The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-01-20
THE INDIAN.
CHAPLAIN G. COLLINS, U. s. A.

We propose in this article, in rath-
er desultory manner, to speak of the
Indian, and in the same way, to speak
of the Indian question. The times
seem favorable to the performance of
our proposed task. Public attention is
directed to our subject with more than
usual earnestness. With the Inaugural
ton of the peace policy of President
Grant. and the happy thought of ap-
pointing those as agents whose moral
integrity could be vouched for by relig-
ious societies, the nation hoped that
the Indian troubles were over. But
we are rudely disturbed in our pleasing
anticipations. There is war frcm the
British line to Mexico. At time
when we least expected disturbance, we
hear that tribes, living at such remote
distances from each other as to preclude
the possibility of preconcerted action,
have commenced hostilities. The usual
horrors, exaggerated reports, deep re-
grets aud heavy expense 10 the Gov.
ernment Immediately fellow. The
troops are in the field. "A peace will
be conquered" We shall have quiet
ness Tor few years, and then repetition
of the present condition 1t affairs.
Consequently we have the ever rccur-
ring but never andswered question,
What shall we do with the Indians !?
Politicions, statesmen and Christians
often ask this question, but 'at this
pl ese,t" We have received no practical
answer. AS a nation we boast of our
general intelligence and keen i'm
tellectuality. We are justly proud Of
our national humanity. as proved by the
fact that at the close of the great war
not All individual was executed for trea-
son, while many of the leaders in the
rebellion have seats ia Congress, aud
are emong our trusted scithens. But
intelligence, intellect aud humane feel
ings have not enabled us to solve the
Indian problem.
GAS it was in the beginning it is now" "
Since October IL, 1892, the Europeans
and their decendants have pursued a
similar policy towards the aborigincs.
The results are mournful and humila.
ting. Well organized empires, like
Mexico and Peru, have been over
thrown. Powerful tribes like The Pc
quods, Hurons aud Caribs, which. but
tor the timely interference Of the white
man, might have ruled the continent,
have been annihilated. Those that
welcomed the whites and those who resis.
ted the FIRST attempt to form settlements,
have been involved in one common fate.
In mythology we read that Sphinx pro-
posed riddle to the traveller. Those
that could not answer were instantly
destroyed. The one that did answer
was to suffer fearful calamities. He
was to murder tis father, marry his
mother, and be killed by his children.
The white mans civilization is the
Sphinx OF the Icdian. Ii he accepts
it, the hand OF terrible destiny is laid
upon him. Ii be rejects it, the hand Of
\ terrible destiny is not II moved. Aud
still the destroying process goes on with
accelerating rapidly, aud unless some
thing is done. some lew methods are
used, an entire race will be swept from
the earth by those who profess to wor-
ship God in the name OF Chriet.
The Indian problem has been solved
iu the Atlantic States and in tie valley
OF the Mississippi The numerous at
tempts to civiIize them systematically "
began by Elliot, and aided by the foun-
ders OF Harvard aud Dartmouth, aud
CONT. ued 90 long as Indian pupils
could b. found, have all had similar
termination. Not one tribe has been
raised to m equality with the white
man. The task Of civilising tho In
disns of the plains ia, If possible, still
more difficult. Those Of the Fart were
several grades above these with whom
weare dealing. Labor was not, indeed,
90 subdivided among them ~ to give
free exercise 70 any speciality OF talent.
Their wants were few and productions
simple. They produced some splendid
specimens Of Indian manhood, like Phil
ip and Tccumseh. But the Indian Of
the Plain b . savage Of . low type, and
in their whole known history they
have not produced an individual worthy
70 be follower Of the noble chiefisin
who, ia the seveuteeuth century, do
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