The teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1876-1878, 1876-11-11
WHAT is IN THE WIND.

In the clipping from the s. F. Bulletin
which we publish on our outside in rela-
ton to the Indian Commission now at Lap
wal, we find the following:
ssCollaterally the practicability of con-
soldating the agencies will come up.
There are now fifteen or twenty agencies
which the General thinks might pr operly
be reduced to two"
This Commission, as we CLEAN from the
above, is to consider (and we suppose de-
termine upon) the question of placing the
Indians Of fifteen or twenty agencies as now
established under the authority Of not
more than two. This would necessarily
require the relocation of all the tribes save
the two where the newly established agen-
cies might chance to be selected. 1t has been
strongly suggested that purely sectar ian
influence is at the bottom of this scheme,
that it means simply to abandon all the
agencies now under the control of the Me-
thodists and Catholics and maintain ronly
| two which are under the control Of the
Presbyterians, that Gen. Howard who is
reported to be Presbyterian, is to be
made the efficient agent through whom this
stroke of policy is to be attempted, and if
possible carried out. If there be any
truth in the above suggestion, which we
are at present not prepared to credit, it is
bold stroke Of policy for an unworthy pur-
pose, and impracticable of attempting to
carry out in it's necessary details without
endangering the peace Of the tribes to be
affected thereby, and however much the
movers may covet the advantages they per-
sonally Or as a sect may derive thereby,
we sincerely hope no such attempt will
ever be made, or if ever made not until the
Indians are far less in number, and our set.
tiers are far better protected against In.
dian outbreaks There can be no excuse
for precipitating hostilities between the
Indians and whites by adopting policy a,
once so unnatural and so repugnant TO In.
dian habits and Indian attachment fol
Ltheir native iHahee. ,...,. 4,
n 1t is we'll known that we, with thousands
OF others on this coast who have studied
Indian character and the workings Of ths
Government Reservation sy stem, have bu
little Or no confidence in the utility Of thu
system either for the Government or tn,
+ indians. 1t would be far better for both
| - IL t"ontuS StCnVIC0 Wlto uVStetC u1UCS W.
stipulate for them to come under and b,
subject to our laws and be entitled to al
the privileges guaranteed to whites, ant
have their subsistence and growth mad
dependant upon their own industry and ex
ertion rather than to be the constant re
cipients of Government annuities and b
served by well fed agents and employees
while they themselves are permitted t.
roam the country in idleness at will an
without restraint. If Indians can not b
civilized and Christianized by becomin
subject to our laws, they cannot by becom
ing subject to different code of laws ad
ministered alone by agents of the Govern
ment We do not want two distinct GOV
. ernments for two distinct races of men
1t is contrary to the genius and spirit Q
the Constitution and IN direct violation q
. the Declaration of independence of GU
t forefathers which claims as self evideu
, truth, that "All men are created equal
and endowed by. their Creator with ce,
tain unalienable rights" &c. What the
= should be the law Of the white II an shoul
: Also be the law of the Indian