Sun River sun. [volume] (Sun River, Mont.) 1884-1885, 1884-07-24
The Indians.

Oiiiy oechslonal lufnOrS are given
to tho public concerning the deplora-
bic condition Of the Indians of the
farther northwest; and to these, with
its customary Indifference. The nation
pays little heed. There is no need 10
repeat tho utter condemnation that
must be visited on orr Indian policy
from first to last. But to the idea of
justice and the sentiment Of humanity.
the course of the United States was
less rep,gnunt when VIC were driving
the Indian tribes into rebellion. and
then Furnishing them for resistance
by wholesale Shooting and hunting
down, than now, when we carelessly
but unrelentingly starve those who
have lost their power Of rebellion aud
are dependent upon or mercy. 1t il.
sufficient commentary upon the pas
siye cruelty of our present treatment
OF the Indians, that we cannot even
know tho extent to which that cruelty
has gone, on the full effect of It's mur.
derous work. From the tar-oii' re-
gion where remnants Of tribes urc
gathered upon reservations comes The
cry OF distress; but is wasted bcfo,,
it reaches the ear of the nation. and
its words are too vague and too want.
ing i'll particulars of existing suffering
and responsibility TO make an appeal
to the conscience of tho people that
would suffer them no LONGER 10 sit in
silent Indifference. IL cannot be
pleaded in extcnuation that the causes
were unknown or unforesccablc. Ii
his last years report The secretary OF
the interior referred to the condition
OF The Blackfeet, and urged tie ne.
ccssity Of immediate provision against
the want that would soon be upon
them. These Indians number in III!
some $1,000. "Hcretofore," says Mr..
Teller, tho buffalo moat and hides
secured by the Indians have been sur-
iicicnt, with the limited MD given by
TIE government 10 give them fan
support last year, owing probably
to the completion Of the Pacific rail
road, the buffalo. for the first time il
history, failed to appear. The seere-
tary pointed cut tho fact that the IN
dians must either starye OF kill cattle
found upon hcrdcrs' ranges. They
have good land, but it avails them Nc
mere than Il ledge of gold would hclp
u miner starving in some lonely gulch.
What they need is IN extremely mod
crate support from the government,
sufficient to supply their present
needs and to give them start for the
changing future they are forced to
face. This has not been given. The
agency warehouses are empty. stoinS
and appropriations are exhausted. and
congress has adjourned. Meantime
women and children ore starving and
men are considering whether they
had better suffer the fatc with thcii
families, on make Il raid upon the
nearest settlers and perish by tho
spcedier agency Of the rifle and bay
onct. This is the inhuman tragedy
which is being enacted in the far
West, as the continuation and natural
sequel of o,r Indian policy. Surely the
Government at Washington would be
he'd guiltlcss were it 10 oyerstep the
bounds of its authority, if necessary.
in order to make some provision
through these months of hardship for
Il starving and desperate people; and
it need not fear that The nation, whom
it comes 10 understand these fncts,
would not justify aud uphold such
action Pioneer Press.