, 1873-05-22

CHRISTIAN SENTIMENT son of the
late DR.. Thomas, has written letter in
which he says: 'The Indians are what
they are, l believe, because the whites
with whom they are in contact have
been what they have been. We are to
blame. Not the poor Modoc but the
apacious, lawless peridious whites
nre guilty of his blood" These express
sions would have exhibited most ad.
1nirable Christian spirit towards the
murderers of his father, if they had not
been accompanied by the unjust, un-
charitable and altogether mistaken as
pensions upon tho people Of his own
FACE. The sentimentalist, who sympa-
thize with the Indians without knowing
sny thing of their nature, endow their
savage proteges with romantic qualities
and sentiments of which they are utterly
incapable in their most cultivated state.
The Indians in their treacherous and
blood-thirsty propensities, are no more
what they are because of their contact
with the whites, than are the wolves and
cougars what they are because of their
contact with sheep and other domestic
animals. They are as essentially rapa-
cious animals as any of the feline species
of quadrupeds; as different in their ma
lures from the Whites as the cat is differ
ent from the dog. There is comparatively
no sentiment of gratitude, fidelity or
attachment on their part towards any
other race or kind. Treachery is inher-
ent in them, and the propensity for
shedding blood a normal condition cf
their being. Domesticated and restrain
I'd Of their instructive pursuits, they
wither and die, but are never reformed
in their nature. Another romantic er-
Tor is that these Indians have any local
attachments or sentimental associations
of home with any particular place
They are nomadic in their feelings and
nabits of life, selecting their temporary
abiding places with reference to sur
rounding advantages and safety from
hostile tribes, and not with reference to
any sentimental associations connected
Herewith.
Utter ignorance of Indians and mis-
apprehension of Iudian character by
those who have never been brought in
to contact with them. is the cause of the
.'peace policy and the cruel and
unjust policy practised by the Gov
ernment and the people towards the
white settlers and pioneers of civiliza-
ton upon the frontiers. The "rapacl
Gus, lawless and perlidious Whites, p"
have never heen the settlers, but the
Government agents and contractors, sent
among the Indians from the centres of
civilization and religion. Young Mr..
Thomas does not express more Christian
charity and forbearance towards the
murderers OF his father, than the settlers
have almost uniformly practiced towards
The Indians, under equal proyocation to
resentment and revenge. We are now
sitting almost within rifle range of the
scene of massacre of whites by Indi-
ans, which took place but few years
hince, without the slightest cause or
provocation on the part of the Whites,
a1.d solely for plumber on the part Of the
Indians. After the whole surrounding
settle ments had been desolated, and the
defenceless people murdered or driven
iuto block house Or protection, tbs
Government purchased amnesty by pre-
sents to the Indians, and not one of the
murderers was ever punished for the
lime. The kindred of the murdered
and the murderers are almost duly In
contact upon our streets, and no indlg-
nifty or spirit of resentment is ever ex-
hibited towards any one of the "bravos
who boast of having tortured aud killed
unoffending and defenceless white men,
women and children. TO tolerate the
mnrderous and treacherous savages,
who but follow their Natural instincts
for rapine, is easier than to forgive their
white allies, who incite them to deeds
of violence under the mawkish senti-
mentality of humanity and religion.