The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-02-13
nnR WASHINGTON LETTER.

diseOursing elOquently To large audi
ences in Lincoln Hall. The meeting
cannot be said to have accomplished
ANYTHING directly, beyond little whole
some agitation-and It takes a power Of
preaching to rouse much enthusiasm on
this subject, even among the women
themselves. The weather was stormy,
aud Mrs. stanton took occasion to re-
mark that it was fitting suffrage con-
ventions should invaribly meet on rainy
days, while the heavens wept over the
wrongs Of women. This matronly and
magnificent lady is the one 'ver tower
ins pillar Of strength to the movement
for woman's disenthrallment. The con-
ventiou comprised a fine lot Of girls, old
and young. II there is still popular
delusion that the suffrage women belong
to distinct species, that she is acid and
bony aud dowdy, let that delusion hide
its disgraceful head before the facts.
They are neither all "Old maids" nor all
men-haters, though they do sometimes
give the sterner sex particular fits. Bot
as rule they are womauly and refined,
and seldom go back Oh the gospel of
good gowns. For instance, Lille Dew
ereuK Bake, blonde, brilliant, staccato,
stylish. She is the woman who "daresn
to wear the most pronounced whim Of
millinery and look pretty in it. Mrs.
Stanton, in matronly silks and softly
falling lRces; Miss Anthony, in rich aud
rather sombre black, relieved by tint
Of white lace; Mrs. Gage, with white
hair q la Martha Washington, and suit
Of garnet silk and velvet; the profess
sioual women, in dresses that were fit
ting, graceful and individual The
brightest aud prettiest Of them all, Miss
Phoebe Cozens, was not present this
time. Doubtless she was too much oc-
cupied with her law practice in St.
Louis.
The Indian question has attracted its
full share OF attention here at the Capt.
tai lately, for, in addition to the agita-
tion Of the subject in Congress, and the
interesting correspondence between
General Sheridan aud Secretary Schurz,
we have had and still have delegations
Of real live Indians here TO speak for
themselves. So many representatives
Of the red man have visited Washing
ton within the past few years, that they
would scarcely seem to be a rarity now,
yet somehow the populace still mani
tests interested curiosity, aud puts itself
out of the way to see a live Indian, about
as the boys run after the elephant ia a
circus procession. The Ute chic who
were lately here came on business Ier-
tanning 10 a land trade with the govern
ment, aud after being feasted aud feted
and toted about from pillar 10 post for
two or three weeks, gave out aud de-
parted. Strange as it may seem, they
went rather the worse for wear Civil
lied methods Of dissipation do not
agree with the deuizen Of the forest,
who at home goes to roost with the
chickens. Late hours and gas-light
are out Of his line. But "the boys" as
agent Kelly calls them, took it pleas
antly, made little speeches whenever
called upon, aud before starting for
home gave a grand banquet at the Tre-
mont House. Among the guests were
. Chief Joseph aud Yellow Bear, Of the
Nez PeTces, now here. The former is a
magnificent specimen Of the noble red
4 -,
/ lectual, and when the history OF his
splendid military achievements is re-
membered, nobody will object to the
term noble red man, as applied to him.
I His mastery retreat when sorely pressed
by Howard aud twice surrounded, IA
which be carried of his women ant
children, aud conducted his fight upon
the most humane principles, would have
/ done credit to the best general alive. i
we msy accept his story OF the wrongs o
| his people at the hands of the whites, Il
I il civilizations turn to blush for shame
There is little possibility that any
action will be taken this session on tn,
proposition to transfer the Indian Bu
reau TO the War Department. IL is on,
Of the most important questions Con
gress has to deal with, and in settling /
the point should not be whether th,
military or civilians shall have 9Th,
picking" but the welfare Of the picke'
should have some weight for the sake o
Justice and humanity. LO has "mOve,
up aud "gone west" at the demand o
his white hTethern, aud given up reser
walton after Reservation, until now b.
has scarcely anywhere to 20. Tb
money government appropriates for hi
benefit, as recompense, il more thai
half stolen, or absorbed by the ciyilize,
aud enterprising Christians through
whom ii is disOursed, aud then we dis
play our virtuOus indignation when In,
outraged savage takes a scaIp or two
The joint commission, which has bee,
Investigating the subject, has prepare,
an elaborate report, and it is Just issue,
from the government printing office il
book form. Except the reports of Ter
ritorial surveys, it is one Of the mos
interesting volumes that has recent,
passed through the government press
There are one hundred and eighty
eight tribes 10 this country, and a tota
population of PSI ,i35, of whom 1900 ar
children at school. In the Indian Ter
ritory alone there are about 70 200, o
which number sc. 600 compose the orig