Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1884-08-07
JAMES REuBIN's vIEwc.

SlR:-l deem it my duty to answer
piece in your paper, published on the
10th of this month, in which you charge
me of many things. am surprised tha,
you should clothe your paper with such
statement, for which you have no other
proofs than what has already been said
in your paper.
have always had a good opinion Of
YOU, | still feel the same, consider you
too honorable to have taken the respon.
siblity to make such statements to the
public through your paper. l think
somebody else is at the bottom Of the
whole thing, instead of you. think
can tell from the language in which it
has been written who the man is. am
accused of many things, but most of them
are not important to me noi the public,
so | will answer only those most import
ant to the public.
You say: "James Reubcr was sus-
pected of being one of the instigators OF
that Moses letter, if not the writer"
knew nothing about Moses writing
the letter to the department and it was
written long before | returned, last year,
from Indian Territory.
You say:--"We have reason to believe
that James Reuben was one of the insti-
gators Of the opposition to the road
! say, yes sir was one, for somo Of
my people asked my advice by letter while
in the Indian Territory and l'gave it
wasn't that right?
You seem to think that l ought I,
keep silent whenever any important subject
comes up before my people. | cannot
do that SO long as | hold common inter.
est with my people. l claim to have d
right to say yes or no, and who's going
to blame me for it? say further that
mcst of the Indians opposed the road,
without my advice.
You say: "That l made efforts while
East to have Joseph and his people
brought back to the Nez Perez country
You seem to be willing to attack the
least and weakest one on the subject of
the return of Chief Joseph and his band.
But what do you say about President
Arthur, Hon. Secretary Teller, Hon. II.
Price, Commissioner Of Indian Affairs,
Gen. N. A. Miles, Gen Whitney, Secre-
tary Board, of Indian Commissioners,
Col. W. j. Pollock, ex-Inspector U. s.
Indian Service, Aurora, ILL.,, Col. j. Nj
lIaworth, U. s.. Indian Inspector, Oletha,
Kans,, ex-Agcnts Gen. Thos j. Jordan
and Lewcllyn L. Woodin, Esq, who were
agents at Ponca agency, Indian Territory,
Dir. &. l.. Spinning, ID. d, Cleveland,
Ohio, Rev. Fleming, Arkansas City,
kans., Rev. Wilson, Arkansas City, Kans.,
Rev. Platter, Winfield, Kans.
The above three ministers were ap-
pointed by the Synod of Kansas as a
committee to draw up a memorial to be
sent to Congress in behalf of Chief
Joseph and his band. Aud another com
mittee appointed by the General Assem-
bly, Of the Presbyterian church to wait
upon the proper authorities at Washing
ton and in behalf of Chief Joseph and
his band, and many other persons work
ing for Joseph and his people. As well
rs numerous petitions sent TO Washington
and in behalf Of Chef .oscah aud his
band, and signe1 By most respe able
persons, such as YRS. Garfield. =, you
know anything abor .hese rssons? II
you do, why don't you lay SOM
thing about them, instead of attack 4
The defenceless. AS far as | am concerned
would rather that Chief Joseph and
Yellow Bull and few of their followers
ought not come to this country. But
there are some who | think ought to come
to this country, those peaceable and chris
tan Indians anon e Josephs band not
actually belonging to Chief Joseph. l
10 not think that the Secretary Of the In
serior will send Joseph here, but l do
.hink he will send those who desire to be
sent here, as a peaceable people.
You say: "Duiing the war of 1877
was charged, while acting as scout for
Gen. Howard, with leading the hostile
forces, etc, etc., and that Wm. Foster
saw me and 50 reported to Col. WhiPple,
etc, etc.
| hate to say anything about brave
Foster who fell as a brave man in that
war and is dead with the rest OF the brave
men, those who fell along side of him at
All | have got to say is,
that my dead friend was sadly mistaken
in seeing me among the hostilcs. And
further, that the last time | saw Joseph
and his people, before the war, was at