The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-10-08
Mr.. MBAOHAMis BOOK.

One very important qualification Mr..
Meacham possesses for treating the
'Indian questionn-he can insist on
justice for the Indian without railing
against the civilized race. He does, in
deed, condemn the wrongful acts OF
white men in their dealings with IN
dians; but he does not set the Indian
up as an object of admiration and rever-
ence, nor condemn those Of the civilized
race who do not pay homage to the
''child of nature"
So far, then, Mr.. Meacham's book is a
manifest improvement on those won
drous works upon the same subject,
written in the romance style, and gush-
ing with misdireeted sympathy for the
''noble red man." But while we say
this for the book, it seems to US neces-
sary to say or the other hand that it is
quite faulty in different direction.
Mr.. Meacham thinks he sees in the In
dian race possibilities of culture and
civilization; he is of opinion that the
race can be transplanted, as it were, to
new sort of existence under the GUS
toms and blessings of civilized life, and
flourish, multiply, and enter upon a ca
reer of progressive development. Here,
if experience is worth anything, and
the teachings of science go for aught,
we fear Mr.. Meaeham is mistaken, for
nothing would seem more certain than
that the Indian race can flourish only
in its original and natural "environ-
ment." And this is law of nature
with reference to all forms of life. Wild
races have never been able to live in,an
atmosphere of civilization. In their
natural condition they multiply; forced
into new ways of life they droOp and
perish. No people ever had healthy
growth except from within themselves.
Culture and civilization cannot be
. forced on a people from without. The
law of development cannot be wrenched
from its natural method of operation.
These are principles too often lost sight
of by those who are enthusiastic in
their efforts to civilize the Indian race.
But it is not fair to devote all our re-
marks on Mr.. Meaeham's book to criti-
f cism on these principles. Leaving this
} ground, we can truly say that he has
produced very readable book. His
narrative is rapid and dramatic. 1t car
. ries the reader along with it, so that
even those familiar with the leading in
cidents related, who pick it up with no
I idea of reading far, soon find themselves
8 reading page after page with eagerness
and attention, and do not readily lay
! it down. A variety of incident, drawn
! from. the authors own experience, gives
vivacity to the book. One, indeed,
f may we'll say that many things are in
a serted which skillful literary judgment
q would have omitted. But the author
has not professed to build work on the
4 principles established by literary criti-
q cism. The book is simply the emana-
: nation of a mind overflowing with its
r subject. That it will be widely read,
!. there can be no doubt. The volume is
q a stout and thick one, and evidently is
s published at large expense. We sim
s cerely hope it will meet with an exten-
n sive sale in Oregon. 1t is the only book
g yet published in which full account oi
a the Modoc war and its tragic events is
given, and it therefore affords the only
h chance yet offered of procuring in {
v shape for easy reference and preserva
% ton the record of those memorable
l. transactions.
.e Mr.. Meacham's daughter is canvass
r, ing for the book, and we are glad t.
? learn that she is meeting with encour
If aging success.