The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-08-16

dSSreSSIOnS! III IRIS he SO-dn0 similar as
certained facts among the Pawnees and 9th
er prairie tribes from which the Oregon and
California caravans now suffer more or less,
show that it is so-then are We already be-
ginning to feel the evil, of which we have
heretofore experienced some of the premon-
tories; and Ii is time that we should turn
our attention to tile subject of a remedy, to
be provided in advance for what must, 9TH
erwise, prove a serious and fast increasing
danger.
The depredations of the Indians must be
prevented, that is certain; but whether by
force and bloodshed or by gentler means, is
the important question. Humanity and
common sense both answer in the same
way. If war be relied on as the sole means,
1t must be war of desperation, which can
never end until the Indians are -extermina-
ted; and they are numerous. The Cam
anches alone are generally supposed to num-
Der thirty thousand souls: the Apaches are
probably still more powerful: the Mexican
Minister Of War, General Arista, in his last
report, estimates these two nations, with the
allied northern tribes from which the border
States of Mexico suffer so much, to muster
thirty thousand warriors; an immense force,
indicating population of at least one hun
dred and twenty thousand souls. The
I CiOuAs DIdCkicct, OIOWS anu Quiet VI
the North, now beginning to suffer from
diminishing game, are also extremely nu-
merOuS.
| In studying the difficulties Of this subject,
we are not long in arriving at the conviction
that there is but one possible remedy for the
evil; although that is one the name of which
will perhaps stagger many of our readers.
These Indians must be civilZed-they must
be taught to raise food, without relying for
it upon either war or the chase; they must,
in fact, be compelled to abandon both, and
to resort to the soil and their own labor, just
as they perceive their superiors, the whites,
do, for the easy, certain, never-faiiing means
of subsistence.
| Nothing is more unfounded than the COM
mon notion as to the unclvlizabIe character
of the Red Man. Doubtless his capacity
for civilization is inferior to that of the eau
casian, and the height of cultivation he may
attain to, much lower. He is, however,
quite capable-as every human creature is
of that degree of civilization which enables
a man to till the earth and keep cattle, and,
thereby, procure food and clothing. De-
stroy all the wild game in the Indian coun-
try, and forbid him ever again 10 touch arrow
or rifle in war; do all this by the power and
i'm the name of the United States; and then
give uliiI HOtS. dAtS, SUCH OtucE
ordinary aid and encouragement as the gov
eminent does actually give the border tribes;
and we shall see the result-as we, in fact,
see it now, as. a mere accidental consequence
of a less energetic system. Thc great OBJ
stacles to civilization. as experience shows,
are hunting and war. AS the game van
ishes, the former evil dies out, as the latter
increases in intensity; war becoming the
natural substitute for the chase. Both must
be prevented; and then the field of reform
is open and the path easy.
In our view of the case, nothing is want
ing to the perfection Of our Indian system,
but the principle of civilizing the tribes by
compelling them to quit fighting (and even
hunting, except as an occasional and regu-
lated arnusernent) and go to hoeng corn and
pasturing cattle. We are not at all uneasy
at the idea of employing compulsory sys.
tenn. 1t is better that we should do this, for
the purpose of saving the tribes, and the
lives of those with whom they now war
! (he Mexicans and our own fellow citizens
included, } than that we should commence
against them a war of exter.nination. IL is
idle for such Il people as the Americans to
trifle in their dealings with savage race,
when their immense power can be welded
for good purpose. All our military posts
{
with the means of enforcing such system
as we recommend; and military posts should
be established with that view i'm the terrific
res of the Carnanches and Apaches; who
should he informed without any kind OF GER
emony, that their days of rapine and nlassa-
ere are over-that they are never more to
send war parties to Mexico or any where
else-that the attempt to do so will be visited
Immediately, as it will of course require TO
he visited, with condign punishment-that
they must hereafter look to the earth for
su5sstence-and that their Great Father,
the American government, will aid them ~
an effort of civilization, which has become
necessary and inevitable. Our interests
our express treaty stipuIatons with Mexico
and the obligations of humanity, all con-
cur IN eXactiDg OF US a firm and vigorous
system with our wild Indian tribes, the gen.
eraI benefits of which will be felt Ivy none
more extensively than 10y the Indians them
lselyes.-PhH. North american.
Out Door Etiquette.
A gentleman meeting or passing lady
on the sidewalk, should usually pass ON
the right.
| One gentleman meeting another should
always pass to the right.
| A lady, as a general rule, should not take
a geni!eman's arm in the street IN the day
time. However, it is not improper when
the couple are strangers i'll the city. or when
the walk is not thronged with strangers.
| A gentleman meeting or passing gentle
man and lady should pass OH the gentle
mans side. A lady should pass on the
lady's side.
A gentleman should never fail to salute a
lacy of his acquaintance when within a
proper distance, unless she wear veil, in
which case il would be highly uucivil to re-
cognize her.
When passing dwelling, as a general
rule, it is not polite to look in at the win
dow, but whe, pretty woman is sitting by
it, for the ostensible purpose of being look
ed at, you may be considered uncivil aid
ungenerous, if you do not cast an adrniring
glance.
90 While a man feels that he is free and