The hydraulic press., 1860-04-28
NORTH SAN JUAN, NEVADA Co., SATURDAY APRIL 2s, 1850
OUR DUTY TO THE 1NbIAN.

committee appointed TO investigate the
causes of the Mendocino Indian war Q) has
deepened in our mind the conviction that
the conduct of Americans towards the ma
tive tribes of California has been utterly
heartless, and marked by degree of bloody
cruelty that would appear shocking in the
annals of any people. Everywhere but in
this State the Indians have been conceded
to be the rightful owness Of the soil, and
their right has everywhere But here been
purchased with more or less fair dealing and
business Everywhere but here they have
been able and prompt to defend their rights
as lords of the manor, and their Inevitable
retracy before the white race, when not
procured by honest or apparently honest ne
gotiation, has been marked by the most des
perafe- acts of defense or revenge. But the
Indians of California, though not utterly
incapable Of heToisf,, are generally feeble
and timid, and consequently have been
driven from their inheritance without the
least regard 10 justice or offers of remunera-
ton. The General Government has sought
to gather them upon reservations and COM
pei them to degree of industry; but the
charge of these reservations has usually been
confded to politicians intent on money max
ing or to soldiers Of lusiful and bibulous
propenslties, instead OF to persons of hu-
manity, intelligence and special fitness
Hence the system has been flilure, and
the miserable creatures whom we have
driven from the streams and valleys, where
they used to FISH and gather edible seeds and
roots, into the barren mountains, have ccm
mitted depredations on orr herds of cattle
and occasionally slain one of the race which
they must regard with a just hatred. Their
weakness and their depredations have pro-
voked Americans to slaughter them, men,
women and children, as wild animals are
slaughtered by hungry Africans. Whole
villages have been annihilated in blood and
flames lat one fell swoop," and the civilized
world is now shuddering at the recital Of
our infamy. Emerson has remarked in the
English character suhstratum OF cruelty
inherited from the old Morse races. which
still breaks forth on occasions, as in India,
and converts the civilized Briton into fiend.
That lingering trait of savagenesS is retained
by the Anglo American, and was never more
terribly manifested than in the frequent mas
sacie OF California Indians.
There seems to be but one mode Of atouing
for past wrong and preventing such deeds
in the future. Let the Indians be all gath
cred into one territory by themselves, as was
done with the Cherokees and other tribes
east. Then confdc the care al d governm,n MT
of them to different class of persons from
those alluded to above, until such time as
they shall be fitted. if they can be, at ALL to
take care of themselves. Intelligent and
persistent efforts should be made to civilize
them, to teach them agriculture and all the
arts of peaces but whether they acquire and
practise these or not, the government should
insure them food, clothes and every needed
protection. This is simply our duty to them.
AS an adjunct in this humane work the
Christian Church should lend its influence,
Withdrawing it from other lands, even, if
necessary. Foreign missions have always
seemed to us to be not only nearly useless
but wrong. Labors for the benefit of man
kind, like charity in the proyerb, should
begin at home. What nobler and more
practicable field of usefulness is open to the
Christian Church anywhere, than on the
Pacific coast? How could it possibly serve
God and humanity better than by evangel-
izing the poor Digger tribes, or at least max
ing an effort to shield them from the atroci-
Gus cruelties of degraded whites? Already
in Oregon and Washington territory Chris
tim 1abors for the welfare of the Indian are
being blessed with gracious results. Why
not make the experiment in California? Even
infdels would aid such religion as that The
example of the Catholic Church in this re-
gard, is worthy of all praise and emulation
Its priests have usually been kind to the
Indian, and the Jesnt sect will ever deserve
honor for its efforts in his behalf How
many self-sacriicing missionaries it has
sent forth into the wilderness, often to be-
come martyrs Some OF the brightest pages
in American history are stamped with the
names Of these gowned phianthropists who
erected the cross in the primeval solitudes,
where they dwelt apart from their race for
years. earnestly praying and working for
the tribes whom we-their boasted superiors
of the nineteenth century-can put to no
better use than indiscfiininate massacre!
THANKs.-We are under deep obligations
to numerous exchanges for friendly notices
Of the Press. in connection with our prom
ise to enlarge if certain number of addi-