Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1880-01-16

els the Indian a Cilizenio

The new York Times asks the above
question. The Elmira Free Press
says: "This question must not be an
swered too hastily. Let us consider
whether we can rob him most effec-
tually as citizen, an alien or q ward.
The irony contained in the above
answer embodies the gist of what, to
carefully Observing and honest minds
throughout the country, appears to be
the question revolving in and taxing
the brain Of II g Indian bureau. The
universal newspaper press of the Pa
cifc coast, with perhaps a few excop-
lions, and constantly increasing mum
bcr Of the best papers Of the eastern
slope have awakened to the facts that
Indians as wards are sapping the
treasury Of the government without |
accomplishing but little more for them
than making them more formidable
The long continued policy Of the gov
ernment in treating them as wards
with the money Of the people in the
treasury to back the policy, the oppor
tunities known to exist for diverting
Indian appropriations into the pockets
Of Indian commissioners, agents and
contractors for furnishing Indian an
nujty goods have gathered around
Washington and other head centers of
the Indian bureau, almost myriads of
shrcwd pretended saints and avowed
sinners who SO manage the Indian up
preparations that not more than one
twentieth Of the money so generously
given by the congressional representa-
tives Of the people for the good Of the
Indian ever reaches him. There is no
deeper or more damnable disgrace at
n tachcd to our boasted free government
at the present day in the eyes of all
intelligent foreign nations than that
which attaches to our present dealing
with Indians. We first recognize
them as aliens and owners of the land
over which they roam, then treat with
them for its purchase, then violate the
treaties by withholding much the larg
est part Of the price, and placing dom
inecring and fraudulent men over
them, who soon learn the way ant
keep from the Indian his due, and
when tho Indians chafe and becom,
restless under their wrongs inflicted
the military arm Of the government i
stretched out to protect 'the lndial
agencies, while the Indian, true to hi
instinct reeks his vengeance upon tn
unprotected settler and slaughters hiu
and his family, lays waste his har,
earned accumulations of few year
in frontier country, then slowly fol
lows the remaining weak force of tn
military who annually employ fc,
montha and perhaps kill or capture
few squaws and children and superar
nuated old men, and end as White
approaches with the pronounced de,
laration that peace is restored. Ifan
Of the prominent murderers are cal
tured they are taken to Washingto
and the greatest homage is done then
If the civil authorities of the sectio
where they have committed their mu
ders Of the Innocent demand their su
sender for trial and punishment a
cording to the laws they are told frol
the highest authority in the depar
ments that they cannot be given u
and that such prosecutions had bett,
be dropped. Commissioners are sci
out from the department ostensibly =,
gather evidence of the true workin.
OF the system, but really to manufa
ture evidence to sustain this old rotte
system. The frontier settlers al
threatened with prosecutions and din
punishment if they interfere with Il
workings of the Indian bureau an
the fragments of the army whose con
manders, however good and honorab
they may BEGAN only act in obedien,
to orders which emanate first from Il
Indian bureau to the war department