Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1885-05-14

Pursuant to call a mass-meeting OF the
citizens Of north Idaho was held at
Lewiston. May 8, 1885. to give express
| ion to the sentiment of the people in re-
gard to the proposed return of the hos
tile Nez Perces to north Idaho. On mo
ton j. w. Parker was appointed chair
man, aud NJ. j. Greenburg, secretary OF
said meeting.
The meeting opened will, the residing
Of communications from Hon. l.. Z.
Brown, u. +. Morris and N. b. Wiley
Of Mt. Idaho. all expressive of ind,gna
lion towards the return of these In
dians TO any part Of this country Unless
accompanied BY st rong military force.
Mr.. Leland and Others spoke coneurring
with the sentiments expressed by the
citizens Of Idaho county. On motion
Alonzo Leland, NJ. A. Kelly and A. i
Parker. were appointed committee Of
three 10 draft resolutions and secure
publication of the same, expressing the
sense of the me ting. Following are
The preamble and resolutions:
WHEREAS. It has been contemplated by
the Indian Department that the In t.ans W o
engaged with Joseph in the war Of 1877
should be brought back from Inlian terri.
tory to the Neg Perez and Colville reserva-
tons to reside. and the department has
deemed it prudent to consult some OF our
prominent citizens upon the ACCESSIBILITY Of
returning them here, and we, the people OF
Nez Perez. Idaho and Shoshone counties
through these citizens have been requested
to give an expression of our opinion and
WHEREAS, After eight or ten days con-
sultation aud deliberation we met in pub.
lie meeting assembled at Lewiston the 9Th
day of May, 1855, therefore
Kssoioed that Alonzo Leland, DR.. NJ. A.
Kelly and A. +. Parker be a committee of
the citizens and instructed to draw up and
have published. our protest against the re-
turn Of this band Of Indians to any rese,va.
ton west Of the Rocky mountains for the
following reasons: LIST. We have no con.
fidence in the subjugation Of the hostile
spirit Of that hand Of Indians, except by
means of q sufficient military force stationed
in their immediate vicinity to keep them in
constant fear Of committing evils lest they
be Immediately punished. 2nd When
here and permitted to run at large, the
temptation TO trans. ress the bounds or lin
it's Of any reservation in this vicinity aud
commit overt acts will be too strong for
them to resist. unless under the constant
surveillance Of strong military force. Sd.
disposed to peace and peaceful occupations
Of industry. and they themselves are OPP
posel to the return Of the dis urbing ele-
ment Of Joseph and his band to til section
Of country as greatly endangering their own
peace and tranquility and endangering their
friendly relations with he whites, making
troubles that cannot, with perhaps any hope
Of cessation, be prevented without blood
shed. With few exceptions there is now 10
affinity Ut interest between the Indians up
on the Nee Perez and Colville reservations
and the band Of Neg rerces now in the In.
dian territory. Those here say the return
Of the hostiles will long delay thu segrega.
ton of the Indians upon their lands in sever.
atty and produce conflicts between those
now here and those who return. 4th. They
are greatly in fear that many Of the whites
who suffered from the war Of 1877 will be
eager to avcnge the murders Of their friends
and many Of those who were always at peace
with the whites. will be misrepre sented and
involved in the disputes which would he
brought on ny their return here. 5th.
Both Indians and whites have lived at peace
since the war Of 1877 and ho' h have pros.
pered in manner such as never before at
tended them and the reservation Indians
the nselves protest against the return Of
the hostiles here. unless they can be con-
stantly protected by military force sutH-
cient to prevent then from disturbing them
in their peaceful habits If agriculture, stock
raising and other peaceful industries 9th
The white citizens in the vicinity of these
reservations with few exceptions fully con.
eur IN sentiment with those Indians on
these reservations and ask that the govern.
ment make other provisions for the resi-
dence Of these late hostiles. II the govern
ment still irsist upon their return, "a citi.
zeus OF North Idaho We cannot be held re.
sponsihle for the consequences which may
follow both to The Indians and the whites
or to either,
Resotjed, That tho sentiment Of this
community is unalterahly opposed TO the re-
~ to North idaho or any part IL the
northwest Of any IT the hostile Nez Perce
Indians now in Indian TERRITORY, unless ac-
comp.nied by permanent military force Of
sufficient strength to MAINTAIN peace and pro-
tect the frontier settlements bordering The
Neg Perce reservation. A. LELAND
NJ. A. KELLY.
A +. PARKER