The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-02-10

The other day, says a Nebraska newspaper.
a weakened old PiutG was painfully saving
wood in the street. Cold as the weather was,
the nature of the work forced the Indian to
lay aside his blanket and toll i'm his shirt
sleeves. As the old man labored a sturdy
tramp, with a tiorid face and a very high fore
head, approached. He stood for some time
idly watching the Indian, and, growing, cold
in contemplating the interesting SIGHT, the
tramp picked UP the blanket and walked off
with it, despite the expostulary cries of the
Indian, who followed in great distress. A
deputy constable was attracted by the noise.
and, when the poor old Indian had, in broken
English, explained the cause Of his Woe, the
tramp was taken into custody and the blanket
turned over to its owner, who hobbled back
to his work.
The next morning the tramp, who gave his
name as James Bedford, was brought before
Justice Knox.
whats your plea ?" asked the court.
"What's your Charge" demanded the
tramp.
''Petit larceny"
Great hravens." cried Mr.. Bedford, start
ing back, 'dO my ears deceive me-
"No,.yonr ears are alright, said his Honor.
"What're you making a noise for? Didn't
you steal The blanket"
'.Stcal. it sir? No, sir; | took it.. 1t was
mine because | wanted it. The irrepressible
a~ntagoniSm of la"e justified the transfer of
ownership. Sad, ssr, as the fate of the indian
undoubtedly is, it is yet inevitable. The
genius of Anglo-SaXon civilization in its
onward march across tins broad and glorious
continent brushes the red maj beneath it's
progress. 1t is as ii mighty torrent, irresistible
in Its force, sweeping all before il. That
which but maintains the Indian in savage and
illfed idlencss 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. The Indian has passed
away. Who shall say the cruelty which en-
PEELED him from his hunting grounds was
not a work of mercy after all? Fer every
savage who drew his bow in the solitudes a
thousand civilized 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, l."
eyes, but what about the blanket !" inter
rupted the court.
"Well.'' replied Mr.. Bedford. Il can't see
but l had as much light tn nab that old bucks
blanket as Congress has to fire the Utes off
theillreservatlonjust because there's been some
good lodges struck on 'em."
IL agree with you, Mr.. Beltord," said the
court.
"Thank YOU, your Honor returned Mr..
Belford, reaching for his hat.
"But permit me TO add,' continued tie
court, 'that the moral ideas of Congress
don't always jibe with my notions of what's
square. In the opinion of this court, Mr..
Bedford, you're about the meanest thief I've
had before me for a long time. Because the
Indian was poor and helpless. you thought he
had 10 rights you need respect. I'll give you
just six months in the County Jail to study
up on the Indian question"
"This could not have occurred in a civil.
lied community" muttered the dazed Mr..
Belford AS he was led off to the bastile.