Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-11-22
NEE PIERCE REFORMATION.
Bone Of the Principal Reasons why
the Government should Immediate
ly Grant Lands to the Nee Perez
Indians In severalty and open the
Residu, to White Eettlers.i


the seven years last past, and our views
been echoed by nearly all the other news
papers in Idaho and Washington Terri
tories and the Portland Oregon,an. yet
Congress and the departments seem to
have not given the matter sufficient a,ten-
ton to perfect any measure towards afford
ing remedy for the evils of which we
complain. 1t may be that with the in
fuence of the President, Secretary Of the
Interior, our president Delegate in Con
gress, and other members Of the House
and Senate, brought especially to bear
upon the question something may be ct
fccted the coming session, and hence wc
repeat some of the reasons why these
Indians should have their land in several
ty and own each his part by separate
title in fee from the Government.
First-At the council of the Indian.
held by Gov. Stevens by the authority
Of the Government, he distinctly informed
them as an inducemcnt for them to sign
said treaty, they should obtain title in fee
to the lands each would choose to select
and reside upon. That treaty
was ratified in the treaty of 1867, and no
new feature contained in it to nullify the
proviso of Stevens made in 1865. by the
authority of the Government, both Of
these treaties have now expired and yet
the Government have taken no steps to-
wards fulfilling that promise, and delays
in 80 doing are bad faith on the part OF
the Government to the dctriInent of the
Indians and to their distrust in the Gov
eminent.
Second--These Indians except the
new treaty, have in a majoriy of cases
abandoned their wandering unmadic and
warlike habits and contented themselves
to remain on their reservation, and TO
place themselves under the agents and
employees Of the Government, to be taught
letters, agriculture and the arts prepare
tory to the assuming the duties Of cult
waiting farms, raising stock and farming
independent communities, capable of sus-
tanning themsclveseby their own labor and
skill without the necessity of receiving
annuities from the Government, if they
can be allowed to own and manage each
his..own land and stock and make his own
bargains in relation to the sale of his pro-
ducts, and purchasing his supplies and
provided that each can have his. due pro-
portion Of the sales Of such lands a, are
not absorbed by the tracts upon the res
ervation, which are taken in severalty,
they can all grow and thrive almost on
an equality with white persons who are
full citizens of the United States, and
they can be readily brought under the
same system and details of the Govern
nent and the laws both civil and criminal
~ can white persons and be as obedicnt
q whites and become self sustaining.
Third--These Indians, with few ex-
ceptions, both understand this and strong.
~ desire to own their lands in seycralty,
and become financially independent of
each other and Of the Government ON the
same basis as are the whites, and there
fore in their present condition it is the
imperative duty of the Government to
grant them that privilege before they be-
came discouraged not seeing before them
anything each can call his own as his land
and improvements thereon and become
induced to return to his wandering habits
abandon all hope and scatter off among
other wandering tribes and live by hunt
ing, fishing, plundering and warfare and
become greater enemies to Government
who has betrayed him by false promises
to consent that the white people should
have and enjoy exclusively part Of the
territory which the Indians once claimed
q their domain and over which they
roamed and held the complete mastery.
Fourth-These Indians now embrace
in their reservation over 900 square
miles Of land, equal to 5000 quarter sec
tions, while the number of Indians them
selves, including men, women and chill
dren is only about 1900, of whom there
is less than 400 adult males, which would
give to each adult male nine quarter sec
tions of land or | ,4l0 acres. From three
fourth to four ifths of this whole reser-
walton is the best character of plough
land, ready for the plough at any time
permission can be granted to use it. and .
the soil is of the best quality, no body of
land between the Cascade and Bitter Root ,
can excel it in quality for all
kinds Of cereals and vegetables and hardy
fruits. The remainder of the reservation
fs,.,la. III L I