New-York tribune., 1871-09-23
NO ROOM FOB REb MEN.

NO ROOM FOR REb MEN.
While philanthropists and philosophers are
vexing their souls to discover some solution
of the so-called Indian problem, the Indians
themselves are, here and there, taking some
stand against being solved" out Of existence.
One of the speakers at the Indian reception at
Cooper Institute, last Spring, plaintively said
that there was no longer any room for the
Red Man anywhere. Pushed westward from
river to river. driven over range after
range of mountains, these barbarians have
at last learned some Of the white mans
cunning, and declare they will not
be moved any more. In few places,
Indians who have been experimenting with
civilization have become attached to the soil,
and, though deceived and cheated by agents
Of the Government, have come to the conclu-
sion that even the uncomfortable trappings of
a quasi civilization are safer for q last resort
than the uncertainties with which the tickle
white man would tempt him away. The poor
remnant of the tribes who dwell on the
reservation near the old mission of Pala, in
San Diego County, California, have become an
insufferable nuisance to the white settlers, who
have crowded up to the edge of the reserve and
covet the lands upon which the Indians are
gathered and are trying to earn living. The
chief was hostile to any scheme for selling tho
Indian land, and the settlers, with genuine
political tactics, organized plan to depose
him by O domestic rebellion, and secure
more accommodating head for the tribe. There
was a small rebellion, and the rival chieftains
almost precpitated an Indian war upon the
country. The difficulty was amicably settled,
finally, and both chiefs were displaced. But
the greedy white man has his eye fixed on
the Indians land, and will have it, sooner or
later. The next thing in order, of course, will
be an "Indian war;" which will drive the red
men away.
A more pathetic picture was' presented at
council held on the Umatilla Reservation, Ore
gon. Here, in great pomp and circumstance,
came United States Commissioners, Senators,
and others, to ask the Indians if it was true,
as had been reported, that they wanted to get
rid of their reservation and 90 off into some
remoter part Of the country where land is
cheap and no white men covet their posses
sions. To these Messieurs Wenap Snoot, How
lish Wampo, and Homily, high and mighty
men of war, returned such answers as
should have made the ears Of the
white men tingle. They showed how they
had been deceived into believing that when
they gave up the lands to which they once had
nominal title, and took up their abode upon
their present reservation, they were promised
great things; they were to have medical
adviser, blacksmith, money, houses, live stock,
and other attractions, none Of which they ever
received. Said Howlish Wampo, plaintively:
"Wenap Shoots house is as if 1t had been
made for pig-sty. Homily's house is the
same. see the house in which live-it ia
made Of mats" Yet these poor, cheated chiefs
were encouraged to leave their wandering
life and adopt the civilization Of the
white man, with ample means to be furnished
by the Government, but which were
never forthcoming. No wonder that
any proposition to give up their reservation,
even though, after much high-fown talk imi-
tated from the dialogues Of Cooper's novels,
the temptation took the shape of an offer for
the Indians to send out Committee to look
up q site for 0 reservation In Washington
Territory, the Umatilla lands to be sold "for
" the benefit of the Indians" These unso-
phisticated savsges have learned something of
the white mans untrustworthiness they will
not take the word Of the white mans Gov
ernment any more they have settled down
for life, and win not balured away by specious
promises. What q commentary Is this on the
good faith Of the Government
Mr.. Brunot, speaking for the Govern ment of
the United States, gave the Indians at this
council Q Just statement Of the popular feel
ing upon the Indian question. He said: "The
great heart Of this nation will not permit
the Indians to be wronged." How often
have those words been spoken as honestly and
a. the good Mr.. Brunot has just
said them and yet how often have they been
broken by the servants of the Government.
L Is time that tho few remaining fraRmenta