The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-12-31
Oar Indians.

Only a few weeks ago, the columns of.
some influential journals in the State
were filled with sensational apprehensions
of evil to be dreaded from the Seminoles
still in South Florida. We Immediately
published, from personal knowledge,
statements Of their condition, which we
thought justified our authorities in dis
missing all fear on this account, save
that of inflicting wrong. We gave also
letter from one who had been with
them in their native Businesses, had sat
around their camp-fres, and knew
something of their opirions and notions.
Since then we have gained information
from other trustworthy sources, which
brings before us still more strongly their
present hapless condition and their still
more miserable future. There has been
no ground for fears on their account of
late years, but there is much to call for
tine immediate interference Of the powers
that be for their better protection or
early removal.
1t has been stated by writers who knew
nothing on the subject, that they were
Infatuated to madness-that they had
already dug up the Ratchet with all the
ceremonies practiced in happier days
that they "could bring into the field
thousand warriors" Never did igno-
rance shoot wider of the mark ! They
have not even hatchets for daily need,
much less to bury or dig up, and all the
males, young and old, of all their tribes
in all Florida, would not number two
hundred {, They are not the proud rem
nant of a pow erful people, cherishIng
sweet memories of past glory and power,
as some would have us believe, but the
weak families of beaten clans, without
knowledge of a past, hope for the future,
or reasonable care for the present. They
are dirty and hungry-they live as does
the alligator, and wish for less comfort
than the bear provides for himself in
hollow tree or hole in the ground. True,
they are descended from the Chickasaws
whom the soldiers of imperial Spain
recognized as 1.-THE btavest barbarians
of the whole world or from the Cher
okees, the most enlightened, thoughtful
and provident of all the red men-or
from the Muscogees, who confronted our
Union of States with tribal confederacy
equally free, equally resolute, and equally
faithful to each other. jackson recog
nzed in Weatherford foe worthy of his
steel on the war path and worthy of his
friendship in peace. But ignorance, and
isolation in gloomy swamps, and super
stitious fear. and bitter poverty, have left
little of nobility in these children of the
old forest kings, save one trait ingrained
in the depths of the red mans heart
they are now too cowardly to resent an
injury. but they are still faithful to each
other, and still grateful to their friends.
The poor creatures, whose fathers we
despoiled of the richest heritage under
heaven. lurk trembling in their Shiny
Businesses. They do not dare resist the
attacks of the white man on their scanty
f1ocks and herds. They would beg as the
greatest boon possible, the liberty of
dying peaceably in their wretchedness,
and of being forgotten before they are
dead. Even this may not be; their lands
are HOW III the ana tney tluSt
go. Let them at least go formally; let
them be removed by authority and let
not Judge Lynch foreclose the bond
which is already upon their possessions.
What a commentary on the philan-
! thro by which sends fannels to Africa
and Bibles to the banks of the Ganges.
Were they unable to appreciate kind
ness? Yet the Cherokees made foI
! themselves written characters and a
literature; the Alabamas were as tena-
cious of their genealogical records and
family histories as the Jews; the Chicka-
saws were brave and generous; the
| Muscogees organized powerful confed-
eracy of free States, had n Congress.
! and a regular succession of officials
with fixed powers and jurisdiction. The
descendants of these tribes now hide
trembling in the marshes of thu Ever
glades and wage Intellectual war with
other denizens of these dismal shades,
less happy indeed because they dread
the hand of the Christian.
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