Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1885-05-07
THE RETURN OF JOSEPH AND
Hla PEOPLE.

THE RETURN or JOSEPH ANr
H1e PEOPLE.
The commissioner Of Indian affairs, q!
Ne learn, has autographed to the sgen'
here to learn the opinion which may b
entertained BY the settlers as to the dan
rsr Of tho return Of the Nez Perccs, now
IN the Indian territory, to Idaho, and
aska what would DO the effect if 100 Of
them, mot including Joseph and his i'm
mediate followers, be returned to the Nes
Percs reservation, and the balance Of
them, including Joseph and his immedi-
ate followers, be sent to the Colville res
ovation. The commissioner desires to
know whether this contemplated return
would be likely to endanger trouble be-
twssa he whites and the Indians.
TO answer these interrogatories correct
n presumes different conditions, which
may OF may not exist At the time Of their
return and soon after. If the hostility
which WAS engendered among them in
1877 continues ia any considerable dc.
gree, there would be great danger Of
asuuhse; but If their hostilitics are COM
blstely subdued and the Indians them.
selves are disposed to the habits and arts
sf peace instead Of war, We think that
the whites Of this country v. uld not be
disposed to war upon them, except per.
hapa in few instances, where tho actual
'nurdeSers who committed the murders at
~ outbreak Of the war in n should be
returned. The friends Of the murdered
night b melted BY THEN return to acts
81 vsngence in retaliation.
# tho government had surrendered
thsse actual murderers to tho authorities
Ut our courts and allowed them to b.
tried and punished. in accordance with
their crimes, wc are satisfied that The peo-
plaof this section would have acquicsced
10 the verdicts found according 70 the
facts and judgement which followed.
1hs mcfe surrender Of these hossilcs
upon tho terms 'hxed BY Gen. Miles that
thsy should be allowed to come back to
Idaho, il tho estimation Of tho people
generally i, and has been, regarded as
spjuat 70 tho settlers, and especially those
whose friends were murdered Al the be-
ginning 81 the outbreak. Without there
having been a4attcmpt on the part If
~ government to have those who pre-.
sipitated the var tried and convicted ~
As,dersrs, With the knowledge our PEG.
IN hare ef Indian character, Il has been,
~ = now believed, that examples Of
luniahment Of lthe most aggravated Of.
Ssadess should have been furnished a. q
Aarbingcr Of peaco hcarailcr between the
whites and Indians in this section.
We have 10 doubt that tho Indiana
acw il the Indian territory, who former.
belonged % the Mes Pasces, would Be
lAd 70 gst back to this country, and
scald b ready to make al and every
Hind of promise Of good b,havisr 10 the
fatass II cass they would DO permitted
= coma back !; but that they would keep
aAelr pronisea when once here and per-
nitAsd % roam over their former 6eld
Nm oppostunities u u mischief and q.
sapeto ne mountain, i DOT certain. II
~ 10 A. abundance Of troops pcrma-
nsntly stationed II he country to qusll
evsry tendency e = outbreak promptly,
beatls ~ ssttlsrs became alarmed, the
eas would - different but tho facts
- ~ haye no troops within ave days
narSk n The reservation NOT even one
sanpaay. and that isw dimiscsed Indi.
- Nhe were bent On mischief could al
: - aeal " danage, both to life aud
property BEFORE relief could reach u.
AsAis, = ths present, matters arc alto
Gether unsettled = 70 tie future state Of
sse Isdiana upon the reservation; even
~ s.ess peacsabie among them have no
SkSs, 80 4 ,...a 4. -. !. -