The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-10-12
MEEKER'S FAILURE.

tleness the Indian could be brought up
to verygratifsing degree of respectable
ity. Well, he had a trial Of his theory.
He wa stationed at one Of the most
~peaceable agencies in the country,
among a tribe as far advanced in civil
ization as any throughout the far west.
Yet his theories failed, and the failure
cost the poor man his life. 4.
According to his own accounts as
sent by him to various authorities, Mr..
Meeker brought on his. own death by
putting into practice tho phiianthropic
theories that burned In his generous
bosom. In the course Of his steps
toward bringing his red wards to a
state Of civilization, it became neces-
sary to fence in farms and plow, and
build houses. Civilization without
work is an impossibility. So the Indian
must be taught that heavenly iniunc-
ton that comes rolling through the
misty ages: by the sweat of thy
brow shalt thou eat thy bread" Mr..
Meeker experienced trouble from the
day be began to fence in farms. The
head men wanted the land whereon to
pasture their many horses. Flowing
they objected to because 1t only meant
work for them in the future. So their
circumstances grew into abuse and in
suit and death.
The Utes well knew that Mr.. Meeker
was sending for troops to come and
make arrests. He even told them So
fatal information To their mind a
body of United States troops In their
agency arrestlng their chiefs was not
to be tolerated. So they sailed forth
to meet the incoming soldiers. The re-
suit OF that meeting has passed into
history. After this fight we learn that
Mr.. Meeker was killed. Revenge
prompted the murder, because in the
Ute judgment Mr.. Meeker was the ag-
gressor and suffered the penalty of his
wrong doing.
This Is the fair and impartial history
OF the trouble at White River agency.
We find that the most highly advanced
tribe of the far west has reyolted
against the ciyilizing measures put
forth by the advocates of the Indian
peace policy. II Agent Meeker had
let the Indians alone the same as they
are at most agencies there would have
been no trouble and Mr.. Meeker would
-
have retained the cheerful habit of
living. Think of it for a moment:
There are agencies throughout the west
where the Indian boarders are ready at
n moments notice almost to break out
on ~provocation, but peace reigns su.
preme.
We don't hear of troubles there sim.
ply because poor Lo is left to his
"own sweet will, ''and low inclinations.
Fences and farms and blowing would
soon start them however. But these
things are wisely omitted. And
therefore the greater safety.
Forced civilization is a failure. You
can't put an Indian into the hot house
Of good intentions and expect to force
him to grow into a civilized being. He
will have to be crossed and graded up.
He will have to associate more with
white men. The government will have
to curtail his supply of provender =
when all these things are done, then
the Indian will take on a plating Of
civilization. The succeeding genera.
tion may take on a triple plate, but
years must elapse before the solid stuff
can be expected.
We cannot discuss the subject with.
out referring to the letter written by
Miss Rose Meeker, eldest daughter OF
the deceased agent. With all her
womanly and loving instinct; with all
the training Of her life under the care
Of philanthropical parents; with all the
family discussions In favor Of the Indi-
an, which must have occurred; and
with a faith in her fathers mission,
doubtless; with all these she cries out
in despair and condemns the slayers of
her aged father as treacherous dogs;
as beings uncompanionable for men.
She does not say: Forgive them Fa-
ther; they know not what they do.n
But she places the Judgment of reason
upon them and rates them according to
their miserable value. She does not
say that white miners encroached on
the agency and angered the Indians
into committing murder, because she
knows better. Private correspondence
from her father, mother and sister at
the agency kept her informed of the
state Of affairs and she well knew how
the trouble originated. and feared that
it would end disastrously, as it did.
knowing beforehand who was causing
t ouble, she well knows upon whom to
place the responsibility Of her fathers
murder. 1t is safe to say that the sur
viving members of the Meeker family
have been converted from their belief
in the nobility of the Indian and his
susceptibility to civilizing influences.
--
"Of what use Is the casket when the
Jewel is gomez" asked the tramp as he
took the last swallow Of the whisky n
threw the bottle over cron field.