The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-06-10
THE COLUMBIA RIVER INDIANS.

The ndian-Military Conference held
near the mouth Of the Weena,chie river.
on the 29th OF May, was participated in
by Gov. Ferry, Gen. Howard, Gen.
Forsythe, Col. Green. aud Moses and
sixty other Indians; six companies OF
cavalry being present as q guard. A
correspondent of the .Standard, who WAS
present. says that the Indians presented
very picturesque appearance in their
bright blankets. squatting around in Q
semicircle, drinking in every word.
with much interest. that was interpre.
ted TO them. Their horses were pick
eted round aoout, or running loose over
the grass. while the soldiers were drawn
up ready for any emergency.
GENERAL HOWARD
Opened the council with the Lords
Prayer. He then told the assembled
warriors why Secretary Schurz had sent
for Moses aud the Umatills chiefs. how
Moses and the rest started for Van
couvsr, and from there went to see the
hyas tyee a. Washington. The General
then told the Indians that when they
were gathered around their camp fires
in their new home. Moses no doubt
would talk to them Of what he saw III
the great capital city.
MOSES
Then arose and in digbifed way brief
ly reci,ed the important events Of his
trip across the continent. He said that
he asked for the Colvil,e reservation to
belong to his people forever, all the way
to Lake Chelan. and his request was
granted. He Was happy in his heart.
All his people who want to go TO the
new country are at liberty to follow him
and those who wish to stay on their
farms may do SO. But he thought In
dians were too poor aud shif.less ever to
make good farmers, aud that they will
find it very hard work to pay taxes like
the white men. They are not used to
working for their daily bread. for the
Great Spirit provides for the good In
dian with no other work than simply
gathering it. The berries and the csmas
grow spontaneously, and game comes
within reach If their bullets. The war
riors who 60 with him can take uP land.
have no taxes to pay. have schools tor
their little ones, ard all the advantages
of pcacesblc and civIlizsd Indians.
GOV. FERRY
Then made q few remarks: He referred
chiefly to the recent Indian troubles.
and said that Schurz wanted to settle
them beyond sll chance Of a recurrence.
aud that is why he sent tor Moses and
the other chiefs. and gave them the beau
tiful reservation asked for. He assured
Moses that his followers should have
schools in which to train their little
ones. cattle, horses aud farming imple-
meuts with which to till the soil. No
one need 20 on the new reservation un-
less he wishes, bu, all must either fol
low Moses or take out citizenship p pa
pers, and go to work. or be arrested as
vagraut aud bad Indians
Here closed the speeches. Chile hoo
saskt, Pahtui. Khah-milt, kol-kol taskt
and q few other old men resolved to
s.aybn their farms and for yer renounce
all tribal relations. Khsh-mit said that
no one could make him believe that all
the white men are rAscals. Some un-
doub.eily have their faults, but sli do
not rob, aud he will follow the white
mans plan. f'r he does not believe that
the man who truly works cannot Pay
his taxes. He believes the industrious
man will never want.
However. all the young men of the
different neighboring tribes resolved to
60 with Moses. each band leaving be
hind some old patriarchal relic as .
representative Of its civilization. Much
JOY was manifested by everyone who
took part in the pow WOW at its happy
termination, and General Howard and
Governor Ferry fee! satisfied that what
ever Indian troubles may harass them
this Summer, Moses and his followers
will be true to their peaceful promises
This council was fraught with no little
importance--its termination meaning
peace or bloody war-and the people
at large are to be congratulated on the
success with which it was managed and
the lasting peace which it guarantees,