The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-07

it has occurred to as that the occasion is an ap
prcpriate one to make some observations upon
the past condition Of the tribes in this country
in connection with the rapid extension of our
frontier limits. 1t is impossible not to see that
the aborigines are everywhere regarded as
something less than men. We have sought to
improve their condition by establishing mis-
sionary schools amongst them; they have been
pensioners upon the public treasury-wards Of
the executive departments They have always
excited large share Of public sympathy, and
strong hopes have been entertained that they
might be reclaimed from barbarism and ele-
waited to the spheres of social moral and reli-
gious enlightenment.
The Indians are certainly an interesting race,
and it is agreeable to read the accounts which
the federal Commissioner has given of the hui
name efforts of the government to promote
their welfare. He is sanguine of final success
in these labora He reports the existence,
within our extended Territorial limits, of three
hundred and fourteen thousand of these red
men Of the forest-these remarkable links
which seem to unite the brute with the human
species Not comment is made upon the
statement which the Commissioner has publish
ed in regard to the number of his wards. He
sees nothing in this fact to influence his
opinions concerning the destiny Of his people,
He encourages us with considerable progress
among the Chippewas of Michigan, and
the combined Chippewas, Ottawas and
Pottawattames of Wisconsin, and majority
xr;h al nd
vance ment in Texas! This is, with trifling va.
riations, the sum total Of Indian civilization,
after two hundred years Of effort. from many
millions of men and the sole masters OF
the continent-from many hundred tribes
existing in the pride of superiority-the ac-
knowledged chiefs of empire and OF domain
il America-they have been reduced to
triflc over quarter Of a million of men, and
to-day give up scarcely single hope that hu-
man efforts are capable Of elevating them to
the scale Of civilization and Christianity. It
would almost seem as if Providence had closed
the doors of progress against them. Unknown
to the Christian age, to the Egyptians, to the
Chinese, to the Hebrews, to the Greeks and to the
Romans, they have steadily resisted every effort
to introduce amongst them the arts of cviliza-
ton which existed in those nations. This may
seem to be harsh judgment, and one unsuited
to the spirit Of Christianity and to the temper
Of the present age but we prefer to look the
matter in the face and to be rational and prac-
teal. We cannot ignore the past if we would,
and there is not in all the variety of our rela'
tions with the red man, in peace or in war, poll
W ioio To- a rD
Of their regeneration and enlightenment.
1t is vain to say they have been severely and
harshly treated-it is vain to refer to their ORR
ginal strength and rights on this continent,
and to their present weakness and dependence
these things prove rather their stubborn re-
sistance to all the efforts of civilization, than
the cruelty of the white races. The sun
gives his rays to the white and red alike; the
earth is impartial in the fruits it bears to those
who apply the conditions Of production; and
SO it is with the conditions Of civilization-they
too, are fortunately impartial, generous aud
communicative. These examples to the Indian
have been valueless-and it is precisely such
causes which have been foremost in leading
the white race step by step to its present cond-
tlOH OF eulRnteUIneul.
A stationary people can no longer hope for
protracted existence-and this is made Oh
vious by the simplest comparison between the
AngloAmcrican and the aboriginal and Mexi
can races on this continent The former have
driven out the latter, just as the English arc
driving out the natives of the East, aud as
Russia is steadily advancing upon the Ottoman
empire. The same grand scheme Of operations
is going on in every part of the globe.
Judged by the standards of experience and
philosophy, it is not difficult to come to the
conclusion that the native barbarous races OF
both the Eastern aud Western continents are
working out their destiny precisely as an over
ruling Providence intended they should. On
this side of the water the Indians never held
more than mere right ofpassage-a highway
privilege of the country. They never turned
the earth to uses Of production. They added
nothing to the wealth or the civilization OF
mankind. While population was crowding on
production in the Old World they occupied
the New, and withheld it from the uses of the
human family. Their expulsion was a high
Christian duty-a work Of humanity -and
what is now exhibited is sufficient proof Of the
justice of this idea.
The chronic efforts OF the governmo nt to edu
cate, civilize and Christianize them, constitute
enc Of those stubborn features of policy trans
mitted to US from our ancestors, which, like
the Indians themselves is capable Of resisting
the force Of experience and the teachings OF
common sense and justice. They are actually
degraded by contact with the white race.
They show q capablity for ENGRAVING upon
themselves all our vices, and for successfully
resisting all our virtues. Bcneyolence and phi
lantbropy in this way have been the bane Of
their peoplc--the curse of their intercourse
with us. 1t is very kindly, very clever, and
very Christian.lke to set on foot projects for
the enlightenment Of the ignorant and the ra-