Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-08-28
'sThe Dishonest and Dlsgraceful Prin.
ciples of the MOccasin Trfbe.,,

mocratic party, led on by COL d. A. ROBERT
SON and others, to "expose with CRUSHING
EFFECT the dishonest and disgracefML principles
and practices of the whole MoCcAsTN TRIBE
which non rules the State under the assumed
name of "The Democracy of Minnesota"
(See Col. d. A. RoBERrsoN's card of August
18th.)
1t is true, as Col. r. alleges, that the Indian
Trading or Moccasin Democrats now rule the
State, and that the dishonest principles Incl.
dent to those educated in that trade, are the
rules of action in all public affairs. And it
is equally true, that there is no hope of a
purer state of affairs existing, until the people
overwhelm the whole tribe, whether labelled
RICE, SHELLEY, or STEELE Moccasnites in a
whirlwind of their Indignation and consign
them to political perdition never again to
emerge into public life.
Rejecting, however. little on the causes
which thus early in our history seem to have
imbued our whole political system with 'fes-
tering corruptions" ito again quote Col. Rob-
ERTsoN,) they will be found exceedingly diff
cult of accounting for on any of the usually
referred to principles of moral or political
ethics Thus, it is said by those who have
made the subject study, that the transition
from virtue to vice, from innocence to lowest
depths of crime, is always gradual-never
the result of sudden determination or sim
gle plunge from the one to the other.
Regarding this as settled principle, and
not mere speculation, there would, at the
first glance, appear to be strange anomaly
amongst us in the present condition of the so
called Democratic party of Minnesota. Here
the party is yet in its very youth, and its lead
ers have but little experience in the field OF
politics; and therefore it does seem remarka-
BILE, and in apparent contradiction of. we
were about to say, the aziom TO which we
have just made reference, that in so short
time, they should have so nearly, if not en-
tirely, outstripped all others, in all the varie-
ties Of the Vices and Corruptions ever at
tanned by the most skillful political traders
anywhere in either Cnristendom or Heathen-
dom.
But from little reflection, we are inclined
to think the axiom correct nevertheless, and
that the education, especially of the leaders
has not been so much neglected, in the par
ticular referred to, as most persons, at frs
blush, might be apt TO suppose.
AS School of Corruption and Wrong
means of Vicious Education and the &C
QUESTION ola Contempt for the Rights of 9th.
ers-we are not singular in the belief, that ar
eatensive trade and long intercourse pith the In.
dian tribes of tie morth-aoest, is unsurpassed, an
ri0atted!! Even the last two Legislatures i,
Minnesota, otherwise without a parallel, arc
in total eclipse before it.
As intimated, not only is this a most inim
table School of Vice-this Indian Trade-bu
those who are educated in it, from the assum
ed inferiority of the Indian and the Traders
employees, are taught, or from force of Cir
cumstances, imbibe an utter contempt for al
Others within their range; and towards one
another, their rule is, if anything so mis- ;hiev
Gus to every sentiment of morality or honesty
can be called rule" the end justifes the
MEANS" or improve every advantage without
regard to the means of securing it. 1t is each
mans business to look out for himself, and
the Trader lives in continual state of war
far with al! others within his reach, and acts
upon the principle that call strategems are
fair in war;" and the Indian was made to be
robbed.
When these men leave their field of labor
abandon the poor wretches whom they have
robbed, abused and rsed in turn, and take up
their abode among civilized people-we think
some allowance should be made for them, il
their receptions as to Right and Wrong are
not very nice, and even if they do not at once
see the difference between their new and old
associates, and should treat them and their
rights with the same contempt and disregard
with which they We're accustomed to treat
the Indians.
1t should be remembered, when these men
get into authority, that they lave merely
changed tie theatre Of action-tLey have.
some Of them, for quarter of a century been
in authority. and in the habit Of treating those
under that authOrity-lndians and employees
as slaves, as beings who possessed no rights
and that long habit is difficult to shake off
Therefore, when they treat the People as their
interiors, and disregard their rights, as they
have been ing ever since they usurped the
power which they now employ for their own
purposes it shoull be Remembered by all
their friends and admirers, as well as al men
generally, that these things are the re-
suit, not of their .fauhs, but of their unfortu-
nate EDUCATIoN-a matter which they can
not now help-because men cannot get rid
OF these unfortunate habits and vices as easily
as they could of squaw. Therefore, when
we see Legislature under the leader ship Of
a man whose boast it is that he has had TWEEN
ty-fve years training in this unfortunate
school of immortality and vice, if they have
been unmindful of the wants and the rights Of
the people-f they have robbed and plumber
ed them and the Treasury, leaving the latter
bankrupt and the former the bearers of bur-
dens in the shape of tazes unequalled in the
history Of any government, it is only the force
of habit in their leaders, and we must attrib
ute it to the unfortunate school in which they
were educated, and not to their hearts; for
whenever they have an opportunity to speak
either to or of the people, they say they love
them dearly, and say that he, the Head Chief
or greatest Moccasin man of them all, was
opposed to all this robbery, and he actually
did protest against it to the enormous extent
of 50 800, when he had it in his power to pre-
vent it altogether!