Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1886-08-26

THE FUTURE OF THU INDIANS.


When God created the world he
created all mankind alike; he gave them
hands to work with, feet to walk with
and brains to think with. Some chose
to walk in Gods way and obey his laws;
others chose to 90 in their own ways
aud do those things which God forbids
So the earth has become peopled with
all classes, and different races Of people
Among these different races we find
great difference in civilization and
education; and we notice that the most
enlightened race are those which have
chosen their right way.
When. Columbus discovered America
he called the people whom he found
there Indians up to this time we have
no history Of the Indian tribes. Since
that time they have been gradually
growing less 10 number and until now
they are but few, and no longer own the
entire western continent, which they
once owned, but little corners which the
white men have not yet taken from
them. Why is this SO? Because the
Indians did not know any better than to
let the white men take their land; they
have never been taught how to stand
for their own rights, except by fighting
for them and in this they are always the
loser, because of their small numbers;
they not only lose their property but
their lives. Bad white men are always
anxious for Indian wars, SO they can Kill,
Indians and steal their property, and l
am glad to say that there arc some who
are friends to the Indians and who want
them to learn and be civilized, and for
my part, | will do my best to teach them
the right way Of living, and when they
learn the right way they can become
citiasrs and be protected BY laws Of. the
United States. Some may become
lawyers, doctors, ministers and teachers,
if they only have the desire for 50 and
the opportunities, and it greatly depend.
on how they are taught.
Indians may q we'll live and be citizens
as white people, for all are created alike.
There IS no reason why they can't be,
except that they do not know the advant.
ages OF it, and il must be, 80 that the
Indian people can improve their lands,
and build towns Of their own, live in
them and be civilized citizens, although
il takes great deal Of courage to learn
the white mems ways.
Most Of the white people have an idea
that Indians cannot learn or remember
anything which they are taught, but
great many who think in that way have
been greatly surprised down ut {Salem)
school. when they use to see the inteli-
gence ofthe boys and girls and seen
some articles which they made, and that
they are as industrious as any white
children can be. Some white people
who use to visit the school and have
seen what we Indian childred had done,
use to say with great establishment /!
"Did them Indian children do this?',
Why Of course indians can do and are
able to do anything. if the white men
only give them the chance. They have
brains and minds to think with just as
white men have. Some white men
cheat Indians in every way they can
think OF to get money, as by selling
whiskey, tobacco and such things that
destroyed life. They make them believe
it is something nice when it Is not, and
Indians, without knowing the difference,
takes it and dies. In many such ways
the Indians are cheated by the whites,
and there are great many other ways
in which they can do it.
When the Indians have received lit.
tie education and are taught different
branches of industry, the white men can.
not cheat and do other things that he
would like to do to the Indians, for they
will know how to stand up for their
rights in a lawful manner. They have
long been neglected and have been left
in ixnnfanoe: THAR evaa hlindnd hvl