The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1874-07-09
For the EAGLE.
The Indian Question.

The Indian Question.
Mr.. EDITOR: The problem which
has puzzled our wise men from James
town and Plymoth down to the pres
ent time, after cxhausting the skill OF
statesmen and the patience oftheorists,
Notwithstanding recent gratulatiOns in
high quarters as to anticipated results
of the latest experiments, seems now
quite as far from i satisfactory sOlu-
ton rs ever before. If this aboriginal
tanglc does not admit of easy solution
by simple division, after the Alexan-
drian method, neither is it quite clear
that, under existing conditions. gentler
means will be found efficient. If not
to be cut by the sword, it seems at
least equally certain that it will not
dissolve in the milk of human kind
ness. Perhaps II combination of treat
ment. both heroic and humane. would
prove more TO the purpose.
The situation is simply this: Bar
barism. represented by the Indian, is
confronted by civilization in the per-
son of the white man. Now let both
adhere TO their traditions and what is
what must be the result Conflict
and. for one or the other, extinction.
1t is inevitable. Individual instances
may vary the circumstances, but they
do not change the rule. Whites upon
the frontier may be. or may become.
more or less savage, and now and then
an Indian comparatively tame; but il
is not these that bring the two races
into collision. The systems that lie
behind both compel and continue the
perpetual strife. individuals among
white men. rs among red ones, fall out
and slay each other, and when the
claims Of jnstice, as justice is regarded
by each, are satisfied. there the matter
ends. But let the same thing occur
between two OF the opposed races, and
straightwav there is excitement and
war.
Well. now. what are we going to do
about il? Our civilization may be
good, bad or indiff,erent-the Indian
sometimes not altogether such a red
devil as he seems when painted. That
is as it NAV be. Good or bad-devil
or not. both are as they are, and in
their natures interchangeable. Even
white men, with all the advantages OF
christian civilization, do not develop
into angels until after they die, and the
Indians die a great deal faster than
they become even half civilized. The
truth is. or seems To be, that the red
man is in his nature essentially wild.
Efforts long continued, and on scale
sufficiently extensive to give the ut
most scope TO opportunity. have dem
onstrated that the race is hopelessly
untamable. He is adapted to inhabit
the wild and waste places of the earth.
The earth cultivated and subducd 10
the uses of civilized man is no longer
a place 10 which nature fitted him. lie
struggles against the inevitable. and,
when the change becomes fixed, he
perishes like any creature out of its ele-
ment. Dogs have been taught TO walk
on two legs, and parrots 10 talk, but
neither ever seemed much of a success,
for dogs generally continue to go on
all-fours. and parrots to scold in their
mother tongue. Cases of civilized ln-
dian do not appear to be much more
encouraging. Such is the naked truth
sentimcutalize As we may. This red
rider of the desert, unframed anu un-
tamable. confronts us face to face and
bars our progress.
But what right has the white man
and his dubious civilization here. any
way? This question is presumed 10
be persinent-at least it is always put
and. at all events, brings us TO the
consideration of first principles. And
when we come TO first principles, pray
by what right is the Indian here, with
his savage customs, which are not at
all doubtful? All. bu; we found him
here in possession. So he found the
Mound Builders. and extermiuated
them. Why should we not eXtermin-
ate him in turn? Besides he was not
in pcaceable possession when we found
him. Every tribe claimed the hunting
grounds of every other tribe adjacent.
and took them when they could. Every
thing that he possessed on earth was
acquired and held solely and entirely
Upon the good old plan
TO let him take that hath the power.
And let him keep who can"
Let the fact never be forgotten. then,
that il was originally question OF
might. and not one of settled or vested
right. in which the white man inter-
fered when first he set foot upon the
American continent. He simply be-
came new factor in this question Of
force, but, at the same time, he offered
the red man something better than his