Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-04-26
The Indian Status.


iaton to the disposition of the Indians
on the west side of the Bitter Root
Mountains towards the whites and num-
erous incidents have occurred and mum.
erous expressions been made we'll calcu-
lated to create suspicion that they meant
hostility the ensuing season. The timid
have been induced to fully believe that
raids would take place, while others
either from better knowledge of Indian
character, or more brave and confident
in the power of the people to prevent
these have thought differently. Another
class tho small have so much confidence
in the profession Of good faith made by
certain Indians, that they sneer at all
apprehensions of forehoding evils. The
truth is that fear alone is the governing
influence with most of the Indians to
prevent them from open hostility. The
uncertainty of-being able to make
strong combination of force among the
different bands who will have the sinews
OF war operates powerfully to prevent a
war. Moses has been watched with
anxious solictude and since the depar
ture Of Joseph hundreds have looked to
him to lead off in a hostile demonstra-
ton. Tho causes which Moses has said
from the first would induce him t, 60 to
open war, to wit the attempt to force
him and his people on to the resarva.
ton, have not yet taken place, aud
hence. he is comparatively quiet and OK
presses his friendship for the whites so
long as they let him and his people do
as they please. Meantime the country
is fast filling up with new settlers, thus
making the array of whites to contend
against more formidable every day, and
if these settlers were well armed we
opinc that q knowledge Of this fact
would DO sure to deter from all further
Indian raids. And here it may be we'll
to call attention to the Tact not with.
standing the orders sent from Washing
ton to Vancouver, more than six weeks
ago to send to Lewiston $50 rifles and
1850 cartridges for the use of the vol
onteers Of Northern Idaho, not a single
rifle or single cartrige has yet come to
hand, though the steamers hare reached
here twice per week during most of that
time. Where the hitch is, or who is at
fault, We know not. The letters of Gov.
Brayman to Col. McColville express the
belief that the rifles are here, and d,rec.
tons are given for their distribution,
but no rifles are here, and no intelli.
gence yet received here that they have
ever been shipped from Vancouver.
The military authorities have called in
the guns that were distributed to GER
tain citizens last year, and to-day we
are without arms, save a few which are
the private property of individuals. We
have been told that Capt. Rabbit said
that some few Of the guns that were is
sued last year were missing aud that he
thought hest to not issue the $50 rifles
| till those were returned So far as we
can learn these missing guns were not
issued to the volunteers and they can
in no wise be accountable for them, and
those issuing them should look TO tho
parties to whom they issued them and
not seek to hold whole people account
able for the neglect. The orders from
Washington for issuing do not contem:
plate this kind Of triaing, aud if this
has anything to do with the delay in
J the receipt Of the $50 rifles with anu
milton we hope the officer who thus 10
terferes will be severely dealt with as
he shouldrbe. Give our people arms
and they will show themselves eompe-
tent to defend themselves if the few
troops in the country are not adequate
to the crisis, and the cost to the govern.
ment viii be far less.
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