Page:Distinguished Churchmen.djvu/252

 2j 4 DISTINGUISHED CHURCHMEN

been murdered could read and speak English as well as some of the languages peculiar to these Indians. Their capacity as scholars is something remarkable. I don t find that any of our white children surpass them. Having regard to this fact, I am often asked, Why don t these Indians advance in social status ? The answer is simple. They are kept down by racial hatred. I have tried to get some of the boys who can read and write English as well as white people into work shops, even offering some sort of premium ; but the managers have written saying they could not keep them, because of the trades unionism enforced by other employes, and their indisposition to teach any but white people their trade. Consequently the Indian is no better off for his education. Under these circumstances, you cannot expect ambition, and without ambition nobody can rise. This explains why the Indian when civilised cannot make the same advance in civil life as the white boy. The latter after leaving school is on the first rung of the ladder ; but the Indian boy of the same education is not allowed to put his foot on the ladder at all. It is no wonder, therefore, that the educated Indians don t advance in the professions or arts. It is all due to racial hatred on the part of those who rule these Indians. Of course, that is not universal. The clergy are well-disposed ; but the rank and file will not admit equality with an Indian any more than with a

�� �