Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1880-09-24
Change Of the Indian Policy.

Inc ate repuDllcan convention held
at Vancouver, among other resolutions
passed the following without dissent
from anyone:
Resolred, That we favor the ahan-
donment of our present Indian policy,
believing that while some good res srlts
therefrom yet "evilS do much NOR
abound and we ask such leg station
as will place them on the same footing
as other citizens; secure them j., he
enjoyment Of the same riyh; .nu
privileges only, and make tlar ,iner-
able to the same laws.
For long time prio, :. IA, ,n!eo-
tigation, through com ,iss.or ~ Goa
gress, into the present 'nGi ~ policy
and the frauds and ro..uotin,y per
tanning to Indian ar,n; sweat
persons rublically anno'4..tr :n.oAgh
the press of this coas nc l. the.
ways their full oelie4 :; n .riua'i"
of the present lnlia: roIic.' ma t
entire impracticab.li'. .cvo'n!li l..
what it proposed, tow: II. .,.';li :
ing and christianiy n, u. h nGi ~ .
Among those fol enost N c1.e..mning
the present policy werv Hon. D. P.
Thompson, now Mayor of the city of
Portland, A. j. Cain Esq, formerly
agent of the Nez Perces, and the pres
ent editor of the TELLER, WHO were
among the first to suggest that Indi-
ans be placed on the same footing
with white men, in regard to property
rights and privileges as we'll as amena-
bility to the laws, that there should in
no case be one law for the white mon
and another and different law for the
Indians. This view of the Indian
question was comparatively new
among the Am erican people AL
though in some respects it had for
years been recognized by the British
government in their dealings with the
North American Indian, and as O
consequence the American press gen
orally, and the host of attaches of the
Indian Bureau denounced the theory
as wholly impractical and a species o
injustice to the Indian. 1t will b'
, distinctly recollected that in 1877 ar
ticles published in the TELLER upol
. this question were assailed in the pub
lie press and the editor accused par
ticularly with designs for despoilin
the Nez Perces of their lands EN-
braced in the Nez Perce reservation
But the seeds of thought were sow
broadcast, and despite the oppositio
from the public press the India
agents and attaches Of the India
Bureau the seed has germinated in tn
public mind and grown thrifty til
now not newspaper or publ
man on this coast dare raise a voie
against the new policy. On the othe
hand the press everywhere favor i
The commanding general of the nortl
western division of the army favo,
the measure. Several of the prom
nent clergymen, among whom wei
DR.. Atkinson, Of Portland, who wei
deeply interested in the success Of ii
reservation system, have made publ
=, their endorsement Of the policy
segyregatiug Indians upon lands
n severalty and placing them under Il
sane laws as the white man. TT
10 same sentiment has now become a
most universal among the people
It this coast and several of the heads
the departments at Washington
- we'll as many congressman have con
to the conclusion that the present I
'e, dian policy must be changed
n one that recognizes the individu
rights and responsibilities of the I
" dian before solution of our troubl
10 with the various tribes can be q
tanned. Tho above resolution OF L
!, nc Vancouver convention is but anoth
expression of public opinion upon Il
question, and let all other conve
ty tions be as outspoken and make thu
i'll clamor be heard by tho authorities
a Washington necessarily till the chan
he accomplished.