This is the awful background as the starting point for this
discussion. Some people question whether or not there is a personal
devil. If any man would study the Indian question he would be
convinced there was not one only, but a whole legion of them.

But, friends, so long as these are facts, there is an Indian
question, and there is going to be one until these things are
settled. There is nothing ever settled in this world till it is
settled right. In the progress that has been made in opening up the
possibility to the Indian, of civil rights, we may be inclined to
relax our efforts in his behalf. The passage of the Dawes Land in
Severalty Bill was, indeed, a great day for the Indian. It opens the
door by which he can have a home on land of his own and become a
citizen, with all the privileges thereof. Here, at last, is solid
ground upon which he can stand. But we must not forget that that bill
is but the commencement of what is needed. He is but a child with new
rights truly, but in his ignorance he does not know what they are. He
is surrounded by enemies as before. While he has the law and the
courts, the nearest Judge may be one hundred to three hundred miles
away. He must be brought more under the care of the judiciary.

The Indian Bureau, as at present constituted, cannot do for him what
he needs. This is a part of the political machine, and its appointees
are selected because they have done good service as ward politicians.
It has been well said that such a Bureau is no more fitted to lead
these people aright than Pharaoh was to lead the Israelites out of
their house of bondage.

To show how even some good men fail to comprehend the situation is