Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-10-01
Indian Matters.

The Indian question has always been difficult
to deal with, and it is constantly pressing;
hardly day passes without its being forced
upon our attention by some story of outrage,
through fraud or violence, committed either by
the savages or upon them. Public opinion
upon the subject is unsettled and fuctuating,
at one time incining to the sentimental view of
the Indian character and the wrongs from which
he suffers, and at another flaming out in fierce
Indignation at some story of torture and mas
saere, and almost demanding determination, as
the only measure Of justice to the bloodthirsty
savage and of safety to the white people of the
frontier. One, and perhaps the chief reason for
this varying temper is that by far the greater
part Of the people who, by their expression of
feeling and opinion, influence legislation on this
as wen as other subjects, cannot have any ade-
quate appreciation of the savage character
Living, as tbirty-dye millions at least Of our
people do, in the midst Of an organized society,
Where law is regularly administered and spon-
taneousy obeyed, where everybody has his
work TO do and performs his part in the vast
machine Of civilization, without knowing any
thing by observation Of a different order of af-
%''i'FJ NA'N@ NNA'ANh PNA AiNloGlfto III tut pace
Of people who live without law and without
restraint, with little mutual dependence and by
hereditary predispostion and habit are prompt.
ed to rely for subsistence and such pleasures as
are within their reach upon occasional effort in
the direction Of hunting or warfare, instead Of
systematic industry.
The Indian at his best estate is vain, indolent,
fierce aud cruel-not wholly destitute of good
qualities, Of course, but with the evil in decided
predominance. AT his worst, when exasperated
by sense Of wrong, and with all his passions
aroused by the excitement Of conflict, he becomes
a malignant, hideous and obscene devil, such as
the mind Of civilized man could not conceive, if
1t had not truthful pictures Of the savage as be
is TO aid the Imagination. No doubt the Indian
has been made worse by contact with the
white men whom he encounters, some Of
whom have been able 10 teach him new
vices, which he acquires with an astonishing
facility, aud Others provoked him to rage
by injustice, but the practical question is not
how he became what he is, but how TO deal with
him in his present condition, to lift him above
~ II possible, ana at any rate to keep him in
restraint What is best Tor the Indian himself
- hpt hle hi9l NVHo'uCIatlon; MS Improvement is
desirable, but less on his own account than for
the benefit to be thus indirectly conferred on his
white neighbors, who are capable Of better
things than the most sanguine senumentalist
has yentured to anticipate for the red man, and
who are injured morally, as well as in their per-
sons and estates, by contact with depraved
and Wretehed race to as great degree perhaps as
the latter are by acquiring new vices and dis
eases
The comparative peacefulness Of the Canadian
Indians Is often cited as reproaehi 10 our gov
eminent and people, and as evidence that our
northern nelghbors have dealt with the Indian
problem more wisely than we. There may be