The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1876-07-15
Tho l.diaa Qasstisa.


ter and his command by the redskins Of
the Northwest will attract the attention
of the country to the "Indian Question, u
give it new interest, and, perhaps, hur.
~ up solution of the problem, "Whst
shall be done with the Indiansr' The
policy Of settling these tribes Of wild
men upon reservations is an attractive
and apparently humane one ; but 90 far
it has not been very successful. The In
dams will stray without regard to the
lines fixed by treaty or law, and the
whites always have and will encroach
upon the lands set apart for the red men.
The Indian Territory is to-day one of the
richest and yet the most desolate portions
of this continent. While it is capable of
sustaining vast population, and of fur
nishing them with almost everything the
human heart can desire, it is almost q
waste; its rich soils, fine pasturage, mag.
nificent climate and beautiful scenery,
unused and unenjoyed. This great re-
gion hangs like desert barrier across
the path of civilized population now
sweeping across the continent, and causes
and must continue to create chickering's,
strife and bloodshed among fhe whites
and red men of the extended border.
Commerce crowds upon the abode of the
idle and seml-barbarous children of the
Western wilds and demands the surren.
der of those rich plains to purposes more
useful to man than those to which they
are at present devoted. This conflict is
irrepressible, and will continue until the
weaker surrender to the more powerful,
and it is but question of time when the
occupants of the Indian Territory must
give way and yield that country to the
svarioe Of the whites. Legislation can
not prevent it, and the Government must
listen to the clamor now existing and
daily increasing for the coveted lands of
the remnant tribes of Indians which now
possess them. Such has been the history
of the many reservations which once ex-
listed east of the Mississippi, and such
must be the fate of existing and future
reservations west of the great river.
Whether it is just that such has been
and must be the history of the ''reserva-
ton" plan or not, it is not worth while
now to discuss. 1t has been and must |
continue to be the case, and the fact may
as we'll be accepted. The inhabitants OF
the border would cxterminate the In.
dams at once If their wishes in the mat.
ter could prevail-the b"tchery of wom-
en- aud children-the murder and mutt.
lations of peaceable Eanchmen and unof.
lending travellers 70 frequently occurring
no matter from what cause, or upon
what provocation, make the people OF the
border countries unanimous in their de.
nand that the red skins he slaughtered
without mercy.
But such policy cannot be adopted
BY agovernment which claims to be just.
II allowed by people protesting christi.
unity. Some system of reservation must
continue TO be the one employed.
But first, letevery Indian be disarmed;
rot q weapon Of any kind should be fur
'ished or allowed the treacherous scamps;
IN their place give them implements Of
industry. Keep them on the land as.
igned by force if necessary, and make
hem work and earn their food in plant.
ng grain or raising stock, or do without
t. Arms Of any kind are of no use to
hem any way, and if they will not be.
ONE civilized, if they will insist upon
oving and wandering, let them hunt
heir game and take their fish in the
way they accomplished these
hings before the white man landed on
his continent.-Chicago Post and Mail.