The Portland daily press., 1867-06-29

We do not mean the Atlantic Monthly ce-
lebrity SO designated, for he is palpably a
myth, though time and dime novels may grad
ualy make him historical parsonage, and IL
Dally confound him with the Man with the
Iron Mask. Nor do we mean JEFF. Davis, late
of Richmond, later of Fortress Monroe and
latest land last if our wishes may avail aught)
of the Dominion of Canada. He seems to be
SO far cosmopolite that he can feel con-
tent to dwell in the land over which George
Monck, Baron Monck of Ballytrammon" is
about to reign, and he so loves the unlovely
ensign of that realm that he hopes that it may
never give place to another STARRY" piece of
bunting associated in his mind with certain
unpleasant transactions of late occurrence.
We'mean the Indian-the painted tattooed
ana otherwise ornamented individual who is
unaDie TO restrain prediction for fire water.
and the sealps and portable property of the
pale face. However we may be able to justify
our treatment Of the party from the exigences
Of the case. it is pretty certain that, to use the
popular phrase we shall "catch it" when pos-
terity comes to sit in judgment ON our do!ngs
We shall be regarded in coming times when
every brave" will, in the Imagination of our
descendants, bs glorified into Logan, ever in
the attitude a. sumed when he made his cole
brated speech, as SO many unmitgated old hsa-
then. Pocahontas, whom the literary iconoel-
asts have recently been disenchanting is sure
to have her historic revenge, and to reappear
clothed with the glory uf generous deeds. Pos
terity, who will enjoy all the possessions wrest-
from the red man without being molested by
the rascal, will never be able to conceive what
an irreducible fraction --what ap uzzling prob
lem-what an intractable citizen-and what an
uncomfortable man and brother the real live
Indian is. They will only look at the records
of these times and find that his scalp is quot
ed in the Western papers as worth $50. They
will find that all constitutional provisions
granting to the people valuable rights
and franchises contain ever an
invdious exception of Indians, not taxed"
The mot taxed" will not save us from their an
imadversions, for they have not been allowed
to retain enough of their domains to constitute
basis for taxation. They have been driven
step by step to the far West, until the cry
which they utter at each new Infringement of
their rights dies on the praires before it can
reach the ears of the philanthropists who con-
cern themselves about the wrongs of happier
people all the way from Ireland to Timbuctoo.
The Indian has no advocate. He comes into
court without any counsel. The military men,
it is true, do not like the border style OF slaugh
tering him; but it is mere question of taste
They agree that he shall be killed, but it must
be done in the regulation manner.
We have just now rumors that work on the
~ II,
been interrupted by Indians. If they have
done this, Heaven help themi They have been
engaged for several months in butchering
what few emigrants CHANGED 20 fall into their
hands. For this they have been brought to
account somewhat tardily. But If they have
dared to plant themselves across the national
highway, and tear up that most sacred of all
things modern, railroad track, they may as
well make up their minds for immediate re-
moval to Alaska.