The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1870-08-02

Some weeks ago. The Sacramento
Union. affecting its old strain of a tawny
philanthropy. called attention to the
charge brought against Mr.. Fitch by
certain representatives Of the Creeks
and Cherokees-that Fitch had said that
he never saw a good Indian except a
dead one. We will not stop here to
repeat our platform on the Indian ques-
ton. Fitch denied in his place in the
House, the aceasation-putting the de-
NAL somewhat as the lawyer did who
denied expressing contempt of court
that he had guardedly RETAINED from
expressing his sentiments. He said
there are, doubtless, good Indians Of the
Creek and Cherokee Nations; but his
general remarks were to be taken as ap-
plying to the loose Indians, Of the West
as it now is; and, with that limitation he
is certainly correct in his restriction.
But what we were going to say was
this: Fitch got in a good n on Dawes,
on the 18th. A proposition was up to
appropriate $50, 900 to defray expenses
of Spotted Tail, Red Cloud, and the
other recent guests of the other end Of
the Avenue, on their trip.
Dawes, of Massachusetts,, was espec-
tally pressingin advocacy of the measure.
He gave way. however, for a few minutes.
to the Representative of Nevada, who
administered a rather scalding rebuke to
the Massachusetts good Indian man.
Dawes has taken upon himself, on ser
eral occasions during the session, the
duty Of Watchdog of the Treasury. He
has seemed to court distinction as an
economist. We give him credit, as did
Ftch-for his strenuous opposition to
all profligacy with the public funds; but
oh, to how base a dwindling did the Mas
Congressman bring all his
hieh-feathered, patriotic adjurations to
economy, when he centered their whole
moral force, brought all the vantage
ground they got him, to bear in favor of
a dirty, thieving scheme, to pay fifty
thousand dollars for a visit Of a squad Of
Indians to the Capitol Fitch
cited the instances when the bowels of
the Massachusetts Representative were
with astringency, and then pro-
ceeded TO explain the vent this long-pent
generosity of Mr.. Dawes was seeking:
Il suppose the House will vote this
money; but / desire that it shall be dis
understood that while l have no
hostility to good Indians-although |
have never met any that l considered
particularly valuable, and / have come in
with some of them-no voice or
vote of mine shall ever be given in favor
Of ministering to their self-importance by
the absurd and fruitless policy of bring
ing them to visit the Great Father at
Washington. I say ii is an unwise policy;
for those Indians, instead of being i'm
of this nation, as the gentleman from
Massachusetts, Mr.. Dawes suggests, de-
rive the impression that when you bring
them here to feast them and cajole them,
you are afraid of them, and are trying to
them. Why, sir, SO useless
was this expedition for which we are
asked to pay $500 00, that even while
Red Cloud was on his way back to the
Indian country, his associates attacked
and fred upon passenger trains upon the
Union Pacific Railroad.
Il say that this is a mistaken policy.
l suppose that those who have incurred
these expenses will be placed in an IN
barrassing position If we do not vote this
appropriation. But no vote of mine
shall ever be given for it. With due re-
gard to the gentleman from Massachu-
sets Nj. Dawesl whom / do not intend
to criticise personally-for l know he can
not be aware of the facts of the case-I
say that when l go back to my constit-
uents / shall be able to assure them that
l did not participate in the general rush
of Senators and Representatives who
crowded forward to visit these savages,
and clasp hands red with the blood of
the emigrants they had scalped and muir
dered on the plains. l shall be able to
say that no hand Of mine was offered to
them, and no voice of mine shall ever be
given for an appropriation out of the
public Treasury to supply them with
presents and surround them with luxu-
rious appliances