that they should recognize the most vital facts in the condi¬ 
 tion of the Indians and their relations to the particular regions in 
 which they are henceforth to obtain the means of subsistence. 
 
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 OBJECTS OF THE ASSOCIATION. 
 
 The Indian Rights Association is endeavoring to secure for the 
 Indians the opportunity of education, the protection of law, and 
 a protected individual title to land. A year ago it was, happily, 
 successful in securing the passage of the Dawes ‘^Land and Sev¬ 
 eralty Bill,” which is now a law, and has been applied, or is in 
 process of application, on a few reservations. This is a great 
 step in advance in the work for the civilization of the Indians, 
 but some additional legislation for the extension of law over the 
 Indians is necessary, and some measure embodying a compre¬ 
 hensive plan for the education of all Indians of school age should 
 be adopted during the present session of Congress. 
 
 The Association sends its representatives to the Indian reser¬ 
 vations to observe and report the facts of the condition of the 
 Indians, and the knowledge thus acquired is embodied in the 
 publications of the Association, in newspaper articles and public 
 addresses. The Association influences legislation by appealing 
 to the intelligence and conscience of the people of the nation. 
 It advocates the employment of practical and business-like 
 methods of dealing with Indian affairs, and has no sympathy 
 with extreme or eccentric ideas or aims ; but it believes that such 
 a measure of justice as is possible in national affairs is best for all 
 concerned. 
 
 I shall be glad to send the publications of the Association to 
 the library or officers of any college applying for them. If a 
 student in each graduating class would make a study of some fea¬ 
 ture of our Indian problem or policy, this would often contribute, 
 in an important degree, to local popular intelligence and interest 
 in relation to the general subject. I bespeak the assistance of the 
 leading educators and schools of our country, and shall be grate¬ 
 ful for all expressions of their interest and sympathy regarding 
 our work. 
 
 SENTIMENTS OF SCFIOLARS. 
 
 Mr. Lowell said, in his memorable address at the Harvard cele¬ 
 bration ; The only way in which our civilization can be main¬ 
 tained, even at the level it has reached, the only way in which 
 that level can be made more general and be raised higher, is by 
 bringing the influence of the more cultivated to bear with greater 
 
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 energy and directness on the less cultivated/’ In 1872, De 
 Sanctis, the Italian Minister of Instruction, said, in his inaugu¬ 
 ral address in the University of Naples, ^Mtalian universities 
 to-day are as if wrested from the current of national life, with¬ 
 out influence over the State, which declares itself neutral, with 
 scarcely a noticeable influence on society, which they dare not 
 investigate to the core. They have become manufacturers of 
 lawyers, physicians and architects. If they will understand the 
 mission-^of to-day; if, using the liberty accorded them, they will 
 seize upon the actual pressing problems of the time, and will cut 
 to the quick; if they will have the energy to make themselves 
 head and front of the national restoration, they will become 
 again, as they once were, the great nurseries of growing genera¬ 
 tions, living and light-radiating centres of the new spirit.” As 
 an American, I rejoice in the vital patriotism of our higher insti¬ 
 tutions of learning, and in their superior efflciency in national 
 affairs. The Indian Rights Association desires to be a medium 
 for the propagation of the best thought of the time regarding the 
 nation’s duty to the Indians. 
 
 THE LATEST STUDIES. 
 
 During the last two years I have examined the schools, farm¬ 
 ing, home life and general condition and progress in civilization 
 of the Indians, and the official administration of affairs, on the 
 Omaha, Winnebago and Santee reservations in Nebraska; the 
 Pine Ridge, Rosebud, Yankton, Lower Brule, Crow Creek, 
 Cheyenne River, Standing Rock, Sisseton, Devil’s Lake and 
 Turtle Mountain reservations in Dakota, the Musquaukee reserva¬ 
 tion in Iowa, the White Earth reservation in Minnesota, the 
 Crow reservation in Montana, the Yakima reservation in Southern 
 Washington, the Nisqually and Skokomish in the Puget Sound 
 region, and in the Klamath and Modoc country in Southern 
 Oregon. 
 
 The range of my observations has enabled me to make a com¬ 
 parative study of the condition and character of the Indians in 
 widely separated and different regions. My exploration of the 
 great Sioux reservation was much more thorough than had ever 
 before been accomplished. Throughout my journeys I have 
 received the greatest courtesy, kindness and assistance from the 
 
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 commanders of forts and military posts and officers of the army 
 in the Indian country, from all Indian agents and employes of 
 the government on the reservations, and from civil officers, mis¬ 
 sionaries, teachers, journalists, business men and leading citizens 
 everywhere, and have been highly fortunate in opportunities for 
 observation and investigation, and in all the conditions and 
 course of circumstances affecting my work. I have heard what 
 the Indians themselves had to say everywhere. The Boston 
 Herald employed me as a special correspondent, and I have 
 written many .letters, which have been published in that journal. 
 
 A complete report of my journeys and observations, up to the 
 date of publication, with suggestions and conclusions resulting 
 therefrom, regarding the condition and character of the Indians, 
 the legislation and administration needed for their development 
 and civilization, the methods of the Indian service and various 
 related subjects, was issuedTast year, with the title ^‘The Latest 
 Studies on Indian Reservations,” and will be sent, postpaid, for 
 25 cents a copy. Stamps may be sent us for sums less than one 
 dollar. Address, 
 
 J. B. HARRISON, 
 
 Agent Indian Rights Association, 
 
 1305 Arch Street, 
 
 Or, HERBERT WELSH, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 Corresponding Secretary. 
 
“THE -LATEST STUDIES 
 
 ON 
 
 INDIAN RESERVATIONS.” 
 
 Bv J. B. Harrison. 
 
 This book has been received by the press of the whole 
 country as the best recent work on the actual condition of 
 Indians on the Reservations. It is a record of personal 
 investigation from Omaha to Puget Sound and the lava-bed 
 region of Southern Oregon. It has stimulated discussion 
 in a remarkable degree. 
 
 We are selling the Sixth Thousand. Postage stamps may 
 be sent for sums less than one dollar. 
 
 Address all orders to 
 
 THE INDIAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION, 
 
 IS05 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 Paper, 233 Pages. 25 Cents a Copy.