The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-09-25
Special Contributors.
THE INDIAN QUESTION.
BY MRS. o, ]. HILEs.
Milwaukee, Wis.,

So many questions of importance are
agitating the popular mind, and the
interest that centers upon each one is
so universal, that the world has indeed
become a stage, and all mankind are
actors in drama upon which the cur
tain will not soon fall. England has
Ireland and the Irish Russia has its
Nihilists, and Germany it's Anarchists;
Europe arbitrates between the Eastern
powers and watches the scales of bal
ance Asia is ground between the two
millstones of Russian and English inter-
ference; while America has China and
the Chinese; labor and capital and in
the background, behind blindfOlded
figure of justice, divested of her scales,
is being enacted the Indian tragedy.
The world seems almost too small for
itself. There is hardly room for its
rapidly shifting scenes. But the CEN
trifugal force thus generated is held in
check by another and corresponding
force. The interest of each in the well
fare of all, has established the centri-
petal power Of universal love. By this
common good the ties of brotherhood
are so firmly knit together, that civil
or social convulsion in one part of the
world is felt in every other part. The
heart of the world has become dictator.
The questions at issue are SO vital in
their significance, and SO universal in
their application, that the two COM
mandments of love seem to have been
reversed in the order of their coming.
Love thy neighbor universally, would
appear to have been the first command
ment. But it is because men love God
supremely, although sometimes uncon-
scious of that love and its fructifying
power, that they can and do love their
neighbors as themselves.
Oppression and wrong are working
their own cure. Everywhere ghosts
have been raised that refuse to be put
to sleep again. In our own country,
the Indians, who so long have been
buried In their own dead past, have
arisen into new life. The breath of
human brotherhood has been breathed
into their nostrils. Men are struggling
to secure the rights of the Indians, as
they struggled for the freedom of the
slaves. Nothing, since slavery was
abolished, has been of SO much impor-
tance to the Christian people of Amer
lea, as this question Of how to protect
the Indians, and better their condition.
Slavery is great curse to any nation
but l doubt whether it was more pro-
life of evil to the American nation,
than has been the cruelty which has
pursued the Indians during the past
two hundred and fifty years. With
the exception of here and there an
oasis of good faith, the treatment of
the Indians by America has been long
stretch of barren injustice. Every
wrong inflicted has had for its base the
supposed requirements of civilization
while, in fact, civilization has been the
veneer covering the plague-spots which
mark the desolation, disease, and de-
cay that have been caused in its name,
and for its pretended advancement.
If definite plans of action for the ex-
tinction of the Indians had been formu-
lated by the first white settlers, no
more certain methods could have been
devised than the ones that have been
employed. Treaties have been made,
and made only to be broken. But the
broken treaty has been like the bitter
shell of nut the kernel of suffering
has lain within. Through the break
ing of treaties, they have been driven
from place to place; through consequent
homesickness they have been driven to
ruin and to death. 1t requires strong
effort of mind to fasten this evil upon
the present age. 1t is difficult to real
ize that even nov, treaties are being
broken; Indians are being removed
solemn contracts are being disregarded,
and intense suffering inflicted upon
helpless race. Yet we call our land,
the land of the free, and the home of
the brave. But that nation only is free,
which has been set free by the percep-
ton and adoption of truth only that
nation is brave, which never oppresses
the weak.
In the great battle waged for the
survival of the fittest-and may just