The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1885-02-25
A Social Crying Evil, With a Good Lecture
on the Subject.
BIRCH CREEK, NJ T., Feb. IA, 1885.
Editors of the R;vor Press.

BIRCH CREEK, NJ T., Feb. "A, 1885.
Editors of the River Press:
Twill you give me some money 10
buy some food for rs little girl?'
was asked me by an Indian to day. The
child referred to is the half breed daugh-
ter of a well-to-do citizen of this terri
tory, and living within five hundred
miles of this place. The child is half
starved and absolutely in rags: nor is
this shameful condition her case only.
A few days spent among the Indians
will show many such cases, disgraces to
the white race There are many white
men who have children now living,
born of Indian women, either legally
or illegally, who are educating and rails
ing these children to the best of their
ability, even though they have long
since left the woman 10 these men
who are brave and manly enough to
own and care for their offspring, in spite
of the Indian blood in their veins, let
all credit be given, but for the men
who, rich and respected in our cities,
leave their offspring to starye and shiver
in the cold, with not even enough cloth
ing to cover their nakedness, often using
an old gunny sack as the only protection
to their shriyeled limbs-shriVeled by
hunger, cold and the rough usage they
receive in the lodges-for these men
| language is not strong enough to express
the contempt in which they should be
held. These children are allowed to re-
main in the camps, ragged, dirty and
hungry, and in a very short time learn
| to steal, beg and indulge in all vicious
| habits Is it the child's fault? Why
| don't its progenitor take care Of and
save it?
There is not a single white man who
has lived with the Indians but knows
4 that the old hatred to the whites still
burns in their breasts, and is it any
wonder that the white mans child, left
! in their power, should be subjected to
all manner of harsh treatment? Look
at it, gentlemen which course haye
YOU most reason to be ashamed of, the
acknowledgment of your past connec-
tions with this race and the earnest en-
deavor to make amends by rearing these
children properly, or allowing them to
become a curse to themselves and the
country? IF right were done you the
government would force you TO take
care of these little ones whom you have
brought into the world but there is no
need of exposure in this matter (Which
your moral coWardice SO much dreads).
There are plenty Of ways to take care OF
these children privately, with the as
sistance of little money, and the very
ones who are neglecting these half-breed
children of their own the most are the
ones who are holding some Of our high
est offices and are best able to pay the
small sum necessary for their care and
education.
Gentlemen, I am not writing for a
charity hospital, nor anything OF the
kind, but to let the jacket fit where it
hits, and for your oavn c1ildre91-chil-
dren which you have neglected and left
in an Indian camp, to be abused by
these Indians for the white blood which
you have implanted in their veins, lef'
to become thieves and rascals, many ol
them left to be stain on the face Of
both the white and red race, except
where they have, as in individual cases
risen by their own handiwork and mer
it. and all because you are afraid OF the
finger of society, or because you are toe
selfish and mean spirited to care fol
these children. For the sake OF the
white race and the fathers who gave you
life and did not turn you from thel1
doors out on the cold world and into the
hands OF ruthless enemies, for shame's
sake alone, even though you have lone
since discarded the woman, take care o
| these children, and give them some
/ slight chance to earn honestly, in the
: future, the living which you have I'M
r nocod on them. KANAPA.
The Insane Asylum Fire.