The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-07-09
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TRAITS OF INDIAN CHARACTER.
Br WASHINGTON IRVING.

There is something in the character
AMI habits Of the North American savage.
taken III connection with the scenery over
which lie is accustomed 10 range, its vast
lakes, boundlcss forest, ma cstic rivers, and
,rackIess plains, that is, TO my mind, won.
dcriuIly striking and sublime. lie is
formed for the wilderness, as the Arab is
for the desert. Ills nature is stern, sim
pie and enduring; fitted TO grappIe with
difficulties, and 10 support prIvalions.
There seems bu. little soil in lis hear,
for the growth of the kindly virtues; and
yet, if We would but take the trouble to
penetrate through that proud stoicism and
ha1itual taciturnity which lock up his
character from casual observation, we
should find him linked to his fcllow-man
OF civilized life by more Of those sympa-
lhics and affections than are usually as
crbcd to him.
1t was the lot Of the unfortunate Abo-
rigines of America, in the early periods of
colonization, to be doubly wronged tv
the white men. They have been dispos.
sesscd Of theit hereditary posses ssions 10y
mcrcenary and frequently wanton war
fare; and their characters have been tra-
duced by bigotcd writers.
The coIonist has often treated them
like beasts Of the forest; and the author
has endeavorcd to justify him in his out
RACES. The former found it easier 10 ey.
terminate than 10 civilizc The latter, to
vilIty than to discriminate. The appelIa.
tons Of savage and pagan, were deemed
sufficient 10 sanction the hostiIities OF
both and thus the poor wanderers of
the forest were prosecuted and defrauded,
not because they were guilty, but because
they were ignorant.
The rights Of the savage have seldom
been properly appreciated or respected by
the white man. In peace, be has too Of
ten been tile dupc of artful traffic; in war,
he has been regarded as ferocions ami
NAL, whose life or death was question
OF mere prccaGtioM or convenience. Man
is cruelty wasteful of life when his own
safety is endangered, aud lie is sheltered
by impunity; and little mercy is 10 be ex.
pccted from him when he feels the sting
OF the reptile, and is conscious Of the pow.
er to destroy.
The same prcjudices which were iadslg
ed thus early, exist in common circulation,
at the present day. Certain learned so.
cieties, it is true, have endeavored, with
laudablc diligence, 10 investigate and re
cOrd the real characters and manners Of
thelndisn tribes. The American govern.
mcnt, too, has wisely and lumanely ex-
erted itself to ipculcstesl friendly and for
bearing spirit towsYds,thena and TO pro.
tect them from fraud andsojustice.
The current opinion Of the Indian char
acter, however, is too apt to be formed
from the miserable horIes which infest
the frontiers, and hang on the skirts of
the settlements. These are too common
Iy composed of degenerate beings, cor.
rupted and enfeebled 10y the vices of soci.
ETY., without being benefited by its civili.
za,ion. That proud independence which
formed the main pillar oi savage virtue,
has been shaken down, and the whole
moral fabric lies in ruins. Their splits
are humiliated and debased by sense OF
inferioTitv, and their native courage cowed
and daunted by the superior knowledge
and power Of their enlightened neighbors.
Society has advanced upon them like
one OF those whitening airs that will some.
times breathe desolation over a. whole re
J gion Of fertility. y has cncryased thei