Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-05-23
THE TELLER.
The New Theory.

The late decision af Judge Dundy Of
the u. 8. Coaft 10 relation to the status
Of the Indisn, in effect making him q
free man with rights of person the same
as white men, is q sumner to the old
fogy the0ry. Mhichsin onc phase made
Indians independent nations capable of
treating and owning the sol. Of all The
western country, wilhelm another phase
the government pronounced aud treated
them as wards Of the government to be
provided Tor ina state Of idleness and
vaerancy. The decision Of Judge Dan
day is an opening Of the whole question
for argument and as the District At
torncy has already been Instructed to
take steps to have the case go up to
the higher court, there is a fair pros
pect thst ID the present opndition Of
the question Of providing for Indians
and providing against, and preventing
their raids upon frontier settlers, which
is attended with so much difficulty and
expense. we may get such solution Of
the question from the highest tribunal
of the land, as to throw much light up
on this dark subject. II We rightly
comprehend the effect Of this decision.
il sustained, it will be to break up the
whole reservation system aud place the
Indian on the. same footing with
tho white man under the law with
equal fiehu and privileges under it,
aud make Vim accessible 10 the Inv the
same 40 ti,s shise man for any viola
ton Of its provisions. The most com
mon mind among onr frontiersmen who
have long dwelt side by side with the
Iudian fsr years, years ago, foreshad-
owed the principle lately given IN this
decisions But they in many instances
being ignorant Of the enunciated prin
ciples Of the law as applicable to the
case have not always been SO clear and
specifc 10 their expressions Of senti.
ment upon this question Several
years oeo D. P. Thompson Esq, wa'
s6bciRd#to state lhe positiopsof com
pbsionef NJ Isdian Afairs, ~ being
resident ot'this coast ara neknowiedget
to be cooyersant with Indian characte'
and habits. MI. Thompson was willing
TO accept the position but only upon ou,
condition, and that was that he be au
thorized 70 inauguraie an entirely nev
theory ID regard 70 the treatment 0
indians, namely, That he would 10 al
respects treat them as white men unde
No law, make them sfraly acconntabl
for its violation, make them answersbl
totbS ssibe tsibanals. punish ti,smsth
Same as white4 paeeg .i for like offense'
giant them the same and kindred priv
ilegesl under the law, let them hol
property real or personal BY the sam
tenure, With rights of SECURING an
disposing Of the same. The views /
sNFsThompsoo we're communicated |
thd SECRETARY d the Interior who Va
unwilling tina. they should be adopte
Of attempted 10 be carried out in tn
adnipisiradon If Indias Affairs, ands
consequences, tAeueh urged warmly b
members from the Pacific coast to a.
scept the position peremptorily a
ckued the honor. Since then the eyi
81 the whole reservation system ha,
becone'more and more aeeravating Ell
expressive tothe government, aud Il
practical good It Il has only been
coavinco tho public 81 The foclishness
the government in attempting to car
forward the system with hope Of gre
beneficial results either to TIRE Indi'
or the white man, and it is astonishi'
that in the face Of so many facts dispro
ing the fallacy Of the system, even
shown by the late commission appoint
10 examine and report. that so ma
and otherwise so able men on all 9th
questions can still be found to upho
and bolster up the system. A part
change has lately been made in allo
ing portion Of the Umatillas to Ia
up and hold land in severalty up
that reservation. But the permissi
: is not broad enough to give the Indi
chance to disclose to the world VII
be is capable Of doing as free man U
der the government OF the Unit
States, and owner of the soil 10 sesg