The Worthington advance., 1881-02-17
OUR TREA TMENTOFT THE INDIANS.

Rev. Geo. b. Cheever, D. D., famous
as one of the few clerical anti-slavery
leaders, recently published letter in
the Boston Daily Advertiser, upon the
perlidy of the government and the peo-
pie in violating Indian treaties and
making the Indian the victim of the
white mans cupidity and brutal selfish.
ness. We regret that we have not
space for the whole article which is sew.
eral columns in length. Dr.. Cheever
says:
II an Indian, robbed and maltreated
by 4 white man, and perhaps maddenell
with "rOt-gut wliisky,' shoots the Dor.
der-rutlian in self defence, we call it
murder and send u regiment OF soldiers
after the criminal. If Custer fights
valiantly against the Indians, at the
head of United States troops, we call
thut heroic patriotism. If he is defeated
and slain by Indian courage, obstinacy
invade the Indian Territory, secured to
them Oy Il hundred treaties, with solemn
adjurations Of our government before
oOOs " uNlIH OuiSCltVO W plOLcCV kuClll
from violence, the invasion is justified,
because we cannot restrain our own
citizens from robbery and our own ava
rice from coyeting and stealing what
We have conveyed away by treaty with.
out Knowing how much it might in af.
ter years be worth. If there were gold
mines upon the Indian possessions, and
we did not know that when we coven-
anted. forthwith, rs soon as the gold is
discovered, the covenant is found un.
tenable, and we ;tiirm the treaty to
have been an obstacle against our own
advancement, Il violation of future
State rights, an injury to civilization. a
bar against the manifest destiny of the
whites, and All infringement of the
rights of squirting discoveries and
miners. whom we rs 4 Christian and
civilized nation have no power to keep
back or resist.
The boastful and the bigoted church
es, as Il rule, are silent upon the subject
while their members are absorbed in
their own money getting or endorsing
the wickedness of the government and
the people. OF this Dr.. Cheever says:
Against all these c: ines of our gov
ernme't and people there has hardly
been II voice lifted. even in the churches
The great Pan Presbyterian council.
while glorifying God for the increase of
our missionary stations, and the pro.
gress Of the gospel in heather lands.
has not uttered Il word of faxpostulation
or rebuke for these glaring and repeat.
ed wrongs against helpless heather,
community within our own borders,
and completely in our power, to bless
Them, it we choose. with al the bless.
lngs of Christian education.
OF the sure punishment which awaits
US, he says:
An old commentator on the eighty.
second Psalm says: Every act Of in.
justice in Il judge, Il ruler, or any person
In power. is Il nail in the coffin of the
State.'' The texts that We used in the
great conflict against slavery spring a.
new t" our lips: Oh Lord God, to whom
vengeance belongeth. show thyself,
Thou jhdg Of the earth. render !. re.
ward to the proud. The ninety-fourtl,
Psalm rises in our supplications: "Sl,all
the throne Of iniqnity haye fellowship
will, thee, which frameth mischief by :,
law? 1t any people ever needed, for the
preserv'ti III "f their own liberties. q
consc'e"ce t"wo1tl God, it is we of the
United States. We cannot otherwise
preserve even our unity, which will be
disintegrated ard fall asunder when
our regard to Gods Word ceases. The
one condition OIL which, 1.-THE Lord will
not cast oft his people nor forsake his
inherita?ce" among us is this, namely
-''tl,at Judgment shall return INTO
righteouSnesS: and all the upright in
heart shall follow it,
We have frequently spoken upon this
snbjcct, and can not now express ON
s=views,.Or our endorsement of the above
In better terms than those used last