eathen folk and will often come to the Christian life
fettered by old heathen ideas, and some may stumble and fall; they did
in St. Paul's time; but I can say that some of the noblest instances of
the power of religion I have ever known have been among these poor red
men. I can recall death-beds where an Indian looked up in my face and
said, "The Great Spirit has called me to go on the last journey. I am
not afraid to go, for Jesus is going with me, and I shall not be
lonesome on the road."

I am happy to tell you that the clouds are breaking. Thousands of this
poor race are rejoicing in the light of the Gospel. The heart of the
nation has been touched, and thousands are laboring for their salvation.
The Indians are not decreasing. It is due to the absence of internecine
wars, to their protection from dangerous contagious diseases, to better
medical care and a wiser administration. In the future, Indians must
have citizenship, but not until they are prepared for this precious
boon. The ballot cannot redeem humanity. I was asked by President
Cleveland what I thought of making the Indian a voter. I said, "It has
been tried." Under an old territorial law, any Indian who wore the
civilized dress could vote. I have heard of an election where a tribe of
Indians were put through a hickory shirt and pair of pants, and we know
how that election went. The Indian must have the protection of law. In
his wild state he has the "lex talionis." He becomes a Christian. A
drunken wild man kills his cow or insults his wife. He could punish the
brute, but we have taught him that he must not revenge his wrongs, and
so the Christian Indian is pitiably helpless. I can take you to an
Indian village where property and life are safe, where childhood,
womanhood, and old age are cared for, and it is due to the Gospel of
Christ.

While missionary work must be carried on in the native tongue, the
schools ought to teach the English language--if schools are conducted
only in the heathen tongue, you not only have no Christian ideas, but
when the child has learned to read, he has no books. He should be taught
in a language which opens to him the literature, the science and the
Christian teaching of the Christian world. The Gospel of Jesus Christ
will do for the Indian what it has done for others through all the
ages--give him home, manhood and freedom.

Lastly--we are living in eventful times. One hundred years ago the
people who spoke the English to