The sun., 1879-03-19
CHIEF JosEPnps SIDE or THE STORY
The Nez Perce War from the Nez Perce Point
of XIeN-A Kemmrknhle ArtlcIe.

The most remarkable article in the April
number OF the North american Rcpi0r Is en-
titled. An Indians Views on Indian Affairs"
Tho author is In-mut- tOO-yah -lat-tnt, better
known rs Chief joseph OF tho Ncz PcrcCs.
Bishop Hare writes n sympathetic introduction.
The famous Indian chief reviews the history OF
the Governments dealings with his tribe. and
gives his version Of the events Of the recent war
"A version differing materially from that of
Gen. Howard and other white authorities His
views can be gathered from tho following
passages:
want tho white people to understand my
people. Some 81 you think an Indian is IKE
wild animal This Is n great mistake. will
tell you all about our people, and then you can
hrlievc much trouble and blood would H." snvcd
il we opened our hearts more. will tell you In
my way how the Indian Sous things.
Our fathers gave rs many laws, which they
had learned from their fathers. These laws
were good. They told us TO trent all men az
they trcutrd us that we should never ne ihe
first to break u bargain; that it wns u disgrace
to toll lc that we should speak only tho
truth: that 1t was n shame for one man to take
from another his wife. or his property without
paving for II. We w're taught TO believe that
the Great Spirit secs and hears everything. and
thnt he never torg"t-.
Tho hrsi white men Of your people who came
to our country were nHmcd LOWS AMI Carkr.
They also brought mnnv tnings that our people
had never srrn. They talked straight. ana our
people gave them greut iruSt rs % proof thW
their hearts were friendly. Ihcs' mon were
very kind. They made presents to our chi'is
ami our people made presents toth"m. We had
Il great many horscs Of which We envr thcm
what they needed. and they gave us guns AMI
tolgron In return An tho Nrz perc,is inude
friends with Lewis and Clarke and agreed 10
le; them pass through their country, and never
To- make war on white mon. This promise the
Ncz prr'fs have novcr broken. \, white man
can nrrus" them Of bad faith and speak with a
straight tongue. II has always been the pride
oi th, Ncz rrr'ds that they were the friends OF
thu white mon.
growing rich very iust, and were greedy to pos
sr.- eynryih ing the Indian had. Nv father WIS
the ilr-' tn s.e through tho schemes Of the white
men. and be- warned his tribe to Doe careful
nbout tru ling with them. H. had suspicion OF
mon who srcmcd So anxious 90 max" money. /
was % hoy thcn hut remember W. % my fathers
caution. He had shprprr eyes than the rest II
our people. My tathcr cautioned his people to
take no presents. for after while h" said
your country" Since tnat tim" four bands ~
The Nr2 Prr.ts have rerriv"I anuuitirs from
the United States. NV father was invited to
him si.n Tie treaty. hut hc Was nrn, us iilerock
and would not sign away hI, hoWn. His re-
~ Nv flther sent Tor mo. saw he was
dying. / took hi- hand IN mine. H. said.
carth. an, nv spirii is going Very s"6n 10 SEQ
the Grent Spr, Chief When am gone. think
o, your country. You are the c1ict of these
Iyo,. ron,rnhar tnnt your father meyer sold his
country. You must stop your eurs whenever
XI Il
home love vcnrs moro and white, men Will
hr al around you. They have their eyes on
words This country holds your fathers hldv.
Meyer soil tnr bones of your fntNer and your
motbnr" rraesei nv faih"r'- hand and toll
him [ would 'prOtect his grave. with uv uie. Ny
fthnr smiled and unssod away H. IN. sulrit
hnt. buried him In that hrluiiiul vail y of
rii,i, ,,,,,.r. Love. thnt innd NOR. tlnr ,li
q tho rr-t of the world. 4 man who would not
apiImall.' '"'N'' N'"'' % "'''' '''" " "''''
/ Ell mo in "A hnuchtv sutrit that hr would gtv,,
nv n ,or,i. thirty dpv- io 20 h1rk home r1I .,
NH fhptr stock and move on 10 the reservation.
/ saving: " II YOU are not h"re in tnni time
! small consider TINT Won want to isht and will
send my soldiers io drive YOU on
h. avoided want no war. Nv te6ple Inv,
a.ways been tie friends ot tho white man. Why
M, Ir ~ tLirty dnVs oar st".k l. s'a,,nr,.d
| ant Sn1t, EfVer H. worry h oh In, ~ wnlt nm
| III falI tlon tho r.yar will hc low. We wnui
/ f1r winf.r'''
I Gcn. Howard rerlied: ." II YOU lot the time
/ diiN" you On - th" ro-ervat. ON. ami an your
/ ol,fl. and hor.o4 outside oi the reservation 40
/ that time viii fall into the hands oi tho white
/ mon"
/ snew had never sold my country and that
! I hnl no lnud IN Iluwai: hut did not want
/ hloodshed. did not want my ucoplr Killed.
! ala moi want nnyno,y flad. some of my pco-
| rio hud been murdered by white mon. and tho
/ white ,,urirrnrs were never tunis hnd Tor IL
| told G"n. Howard nu0ut this and again SAID
/ wanted no war. wanted the people who lived
7 upru the lands | was 10 oc'upy AZ Luuwai e.
/ said IN my heart that rather than have war
. | would give mo my country. | would xiv" uI
T my fnfusr' a grave | would give No oVcryth nj
/ thr hands of my pcnpir.
{ Cen Howard rf.usrd 20 allow mo moro than
/ Inn, sure Tint he began 10 prepare Tor war al
/ once
/ II Con. Howard had given mo plenty 81 time
fff. 4 -lI.. d.