Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-01-10


that had the hostlcs been able 10 cross
to the north side of the Columbia river.
they would have been joined by at
least five hundred Indians in Eastern
Washington. The presence of gum
boats on the Columbia river probably
prevented the hostiles from crossing.
A: recent conference between Gen.
Howard and part Of these Indians
they were promised new reservation
in this Territory on both sides of the
Columbia river. The citizens of this
Territory are almost unanimously op-
posed to this. They regard the reser.
walton policy not only failure, but
constant menace to them. While the
Indians remain upon the reservations
their tribal relations are kept up; they
talk over their grievances, real or i'm
aginary; they send emissaries to other
reservations to excite feelings OF hos
tility to the whites, and the result for
several years has been an annual Indian
war, in which innocent men, women
and children have been mastered, and
the government put to millions of dol.
lars of expense.
The remedy that is desired is, to
abolish all Indian reservations, break
up tribal relations, hold all Indians re.
sponsible under the laws for their acts,
permit them to avail themselves of
homestead and pre.emption rights, aud
in short, treat them like citizens of the
United States, which this policy would
clearly make under the first section of
the fourteenth amendment to the Con
stitution Of the United States. This
policy was unanimously recommended
by both the Republican and Democrat
ic territorial conventions which assem-
bled in this Territory the present year.
1t is possible that this policy might not
be feasible in other Territories. Refer
ence is only made to this Territory,
where it might be tried as an expert
ment at least. In the event that it is
not deemed advisable to pursue this
policy, then the transfer of all the In.
dams in Eastern Washington to the
Colville agency and those of Western
Washington to the Neah Bay agency
would be far more satisfactory to oul
people than the present system, pro
vided that an adequate military force
we're stationed at each reservation tC
keep the Indians under subsection
These reservations could be easily en-
larged 50 as to afford ample facilitie,
for hunting, fishing, grazing and agri
cultural pursuits; they are isolated, one
being in the northeastern aud the other
in the extreme northwestern part of tht
Territory, and from their peculiar geo
graphical position years must clapss
before they will be encroached upon b.
settlers.
The interest of the Indians in tn,
other reservations could be appraise,
| by the government. The amount thu
found due could be invested in Unitet
States 4 per cent. bonds, the interes
from which could be paid to the In
dams of the two reservations for the
support Of schools or other beneficial
objects. This policy would open t,
settlement more than one million acre
of fine agricultural land now include,
in reservations. These reservations ar
to-day entirely surrounded by settler
many Of whom are encroaching will
their stock upon the grazing lands o,
the reservations, thus engenderini
quarrels and bitter feelings between tn
settlers and the Indians.