Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-11-08
THE 4 INDIA Ms.
Queries by DIR. Atkinson. and Answers
by Gen. Howard, ON Many Points of
Interest Concerning the Indiana.
PoRrLA ND. Oct.22. 1873.

IS PORTLAND, Oct.22, 1873.
Gen. o. o. Holcard, y. S. 4: AS a
citizen Of Oregon for thirty years, iu
common with Others, l have Of necessity
felt very strong desire to see solution
of the Indian problem. During this
long period, | have witnessed the close
Of the Cayuse war which was caused by
the murder Of DR.. Marcus Whitman and
family, and about twenty other citizens.
and which was finally settled by the ar,
rest rby Governor Lane), and the exc.
cution Of seven of the Indian murderers
IN 1850.
Next the Indian war of 1855 involv.
ed the entire Territories of Oregon and
Washington, and put the scattered set.
tiers in peril in their village homes as
we'll as on their journeys. This war be
gan in wrong done to Indians. 1t was
made the occasion by the Klickitat In.
dian runners Of arousing and uniting
most Of the tribes 10 plan to fall upon
and exterminate all the American whites
on the same day from the California lines
to British Columbia.
The more recent Modoc war followed
other 'listui Dances in southern Oregon,
and ended in costly sacrifice of noble
men aud millions Of money. The wars
of 1877 and 1878, though speedily closed
by the vigor and celebrity Of your com,
mand, have both been signals Of the con
slant irritation, which is excited by the
progress of settlements, wherever the In
dams retain their tribal relations.
The closer this contact becomes be.
tween the two classes, which we can
hardly call two civilizations, the surer
are we to witness conflict.
Judging from the past we may expect
another war with the Indians of this
northwest not many months hence.
This is the judgment Of men who
know the revenges that are harbored
and perhaps encouraged by the barbara
ties and destruction Of stock as well as
murders committed by the hostile In
dams this year.
In view of these sad facts which oc-
cur within the purview of the officials Of
the United States, and of the States and
Territories involved, and under every
policy Of managing our Indian affairs,
and within sight of British territory,
where whites and Indians dwell together
in peace under the mgis Of English law;
which protects and holds alike RESPONSE.
BILE every person Of both classes, certain
grave questions arise, no doubt deeply
and often pondered by yourself, to which
you may be willing to give such answers
as your official position and opportunities
have enabled you to discover.
A case in point occurred at the SEES
sion Of the circuit court in Yakima City
last week, as am informed by Hon. j
Is. Allen, prosecuting attorney for sale
district: A Yakima Indian murdered a,
Indian doctor. Mr.. Allen brought thu
case before the grand jury who found I
true bill against the man. He wa
about to be prosecuted before the court
witnesses were subpeuaed, and the da.
of trial set. The Indian agent appear
cd and affirmed that the criminal ha'
been tried by the tribe under their Law
Of holding doctors responsible for tn
death Of patients and condemned to con
fnement on the reservation tor one year
Under the United States statute whicl
forbids second trial for the same oil
tense, Mr.. Allen was obliged to quas|
the indictment and withdraw tho suit.
Such duplex proceedings would seer
to proloug aud nurse the barbarsm o
tribes and continue to make murder, i
their minds, mere trife
I submit the following question.
marked from to VIII.
Verv truly vours.