The Montana post., 1869-03-26
QUAKERS AND INDIANS.

1t is proposed to appoint Quakers a.
Indian Agents and Superintendents. If
those who have the interest of the Quak
ers at heart, are satisfied with the promo.
sal the western people will not raise obiec
ton, but it will, to use an Hibernicism
be powerful weakening" on the morals
of the Quakers. That sect has now
some distinction for the alleged ENLARGED
condition of their moral bumps. and
the Dossession of such first class virtues
as honesty, cleanliness, conscientious
ness, and good digestion. If they can
retain all these, as Indian Agents
Joseph's virtue will have been eclipsed
and even Covode's honesty surpassed
William Penn, we believe. had some ex.
perience in this line, and, if Indian
Agents ever should have any religion in
general, or peculiar to themselves, VII.
liam Penn is unuuestionably entitled n
canonization as their patron saint. He
was an honest, Godfearing luan. He
wore the regulation clothes, expressed
his ideas in regulation language, went
off at last in the regulation way and
has had a great State named after him
No other Indian Agent has been so dis
tinguished, because few Quakers have
been entrusted with public places of
profit, and especially Indian Agencies
1t is related that. on one occasion, Penn
made treaty with them, whereby the
Indians gave him for certain amount
of beads and blankets as much land as
one man could travel over In day, and
that subsequent surveys demonstrated
the person who did the travelling walked
roA lao Aak-
sun and sun. This should not lead 70
the conclusion that Quakers are as much
inclined to take advantage of the Indian
as other men, for he may have been the
champion walker" of the day, or have
started little before sunrise. Besides.
it has never been said that Penn's at.
tention was called to the fact, or that he
stinted in the payment. The Quakers
are unquestionably the men needed
The mere fact of their being Quakers is
sufficient. They monopolize the homes.
ty of the country. They are generally
men who are thoroughly conversant
with the west, it's people, white and red
| and it's requirements for the welfare of
all concerned. The Union, now happily
safe, is chiefly indebted to the Quakers
for their heroic patriotism in responding
to the call for troops, in rallying around
the flag, and protecting its honor. This
patriotism deserves recognition now that
the country is safe. What better chance
for them to "get even" than as Indian
agents. STANCE it was not thought of
before, that the presence of a few Broad
brims was alone necessary to settle these
Indian difficulties, and turn these thin
aired mountains and vice haunted VAL
lies into "a land of steady habits" Come
Abijah, Amariah, Shimei and Zachariah
and bring with thee Esthers, Rebecks
abs, Keziahs and Abigails without lin
it, that the land may be blessed by your
presence, and the evils of the day be
banished. You started the thing smooth
4 ly on the banks of the Scuylkill; the red.
skins have very little land left less than
two hundred years after your ancestors
made those nice little trades in the Jer-
seys, and as the business has TO be fin
lshed up by somebody ere long, you who
"broke ground" under the elm by the
eastern shore, might as well as any
other-"be in at the death"