Contradictions,,, Deloria, and Baum

Deloria's writing clearly shows the contradiction within the American identity between the want to be a civilized nation, and the urge to be completely free. This can be seen even in Baum article were he expresses his want to exterminate the all the Indians to help keep the frontier safe for the "civilized people". In his article he expresses his distaste for sitting Bull and says that Sitting Bull has lost the "proud spirit of the original owners of these vast praes". He wants to exterminate the Indians because in his mind they have lost the spirit that made them great. In his article he shows that he respects the spirit that they once posesed, He later then goes on to say that it was "by justice of civilization" that the whites had become masters of the land. This is a contradiction he respects the Indians for there wild and savage spirit, but says it is the savageness and uncivilized nature that led to there downfall and domination by the whites. This is that same contradiction that surfaces in Deloria's writings.