Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-07-17
Cause Of the Indian War.

Mr.. &. II. Atkis On, of Oregon, writes
to The Portland Oregonian:
We are in the midst of an Indian war.
1t has signs of being more extensive,
costly, and bloody than any of the past
wars with them. This arises from the
fact that the treatyIndians, the peace.
able and industrious, as well as the
non-treaty, idle and nomadic, have
come to believe that the government
does not mean to keep faith with them,
or to redeem its treaty-pledges to give
them titles for their allotnents of
farms on their reservations. They
learn that congress and the commissioner
Of Indian affairs propose to force them
from their homes TO new, strange. apd
rugged reservations, or to mass them
on one or two large reservations.
Many oftnem have made small farms,
built houses, bought agricultural imple-
ments, and stock, and other means of
comfort. All these have cost them
much labor. They love and cling to
their homes as we do to ours.
They know that the war with the
Nez Perez chief, Joseph, and his band
last year, arose from this purpose to
force him and his band away from
their own--never sold lands--in the
Wallowa valley, and drive them on the
Nez Perez reservation. This was felt
by many to be unjust in principle and
impolitic in practice. Those Indians
felt it more keenly. All the tribes SYM
phatized with them. Runners have
passed from tribe to tribe during twelve
or fifteen months past, discussing their
grievances among themselves, and try
ing to bring all to common purpose
not to go to their new reservations, and
not to give up their homes. The result
that a general distrust of the word is
the honor Of our government prevails
among them ALL They will not furnish
Gen. Howard with scouts for this war.
They wait the turn of events. They will,
if pressed, fight and die in defense of
their homes.
Treat any man unfairly and you put
mighty weapon in his hand that will
smite yourself. The avenging Nemesis
will find and punish the guilty. Word
Has come that whiteman
has filed lien on the farm
of Charley, a Nez Perez, OF
1imothy's band, at Alpowai. who was
also faithful scout under Gen. Howard
last year. The white man alleges that
the Indians has not taken his land ex-
actly according to the forms of law.
But we know that the law giving lndi-
ans homesteads off the reservations was
not passed until March 3, 1875, and that
these Indians have lived rs citizens sew
eral years at Alpowai, and that their
rights began as citizens with their occu'
pancy of the claim, either by pre-cmp-
ton or homestead. They can and must
hold in chancery these homes in which
they have lived ten or fifteen years: 1t
will be fine opportunity for gener-
ous-minded attorney to go into court
and defend the case and secure the
rights Of this faithful scout.
The general land commissioner or
dered the farms of those Indians to be
kept for them. The Ceur d'Alenes,
whose farms are probably on unsurvey-
ed lands, will doubtless present similar
cases in equity. Meanwhile the at
tempt of white men to jump that In
dian claim will be like lighted match
to powder. 1t will destroy the faith In
us of the best Indians, our longtime
friends. 1t will fire their hate and ex-
pose the guilty and innocent alike to
revenge. Such deed published
among the other tribes will incite them