_Mr. Superintendent_:
I wish to express the peculiar pleasure it is to have seen the
Indian schools to-day, and through you, Mr. Superintendent, I want
to say to the Indians that are right behind you, what a fine thing
it is to see the industry and thrift of their people. I was struck
by their orchards, the irrigated fields, and by seeing them working
in the fields and along the road. The Indian who will work and do
his duty will stand on a par with any other American citizen. Of
course I will do as every President must do, I will stand for his
rights with the same jealous eagerness that I would for the rights of
any white man. I am glad to see the Indian children being educated
as these are educated so as to come more and more into the body of
American citizenship, to fit themselves for work in the home, work in
the fields, for leading decent, clean lives, for making themselves
self-supporting, for being good providers and good housekeepers; in
other words, for becoming American citizens just like other American
citizens.