, 1877-02-03

/ Dlllu houses, HluuulHCtuIc ClolD' lIlI tHc
soil, and are capable of further improve
ment, though they have remained sta
tionary for fifty years. But the Sioux,
Ampahoes, Cheycnnes, Kioways, Com.
anchcs, yes, the utes and Apaches are
scarcely above the Australian, With
these we are dealing
The notion is quite prevalent that it
was unjust, if not positively cruel, to re-
move several tribes from their original
homes to the west We shall have oc.
casion to refer to this matter again, but
here we desire to ask, What else could
be dOne2 The two races are so dissim-
liar that they can not live together on
terms of equality. From the very ma.
ture of things one must increase while
the other decreases One race is lazy,
the other industrious; one is improvi-
dent, the other looking continually to
the future; one is converting luXuries into
necessaries, the other is contented with
the rudest kind of lie, if it only satisfies
present desires one has noble aims, and
animated by lofty impulses, the other is
content with his ignorance poverty and
filth. And our best men saw that this
"irrepressible conflict" was destroying
the Indians. They were sent west then
an unexplored region. They were un
wisely assured that they would never
again be disturbed. But the white race
are again surrounding them, and very
soon the question of their removal, which
few years ago was debated in Florida,
Georgia, and Michigan, will be debated
in Arkansas, Texas, and Kansas, But
the Indians can GO no further There is
no refuge for them in our vast territory,
and so the ever-recurrihg question, What
shall we do with theml
Many answers are given to this i'm
portant question. But the difficulties
we encounter in any policy we may
adopt towards them are numerous, seri-
Gus, and we fear insurmountnble. If we
but glance at them we see their imprac-
ticability.
We are told, for instance, that we
must treat the Indians like men. This
may be good advice, but it is too indef-
mite to have any practical value. But
we will let that pass, and inquire, What
If they won't be treated like men2 What
if, when the Government makes them a
present, they receive the gift as a tribute
extorted by fears of their prowess ?
What, if when we talk to them in
spirit of love, they call us squaws
What shall we do with those who, ac-
knowledging no power but brute force,
were never known to manifest the least
gratitude for favors received ? who
scoffed at our respect for the treaties
who in their savage pride will not speak
our language, even when they under
stand it who from childhood have been
taught that work is disgraceful, who
have often boosted that they have tor
tured prisoners, but are ashamed to ac-
knowledge that they ever had pity on
captivesl How, we ask, Can we treat
them as men9 Destitute of the senti.
ment of honor we can not appeal to
their pride deaf to the voice of COM
passion, we can not appeal to their hu-
manity holding in utter contempt our
manner of living, we can not appeal to
their ambition.
Some of our wisest and best men are
in favor OF destroying their tribal rela-
tions and holding them amenable to the
laws as individuals. For many reasons
this seems desirable. With their tribal
relations recognized, we have the anon.
alous spectacle of an independent State
existing within an Independent State,
people differing in language, habits and
aims, from their surrounding and more
powerful neighbors. Such q spectacle
is, we cay, an anomaly, and must result
to the injury, if not in the destruction of
the weaker race. The two are not agreed,
and can not walk together. Practical
illustrations can be found in the removal
of the Seminoes from Florida, the
Creeks and Cherokees from Georgia, the
Delawares from Pennsylvania, the Sene-
cas- from New York, Pottawatomies