Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-03-28


number of the North American Rerielo. His
paper is entitled :. An Indians Views on
Indian Affairs" 1t is prefaced by an intro
duetion by Bishop Hare, of Niobrara, in
which he endorses the statements OF Joseph
a. characterized by remarkable candor as
well As pathos "In its smothered fire,
he aptly says. lin its deep sense of eternal
righteousness and of present evil, and
in its hopeful longings for the coming of a
better time, this Indian chiefs appeal re-
minds us of one of the old Hebrew prophets
of the days of the captivity" In converse
ton, day or two since, with Rev. {. A.
Huntington. lately of Olympia, Washing
ton Territory, to which place he is about
to return, who knows Joseph. and is fami-
liar with the facts, We asked his opinion OF
JOsephs statement. - 1t is a true story
he said. a. No man, who knows Joseph,
would doubt his word
Chief Joseph commences by expressing a
wish that the white people should under
stand the Indian. "Some of you,' he says,
think an Indian is wild animal. This is a
great mistake The white man has many
more words than the Indian to tell how
things look to him. but it does not require
many words to speak the truth" lie pro-
ceeds to set forth his simple creed. lie be-
lieves in a great spirit, who watches the
actions of men, and who rewards with a
good home in the life to come those who
tell the truth, respect the property Of others,
and do what is right, and who allots to the
bad bad place hereafter. lie sets forth his
birth and rank as chief Of the Wal-lam-wat-
kin band Of the Nez Perces tribe, By descent,
his father having held that position. The
latter received the name of Joseph from the
missionaries. The explorers, Lewis and
Clarke, were the first Americans with whom
the Nez Perces came in contact, and they
impressed the tribe so favorably that they
became the firm friends of the whites.
There was no attempt at encroachment upon
their lands until about twenty years ago,
when white settlers began to come in. No
objection was made to this at first. The In
dians "thought there was room enough for
al to live in peace" His father was the
first to see through the schemes Of the white
men and warn his people against them.
.He had suspicion of men who seemed
so anxious to make money" says Chiet
Jvseph. ale had sharper eyes than the
rest OF our people, In little while came
the inevitable proposition that the Indians
should Weld up their land and go upon a
reservation. Chief Joseph steadlastly re-
fused to sign the treaty. Several councils
were held, and some Of the chiefs won over,
but Joseph invariably refused to accept
presents from the Government lest the act
should be construed into an acceptance Of
their terms. Some eight years ago the old
chief died charging his son with his last
breath never to yield up the graves Of his
father and mother. al pressed my father
hand, - says his son, .and told him would
protect his grave with my life. My father
smiled and passed away to the spirit land.
buried him in that beautiful valley of wind
ing waters. | love that land more than all
the rest Of the world. A man that would
not love his fathers grave is worse than a
wild animal
The settlements Of the white invaders
grad ually closed around them. Year after
year they were threatened with forciblc re-
moval. but no war was made upon them
until Gen. Howard came to their country
two years ago with troops. A council was
held at which one Of the chiefs disputed
Iloward's authority and was placed under
arrest and held as prisoner for five days.
This act precipitated the war Joseph, anx-
ious for peace above all things, would even
have abandoned Ms fathers grave rather
than engage in war. but the chief who had
been imprisoned and some of the young men.
burning to avenge the insults they had suf-
fcrel from the whites, went on the war path
md the conflict began.
4 series Of battles followed, in which tie
whites were almost invariably the greatest
losers, though outnumbering the indians.
''When an Indian, fights" says Joseph, The
only shoots to kill, but soldiers shoot at
random. Soldiers do not kill many Indians,
unless they are wounded and left on the
battlefield. Then they kill Indians" lie
charges that in one fight, when Gen. Glib
bon attacked their camp before day-break,
the troops killed fifty women and children,
aud that Indian women captured by the
soldiers have been outraged, a wrong which
he says his tribe have never inflicted on
white women. When finally overcome, the
Nez Perces, contrary, as Joseph claims, to
the understanding under which they surren-
dere1. were removed to the Indian Territory.
The removal was at Il great sacrifice They
lost thousand horses, and much other
property. The spot to which they were
removed is unhealthy. and seventy OF them
have died since they were settled there.
Chief Joseph asserts that he surrendered
with the distinct arrangement that they were
to return to their old home in Oregon. lie
has since been to Washington and "cannot
understand why so many chiefs are allowed
to talk 50 many different ways and promise
So many different things. 1t makes my
heart sick when remember all the good
words and all the broken promises" All
he now asks il home in some country
where his people will not die so fast. and
equal protection under the law. White