Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1885-01-29
AN IMPORTANT MOVE IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION.


vidius that any Indian committing
against the person or propriety ot an Indl
an or other person, any of the following
murder, msnslauehter, rape, assault with
intent to kill, arson, burglary and larceny
shall be subject to the laws Of the ter
yitory in which the ERNIE is committed
and shall be tried therefor in the same
courts and in the same manner, and shall
be subject to the same penalties as are
other persons charged with the COM
mi. sioas Of said crimes, and permitting
Indians to prosecute in any court any
civil action at law and equity adopted. y
I'VE find the above among the dis
patches from Washington. It is signif-
cant Of the growing sentiemnt in congress
that the best way to civilize Indians and
reduce them to the standard of American
citizens, il to make them amcnablc to the
same laws Of the white man. A long ex-
perience has proved to our government
and to the world generally, that treating
them rs separate nation and at the same
time as wards of the government, and
making provision for feeding and cloth
ing them, and keeping them in idleness,
with the opport unities Of roaming at will
over the country, without the restraints
cfthe laws Of the country, is fir too ex.
pensive, and does not elevate the Indian
except in few cases, above the scale Of
the common wild savage, ready to 80 to
war upon the whites whenever and where
ever he forsees the chances Of temporary
success, thus constantly exposing the
isolated portions Of the white settlements
to depredations upon life and property
that can never be atoned for, and to re-
press which, the whole power Of the mill
tary Of the government is set in motion
at enormous expense, and which seldom
results in the catching and subduing
tho Indians to permanent peace. The
above amendment seems to strike at the
root Of the evil in the intercourse laws
which have long been in force, but which
have had only loose observance either
BY the officers Of the government or by
thc people.
II this bill goes to the Senate and
and passes and receives the signature Of
the President, and the government make
ample provision for its enforcement, it
will soon ''knock the stuiIing" out OF the
whole reservation. system aud the annui-
" system, and cause Mr.. Indian 10 "root
hog Or die" tho same as the white men
arc compelled to. The criminal and civ
jurisdiction OF our courts in each and
every county, will be extended over the
Indian, whether on tho reservation or of
the reservation, and the officers of these
courts will be free to pursue d nd bring
snem % justice without hindrancey from
any power Of the government, the same
Is in the case Of whites. This doctrine
is not new BY any means. Some ten
years, wica the Pacific Coast delegation |
wanted DIP. Thompson, Of Portland,
70 become Indian commissioner, he an. |
swered them that he would do SO, only |
on one condition, namely: That he would
be permitted TO place them on the same |
footing with white citizens, and grant to |
them the same privilege under the gov
srnment. On suggesting his views to
he Secretary OF the Interior, he would
not consent, and this Kept Thompson
Efom becoming Indian commissioner. His
news met with strong opposition from
The then heads Of tho department and
Rom members Of congress, and from the
eastern press and from many Journals Of
he west. as we believe more from their
want Of knowledge Of Indian character
han from any other cause. 70 some
sxtent Il might have been influenced BY
car that il would greatly lessen the enor.
nous profits which the Indian ming and
contractors were making upon goods and
upplics. which the government then au-
horifed to be purchased and distributed
mong Indian annuities. The editor Of
be TELLER was among the first to ~
ousesttie belief that the Indian should
e ameHuble to the white mans laws, in
rider g avoid vars and progress him to
utilization. He streuuously advocated
he doctrine IN 1876 and I in the TEL.
ER, and long afterwards as the files will
how, and was assailed at first by some
the Portland press, aud by some of
ne clergy who were intrusted'in the per-
etuity Of the old system Of reservations.
'us since then light has dawned upon the
'indsrof the opponents, aud today YOU
an hardly tiad man of the west who
I'LL dare to hazard his reputation for
God Judgement, by saying that the In
ian cannot be better controlled and GOV. :,
i