The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-01-31
STEAL ITl NO SIR.

1T WAS MINE BECAUSE WANTED 1T.
Yesterday afternoon weazened old Piute
was painfully saving wood in the snow on
street. Cold as the weather was, the ma
ture of the work forced the Indian to lay
aside his blanket and toll in his shirt sleeves.
AS the old man labored and wheezed, a
sturdy tramp with a 1orid face and very
high forehead approached. He stood for
some time idly watching the Indian toiling,
and growing cold in contemplating the in
teresting sight, the tramp picked up the
blanket and walked off with it, despite the
expostulatory cries and whines of the In
dian, who followed in great distress close
upon the heels of the tramp. Deputy Con-
stable Enders. was attracted by the noise,
and when the poor old Indian had, in his
broken English, explained the cause of his
woe, the tramp was taken into custody and
the blanket turned over to its relieved and
thankful owner, who hobbled back to his
work.
This morning the tramp, who gave his
name as james Belford, was brought before
Justice Knox.
" What's your plea ?" asked the Court.
What's the charger" demanded the
tramp.
"Petty larceny"
"Great heavens' cried Mr.. Belford,
starting back, ''do my ears deceive me?"
"No, your ears are all right" said his
Honor. Whatre you making noise forP
Didn't you steal the blanket? %
"Steal it, sir? No, sir; | took it. 1t was
mine because wanted it. The irrepressible
antagonism of race justified the transfer of
ownership. Sad, sir, as the fate of the In
dian undoubtedly is, it is yet inevitable.
The genius of Anglo Saxon civilization in
its outward march across this broad and
glorious continent crushes the red man be-
heath its progress. 1t is mighty torrent,
irresistible in its force, sweeping all before
it. That which but maintains the Indian
in savage and ill fed idleness under the
peaceful arts of the white man blossoms and
blooms and teens with plenty. Where the
red man roamed following the chase are
now busy Cities and fields of golden corn.
Who shall say the cruelty which expelled
him from his hunting grounds was not a
work of mercy after all? For every savage
who drew his bow in the soltudes thous-
and men and women now toll, sow, reap
and are happy. Standing on the peaks of
time and taking the Continent for the field
of observation, /"
ayes, but what about the blankct?" in
terrupted the court.
"Well," replied Mr.. Belford, though.fully
scratching his jaw, 81 can't see but l had
as much right to nab that old buck s blanket
as Congress has to fire the Utes off their
reservation just because there's been some
good ledges struck on 'em."
~ agree with you, Mr.. Belford,' SAID the
court.
"Thank you, your honor" returned Mr..
Bellord, reaching for his hat.
"But permit me TO add" continued the
court, "that the moral ideas of Congress
don't always agree with my notions ofwhat's
square. In the opinion of this court, Mr..
Bellord, you're about the meanest thief I've
had before mo for long time. Because the
Indian was poor and helpless, you thought
he had no rights you need respect. I'll give
you six months in the county JUL to study
up the Indian question"
"This could not have occurred in q civil
lied community" muttered the dazed Mr..
Bellord, as he was led of to the bastile.