Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-12-29
NATIONAL PROBLEMS.
ARTICLE /.
BRIEF HISTORY or THE INDIAN
QUESTION.
Good Treatment OF tho CoIonists-The Or.
dinance OF i5s1--Bad Faith Devoi.
oped-Late wars-The Solution.
By oEN. nnNnr ,. cAnnINaroN
Copyrighted, 1851

iH'Nid sta'AN~Nf 1919
The American republic is charged with
the adjustment Of race distinctions. The
assimilation OF civilized, half-ciyilized
and semi-barbarous peoples has been so
far realized that civil rights and civil
functions rest upon recognized ideas of
I legal equality; while the measure Of their
! political aud social success is more mat
ter OF Industry, education and capacity,
than of nativity or race.
I The disposition of the two great
classes, native born, which more than any
others appeared "a disturbing factors in
the national development, has been more
| difficult than the absorption of strangers.
Injustice to the African practically ended
with slavery, aud his recognition as a
profitable and capable citizen. The rcd
man alone remains distinct unnatural
lied, and q real foreigner In the land OF
his fathers.
The issue became more prominent when
railroad communication with the Pacific
began it's revolutionary work in lands
where the Indian, almost independent Of
disturbance, retained the isolations and
customs Of savage life. Occasional CON
tact with white men developed iealousies
and conflicts, but their control of the
trans-Missssipp region was still general
and substantial. The supreme court of
the United States had recognized their
status to be that of dependent internal
tribes, subject TO such changing relations
as lay within the compass OF mutually
satisfactory treaties.
INDIANS IN THE COLONIAL PERIOD.
TWO periods OF national growth had al
ready developed their characteristic
phases Of INTERPRETATION between Indians
and the whites During the colonial
period, Indians were allies, or enemies,
in proportion as the growth of settlement
admitted or excluded the Joint occupa-
tion of the soil, or amicably compromised
differences of taste and habit by exchange
of furs and wild meats for the merchan-
disc of the settlements This begot
friendly commerce, and they became mu-
tually dependent, while practically indie
pendent. The education of the Indian,
in schools and colleges, and his domesti-
cation as a la1orer, entered into nearly
all plans for peaceable adjustment ,of
his relations TO the whites. In New En-
gland, New York and ut the South, the
idea of determination was lost in the pur-
pose, so far as possible, to harmonize
their existence with the changing condi-
tons of both races, and without preiu.
dice to the rights or lives of either.
STRONG PLEDGES IN THE ORDINANCE or
1887.
The second period began when the great
region between the Ohio and Mississippi
opened its streams and forests to civilized
adventure. The rights of the Indian were
distinctly recognized as worthy of respect
In additian to legislation looking to his
representation by delegate in congress.
the states of New York, Virginia, Maesa-
chusetts, Connecticut North Carolina,
South Carolina and Georgia made cession
to the United States of their claims over
the territory northwest of the Ohio, on
conditions which were in full harmony
with colonial respect for the red mans
rights; and article of the famous ordi.
nance of July 10, 1887, thus distinctly
names the conditionsi "Religion, NOR
atty and knowledge being necessary to
good government and the happiness OF
mankind, schools and the means of edu-
cation SHAH forever be encouraged. The
utmost good faith shall always be OBJ
served towards the Indians their lands
aud property shall never be taken from
them without their consent; and in their
property, rights and liberty they shall
never be invaded or disturbed unless in
Just and lawful wars authorized by con-
gress; but laws founded in Justice and
humanity shall from time to time be made
Tor preventing wrongs being done TO them
ana Tor preserving peace and friendship
with themn
THE RUINoUS AMERICAN POLICY.
succeeding legislation wholly favored
Inc white ran, turned him into a border
robber, and made him the uniform az
gressor upon the rights Of the red man, all
this under color of law.
The very first principles of trade and
commerce, whereby neighboring people
affiliate, and find mutual benefit and
essential amity, were violated by impos-
lug penalties of conhscation and fine when
white men made contracts OF barter with
Indians, except in the matter of furs
This forced the Indian back towild life
in the forests instead of drawing him with
In those natural boundaries where inter-
change OF products, fabricated or devel-
oped by both, would ensure the mutual
benefits OF the skill and labor of each.
HIS hrst impulse toward civilization was
made the occasion to treat him as an out
cast, and 1t made him both A. y&c1ssi and
revengful one
Tha policy of Greak3ritain was so diff
ferent that her goyer6ment protested that
Tue acts OF congr1Ss were in violation of
treaties, and tlN Canadian citizens could
not be cut oI>from dealing with red men
any more tban with white citizens Of the
United Sttes. AS result of this ruin
Gus American policy, which pandered to
the greed of the western bound emigrant
at t3e expense and honor of right, the
VIZ OF 1921 found the Indians of the
fhio and Illinois to be with the RrTnsh
invaders instead OF sharing In common
aeiehse OF the exposed settlements of the !
west This policy was in marked con-
trast with that which obtained when the |
american colonists had no allies more |
faithful than the Narragansetts and the |
Delawaresi and its spirit so shaped the
conduct OF the frontier settlers that the |
property and lands of the red men, so /
Specifically protected by the ordinance of |
lfoii were considered as convenient sub |
lects Tor uncompensated appropriation
and plumber.
REGENT INDIAN WARS
me Northwest was at last settled and |
divided into states. The still greater re-
glon beyond, already exciting adventure
oy It's sudden development Of gold and
SILVER treasure, remained unsettled. An
overland trail to California tlnyersed vas |