Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1884-05-08
NEE PHRCD LANDS IN SEVERAL
TY-TERRIToRIAL, CIVIL AND
CRIMINAL JURISDICTION,

The policy Of locating Indians on lands
in severalty and abolish'ng the rescrva
ton system, and giving to the indians
the same government enjoyed by the
white man, has fast gained strength dur.
ing the few years last past, as the means
Of educating and civilizing the Indians
and averting Indian wars. The principle
has been strenuously opposed by the In
dian ring of officials and contractors at
Washington and Indian agencies all over
the country for several years But the
men better posted in Indian character,
and their real needs and wants, have been
quite incessant in their efforts, through
the press and otherwise to disabusc the
public mind upon the Indian question,
till a radical change of sentiment has tax :
en- place, both in the West and in the
East, and now We have succeeded in get
ting President, Secretary Of the In
terror and one branch of Congress (the
Senate) at least to endorse the change,
with lively hopes that the other branch
will promptly come to the rescue upon
this question and pass the measures set
forth in the Dawes Indian bill, which is
general, and the Slater Indian bill, fran.
ed especially for.the Umatillas and few
other mentioned bands. This is mat
ter long sought for by the citizens Of the
Northwest as 10 their judgement, the best,
safest aud most economical solution of the
vexed Indian question, and one best cal
culated to make out Of the Indian all that
he is capable Of in the way of civilization
and citizenship. The humanity of the
nation is opposed to the destruction of the
Indian race, but the policy Of preserving
the race in state of constant war upon
the white inhabitants Of the country, is
attended with 10 much expense to the
Government and so much loss of life and
property to tho whites, that Our necessi
ties have made radical change in policy
apparent to all intelligent and observing
minds who have faithfully studied Indian
character and habits. The humane work
and effort Of thousands to educate the
Indian has been highly commendable to
the good heart Of the Indian sympathisers.
But very large part Of this sympathy
has been practically lost upon the Indian
BY reason Of mistaken policies in reach
ing the Indian heart, and by entrustine
the execution Of their plans of action to
corrupt and fleeing agents who have lit.
orally robbed the Indian of the greater
part Of the value Of the appropriations,
which q liberal Government has provided
for their benefit, and this has induced
dissatisfaction among many tribes and in
duced then to 20 to war, making it alb
solutely necessary for the protection OF
the frontier settlements that the Govern.
ment should keep standing army upon
the frontier, .nu at times raise additional
troops and move them about rapidly at
. great additional expense, SO that the
annual Indian appropriations of the Gov
eminent have been but small part of the
expense Of caring for the Indians, and
protecting our people against their atroc-
titles. The Nez Perces, up to the year
1877, had been faithful allies of the
Government and general friends Of the
whites from their first knowledge Of them,
although a-large band Of them were un-
willing to 60 and reside upon limited
reservation and abandon their nomadic
wanderingS at will, Notwithstanding their
treaty stipulations to that effect. MANY Of
them possessed the native Indian hostility
70 the whites, which was only kept in
sahjection BY the peaceablc counsels Of
Chief Lawyer and other counse.os of
psaos in the tribe. The death Of LAWYER
gave occas'on for the development of their
native hostility to the whites aud even
the infirnsties Of his advanced age be.
fore his death strengthened the native
hostility Of those who would ROT,
come upon the reservation, which finally
eliminated in their outbreak of 1877
under the lead Of Joseph. He was driv.
en- out Of the country, a ter the sacrifice
OF many valu bic ives, and finally cap.
tared near the British line east Of the
Rocky Mountains, and ultimately sent to
Indian Territory. Now here comes an.
other evidence Of the misdirectcd Indian
sympathy Of the people East who are
seeking to send these disturbing elemeu .
among the Nez Perces, back to this cour.
try, to arouse the anger Of ths friends
Of the murdered settlers, and breed dis
affection and discord among that portion
Of the tribe who continued to remain
loyal to the whites aud who have ever