Three California Writers:

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by Samuel J. Rice

Edited by: Cindy Beck

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EDUCATE AND SEEK YOUR WORTH

             The invasion of Culture at the present age is necesary for the growing Indian Generation to become subject to compulsion to attain education.

            The promise of the Indian race lies in the education of its children, morally, mentally and industrially.  To be of permanent value the schools must be provided to equip the children to assume as adults the responsibilities in equalizing themseleves [sic] with the standard competent requirements of Americanism, thus leading them to become useful citizens.  These enviroments have become the milestones marking Indian progress.

            It must be understood, I am not commenting to intimate that Indians of recent gener-gratuity [sic] from charitable resources and must be depenable [sic].  But, truly, a majority of them today, are fifty per cent better qualified for citizenship than the foreigners, some who are subject to calls of their native country in time of war.

            Step out of imbecility – illiterate people are the slaves of the intelligent, and must be competed [sic] for the betterment of community and country.

            There is a wonderful contrast between man as we now see him degraded by his disadvantageous life and the loyal man.  All through the ambition that man possesses for learning, and to be judged by masses of people by his out-standing character and accomplishments.

Many Indians, who have absolved themselves from govermental supervision, have taken up their homes in the ordinary life of white people, usually enroll their children in schools with those of his white neighbors.  Thus visualize the Indian Bureau’s years of endeavor, therefore indicating the approach of the day for the race to be fully absorbed into the body politics.

            Educate and seek your worth.  Seek your worth through learning and religion.   The religion is the torch of civilization and liberty.  Its influence for good in society is recognized by the influential people, even though they for the most part have looked at it through the various glasses of conflicting creeds, which, while upholding religion grieveously misrepresent is teachings.

 

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