The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1882-03-09

occurances which have happened in the
nature OF differences between the two races
have grown out of a strict observance ON
the part Of the government of treaty stipu-
lations.
An appeal is made for the womanhood of
Indian women. You cannot get an Indian
any more than you can get a Mormon wo-
man to advocate a change Of the relations
that exist now between the Indian women
and the male members OF the tribes, or any
whatever of the tribal relations.
1t is just simply an appeal to dead ears. In.
dian women do not want and are not going
to have any change by legislation or other
wise. is sympathy which Is mainly
misapplied.
Mr.. President little occurance that hap
pened in 1873, OF which the Senator from
Massachusetts has some knowledge, had
TO do with the womanhood Of
some persons living on the frontier of the
state of Kansas. In September Of that year
q tribe in treaty relations with the govern
ment escaped from the reservation where
pursuant to treaty, it had been placed by
frontier of the State of Kansas. Every man
who lived upon that Fl ontier was living up
on government land, that was not only not
then an Indian reservation, but never had
been the property of an Indian tribe.
Those settlers were poor, as men ever are
upon that frontier, representing rs society
does there every nationality and every state
Of this Union, peacefully pursuing their &C.
equations at their own fircsides on their own
homesteads, persons who had never had ex-
perience with Indians, who had never even
dealt with these or with other Indians,
without arms or other means of defense.
Without warning, without cause or provo
cation, these Indians descended upon that
frontier, making literally a track of fire,
pillage, obstruction, murder and outrage,
across the entire width of the State. Not .
house within their reach escaped the torch,
not human life accessible which they did
not take, except where they left the bruised
and outraged bodies Of the women upon
whom they had wreaked their lust; not an
article OF value. food or otherwise. they did
not appropriate or destroy.
More than forty of the citizens of that
State were murdered in cold blood on land
which the government had invited them to
go upon, and nearly twenty of their wives
and daughters were subjected to outrages
which dare not mention here. Aud yet
not one single Indian was ever punished for
these crimes-not One-and not one single
dollar of damages has been paid, although
the treaty with these Indians provided that
they should pay all damages done to white
people by them. Whole settlements were
depopulated. scores Of people reduced to
beggary, and yet the government has not
punished the perpetrators or compelled
them to compensate the sufferers.
Mr.. President, ut later period an out
break occurred among the Ute Indians in
Colorado. The agent of those Indians, HIM
self 4 man representing the philanthropic
class so solicitous about the Indian, SO lack
ing in solicitude for che whites, was foully
murdered at his agency, and his wife and
his daughters subjected to similar outrages
to those mentioned as having been perpe-
trated on the women OF Kansas-an inoffen-
sive old man aud inofensive woman not
the enemies of the Indians philanthropists,
people who went there guided by as Iure \
spirit OF philanthropy as ever possessed any
body, desiring only the good of the Indian,
moved by the stronge-t possible sympathy
in that direction; and yet these people
were singled out for murder, for outrage by
these Indians and the government has not
punished single one Of the Indians engag.
ed in those outrages.
Mr.. Teller.-And we are paying them an
nuities every year.
Mr.. Plumb.-And, as the Senator from
ties every year, and l think the annuities
have been increased.
Nr. President, j want the relations OF the
Indians to the whites and the Indians to the
government to be brought down to q prac-
teal basis rs much as the Senator from
Massachusetts or anybody else but 1 want
to be done with all this talk which elevatcs the
Indian, murderer aud ravisher though he
be, above the white people upon whom his
crimes are committed. l do not want an
imputation, covert or direct, cast upon
those who have pushed the line of civiliza-
ton Westward under the invitation Of the
and have encountered the In
dams in their savagery. and whose graves
are found on every hilltop and In every val
ley of that ever-advancing line, on which
they have planted new affairs and new homes
at the bidding OF the government, which in
vited them TO go upon its frontier domain.
Mr.. President, there seems to be 4 preva-
land in severaty for the Indian and class
zeal education are the two things necessary
for the salvation OF the children, and yet the
Indians fail to recognize the great merit Of
these propositions--do not take kindly to
them. They will take the education SO long
as il permits them to be idle, but land in
they will not take except In rare
eases. II they are forced to do II they will
revolt or starve. The very Ute Indians Of
whom / have spoken were sent TO Utah to
be placed on land in severalfy, and though
i was provided by treaty that they should
lake the lands 10 that way they will not do
i, and no power but brute force will CON-
Del tlefn. nat mcdue abotuci "at'
The problem is not SO simple as it seems.
People near at hand and familiar with the
Indian, his habits and capacity are doubtful
Is to the best method to accomplish the de-
tired result, and DO not find a panacea in
my single measure.
We need something besides sentiment.
,Jmit that there have been abuses in the |
indian service but am not willing there
bould be an assumption here that the sac
ifces and the sunerings have been wholly |
m the part OF the Indians and the outrages
olely committed upon them, when l know |
rom NV own observation that the contract |
,etween the whites and the indians, upon
he frontier of the West, as | believe, has
zen as much the fault Ofthc Indians as Of
he whites. ] do not care to have this con.
tsnt assumption made that the government
adj been wholly unmindful of its treaty OBJ
yations and that men who have extended
he frontier, who have created new empires,
nd new states to be represented on this
cor and In the other branch Of Congress,
tho have added to the material wealth Oft
bis country, who have made it possible
bat the coptipeut might be giTdes with
ne. of railroads and carry with them the
peuipg Of new fields for the Investment Of
asterr capital, should now be 90 charged
! having accomplished tbeir p9rpoes ~
ring and outrage. OF that hey' VERT par