Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-03-27
"Onr Indian Policy

Editor Of the Rutland Herald: viii
you permit me as one of your constant
readers and sincere well-wishers, to oc-
cupy small space in your paper, ex-
pressing AN opposite view ~f +Our In
dian Policy" from that which you SO
ably set forth in your editorial of the
10th. That the sa0age Indian is cruel,
treacherous and revengeful no one can
deny; but till | read your article yes
terday, never heard,it doubted that the
border-traders and Indian agents have
provoked most of our Indian wars by
their rapacty and licentious conduct il
many ways. 1t used to be said, as you
say of these traders, that it was against
the interest" of Southern shareholders
to ill-use their chattels, but facts prove
motive power, with unprincipled men,
than SeIf.interest. Another cause of our
Indian troubles is we'll known to be the
fact that a0hite 0utlaaCs and free-booters
often invite the savages to make raids in
times of peace, in order that they may
bear share of the booty. But let us
have the savage, for the civilized Indians.
l will now only mention one little fact
which seems to me significant one.
Last year the crops of one of the tribes
on the Indian Reservation, tbs Ponhos,
entirely failed. Their government "a
tions had ceased as it was supposed that
these crops would be sufficient for them,
AMI in the failure of all resources they
were reduced to starvation. Yet in their
distress they saw, every week, great
droves of cattle driven by their reserva-
ton to that of the Yanctons, who had
been more recently placed on reserva-
ton to the north of the Poneas, and
were not considered yet to be independ
ent of government aid. Not one Of these
cattle was touched by Poneas, nor was
any attempt made to obtain relief, ex-
cept through petition to the govern
mcnt.
Bishop Whipple, one Of the "Quakers,
and others" who believe that the lndi-
an should be civilized and christianized,
not exterminated, and who has earned
for himself the title of the Indians
friend, says, in his sermon preached at
the conservation of the first s.Bishop to
the Indians" Rev. Dr. Hare, ''Our Da-
kota christians and those of the Presbv
terrain Mission, above, rescued scores of
white women and children from death.
Enmegabowh, our faithful Chippewa
minister, and few others, saved Fort
Ripley from massacre, and prevented
Chippewa war" ''God has wonderful
ly rewarded us for our poor labors, and
doubling faith. We have, in all, eight
churches, six white clergy, and four
Indian clergy; two have entered into
rest. Besides these several young In
dams are studying for the ministry in
our Western Chnrch Seminaries. We
have twenty-five catechists and eight
sisters, who are laboring in the Indian
field. From the English Mission, in
British Columbia, the Rev Mr.. Me-
Donald, has just gone back to print the
gospel for seven hundred christian In
dians, whom he has baptised. No work
among the heather has ever brought
greater rewards thar the work of Indi-
an Missions.
Last month there was held in Wash
ington meeting of ''Quakers, and 9TH
ers, including representatives from
every religious body, together with ar
my officers, Senators and civilizsd Indi-
an delegates. All agreed that ssnever
had the peace of the border been rem
dered SO secure, such marked improve
ment made in the condition of the Indi-
dian, and the cost of maintaining proper
relations with them by government, SO
small, as at this time, and under the
present policy" May not these words
leave room for doubt whether there be
not some other solution of the Indian
problem" than that of extinction.
MIsERICORDlA.
Rutland, March 90, 1873.