y, wears
its dress, and obeys its laws. Surely it is but one step further to
American citizenship!

CHAPTER VII

THE INDIAN AS A CITIZEN

We have taken note of the reluctance of the American Indian to develop
an organized community life, though few appreciate his reasons for
preferring a simpler social ideal. As a matter of fact as well as
sentiment, he was well content with his own customs and philosophy.
Nevertheless, after due protest and resistance, he has accepted the
situation; and, having accepted it, he is found to be easily governed by
civilized law and usages. It has been demonstrated more than once that
he is capable of sustaining a high moral and social standard when placed
under wise guidance and at the same time protected from the barbarians
of civilization.

MODEL INDIAN COMMUNITIES

William Duncan, an Englishman, came among a band of Alaskan natives
about the middle of the last century, and they formed a strong mutual
attachment. The friendship of these simple people was not misplaced, and
Mr. Duncan did not misuse it for his own advantage, as is too apt to be
the case with a white man. He adapted himself to their temperament and
sense of natural justice, but gradually led them to prefer civilized
habits and industries, and finally to accept the character of Christ as
their standard. He used the forms of the Church of England, but modified
them as good sense dictated.

They worked together in good faith for a generation; and as a result
there was founded the Christian community of Metlakatla, Alaska, almost
an ideal little republic, so long as no self-seeking Anglo-Saxon
interfered with its workings. The Indians became carpenters,
blacksmiths, farmers, gardeners, as well as better fishermen. They
established a sawmill and a salmon cannery. They built houses and boats,
and finally a steamboat, which was run by one of their number. Mr.
Duncan never allowed strong drink to enter the colony; he was the only
white man among a thousand Indians, and so strong was their faith in him
that he was accepted as their leader both practically and spiritually.
He devoted his whole life to them, and never married. Some of the young
people he sent away to the States to school: among them Edward Marsden,
a many-sided man, who is not only a graduate of a small college in Ohio
and of a theological seminary, but has some knowledge of law and
medicine, is an able seaman, and an efficient machinist.

The Met