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The proud spirit of the original owners of these vast prairies inherited through centuries of fierce and bloody wars for their possession, lingered last in the bosom of Sitting Bull. With his fall the nobility of the Redskin is extinguished, and what few are left are a pack of whining curs who lick the hand that smites them. The Whites, by law of conquest, by justice of civilization, are masters of the American continent, and the best safety of the frontier settlements will be secured by the total annihilation of the few remaining Indians. Why not annihilation? Their glory has fled, their spirit broken, their manhood effaced; better that they die than live the miserable wretches that they are. History would forget these latter despicable beings, and speak, in later ages of the glory of these grand Kings of forest and plain that Cooper loved to heroism. We cannot honestly regret their extermination, but we at least do justice to the manly characteristics possessed, according to their lights and education, by the early Redskins of America.

L. Frank Baum#9

HistoryColonialismControversyExtremismRacismViolence

About this quote

What does it mean?
This text promotes the annihilation of Native Americans as a means of securing safety and civilization.
In plain terms
The author argues that Native Americans should be wiped out for the sake of settlers.
What can you take from it?
This reflects deeply harmful racist ideology.

Where it applies

  • studying historical bias
  • analyzing propaganda

Putting it to work

  • critique harmful texts
  • contextualize history

Questions to consider

  • Why do societies dehumanize enemies?
  • How should we treat texts like this?

Another view

This viewpoint is morally abhorrent and factually wrong.

More from L. Frank Baum

  1. Sitting Bull, most renowned Sioux of modern history, is dead. He was not a Chief, but without Kingly lineage he arose from a lowly position to the greatest Med…

    Permalink to quote #8
  2. The peculiar policy of the government in employing so weak and vacillating a person as General Miles to look after the uneasy Indians, has resulted in a terrib…

    Permalink to quote #10
  3. The absurd and legendary devil is the enigma of the Church.

    Permalink to quote #7

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