Indian Education.

What to do with and how to educate the Indian race is a question which presents itself to the mind of every thinking man who is at all interested in the political problems before the country to-day. A few young men of the Indians are at present in some of our Western colleges, and a very few are graduated annually from Hampton College in Virginia. It is safe to say that the average man thoughout the East to-day has but very little idea of the great progress the Indians have been making in civilization and general culture during the last few years.

Mr. Atkins, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, in his last report, givest substantial evidence of this progress. The advance shows itself elsewhere in increased knowledge and experience in agriculture, in enlarged facilities for stock growing, in better buildings and houses, and in the adoption of the dress of the white man. The school system is especially to be noticed and the numbers that attend the schools.

Now that the Indian wars have broken out again in the West, the question of lands allotted to the Indians is one of great importance. Mr. Atkins thinks that the allooment of lands in severalty is a very good thing, and that Congress in doing this will prevent further conflict between the races. The area of land under cultivation has increased 25,000 acres over last year.

The increase in the last year of the number of families engaged in agriculture is 1596, and about 1200 new houses have been erected. Orchards are being planted, farm products marketed and numerous other evidences of thrift show the progress they are making. English only is the language used in the schools, thus the people have a community of feeling and thought, and the common use of the English tongue is the first step in their further education and advancement. The orders issued in regard to this do not as yet affect the preaching of the gospel in the churches, nor in any way hamper the missionaries in their efforts to give the tribes a knowledge of the Christian religion. But it is insisted upon that the schools established for the education of the younger generations shall teach the language of the country of which their pupils will become citizens. Each year the number of those wishing a higher education is increasing, and the question of college education for Indian young men is one that demands immediate attention.