Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-05-24

'ponsibihties Of such citizenship, and
you will invest him with attributes that
will make him proud Of his position.
He will consider that by holding his
in severalty there is an induce.
ment for industry, and the Indian will |
soon be absorbed in the body .politic,
aud / trust that the practical good sense |
that will characterize the administration |
Of Indian affairs by the War Depart.
ment will soon solve the Indian ques.
tion in the only way it ever can be |
solved, BY causing the Indians to be-
come self sustaining, learning their
daily bread by the sweat Of the brow"
as large numbers of them are now doing
in Idaho and Washington Territories,
without Government assistance, as I
know they are. an | as I presume is be-
ing done in many other sections Of our
broad domain. Upon the breaking up
Of reservations, remove the few, If any.
who viii not occupy lands in severalty
or adopt tie habits Of civilized life, to
some locality specially provided for
them, so that those who are willing to
improve their conditian or have it i'm.
proved will not be hampered aud annoy
ed by the worthless.
But let me say that when with them
it comes to choosing between removing
from their kindred aud from the graves
of their fathers or following the example
Of the industrious and self.sustaining.
you will End but few who will not
choose the latter alternative. The
whole system as now conducted under
the auspices Of the Interior Department
only proves the ignoranc, or willful dis.
regard of duties that characterize its ad.
ministratiop. Take the case Of Indian
inspectors, whose duty theoretically is to
inspect the accounts at the various
agencies, ascertain causes Of complaint,
and correct abuses, but practically with
few exceptions has been to whitewash
villainous officials aud shield them from
deserved punishment tor their infamy.
One Of them clothed With his mantle of
authority arrives at an agency, the time
OF his arrival we'll known by tho agent
in advance and unknown to any one who
could give evidence of the agents mis-.
management. The inspector is the
favored guest Of the agent, who has
everything prepared for his arrival. He
examines his books, pronounces them
correct.
The Indians about the agency are
called together, the agent present. The
inspector informs the Indians assembled
that he is sent there by "the Great
Father" to Look after their interests;
states to them that if they have any
complaints to make regarding their
agent, or upon any other subject, that
now is the time to make them known
| A eilence a. Of the tomb is the response
No matter if every duty Of the agen,
had been disregarded; no matter if he
had awindled or outraged them; no mat.
ter if he had been faithless to every
pledge, not one ofthe assembled Indians
would dare make complaint, as he would
know from sad experience that one
word of criticism of the agents conduct
the statement of one fact tending e
show his stealings, his petty persecu
tions, his disregard Of his plighted word
or any matter Of Observation-Disclosures
would only work him irreparable injury
by causing him and his to be further
outraged in the name of God, Christi
an,ty, and the Government, at the hand
Of his imperial majesty. the India,
, agent, as soon as the time serving in
spector had taken his departure.
J, In word, the checks and guards in
tended for securing faithful, administra
ton as at present executed, are onl,
carefully devised plans for screenin,
culprits and misleading the American
! people as to the facts regarding the In
, dian service. A case 10 point, showin
t the power and baleful influence Of a
evil-disposed agent who feels and know
that every step taken toward renderin
, Indians self-sustaining, breaking u
r tribal relations. and absorbing them i
+ the body -politic cripples his power an
! capacity for evil has within the last fe'
/. weeks occurred among the Nee Perce
e The mass Of the Indians remaining 0
9 their reservation after the late exodu
!, Of the hostiles we're anxious to great
1 reduce the dimensions Of or break u
II their reservation and homestead the
q lands and become citizens. They d,
e sired a petition to Congress to be tran
n lated into the Nez Perce language, tn
ir every Indian might fully Sunderstar
d the full purport Of the petition. tt
Indian agent would not permit the i
terpreter, Mr.. Whitman, who has q pc
feet knowledge Of the language, to tran
late il. And these Of Indian blood
y tho reservation who were capable
10 making full aud correct translation
D. the petition, and we're in full harmon
with its purposes, we're rsstrained fro
as 30 doiug BY fear Of the agents power.