The Progress., 1888-10-20

nth some degree of consideration tol
The argument d the opposite side, less
might be said on the part Of the Indian
against outside Influences. We do not
blame the men who are fast changing
the character Of the frontier for the
better, for the desire to restrict the ter
rltory Of the Indians, from the stand
point Of self interest and national
pride they are right, but they fall to
take cognizanoe Of the fact, that the
aboriginal element has also some rights
to be considered, something to say In
defence Of these rights, some plans to
suggest for the solution Of the Indian
/. question. They forget that yitupera-
tion is not logic.
4 And more, because an intelligent
mixed blood or a so called squaw-man
raises his voice In defence Of tribal
interests, hue and cry is raised, and
he open sesame to popular prejudice,
The talismanie words s'pernieious In
fuence Of half breeds and squaw-men"
IRE sounded. Wear sorry 1t Is so, we
regret that men who are selected to
oversee the affairs Of reservations are
Influenced by this cry, and SO often
jsin in it's utteranee. OF all men these
By reaaan Of their sojourn on reserva.
tlbns.
ought to see that this cry is unwar-
rahted.
We hardly expect them to aeknowl-
edge that they find upon reservations
men their superior IN education and In
general information, but in all fairness
we do expect them to acknowledge at
least an equality. Such men come,
sureharged with the idea that the
knowledge obtained from a casual sur
vey of the specimens found In travel
ling shows Is sufficient to enable them
to better Judge of the needs Of a COM
munity than those whose lives have
been spent on reservations.
And yet we must not Judge such men
too harshly. They come. and they
find even on reservations men suscept-
ible to ''pernlelous Influences, While
we are claiming an average possession
OF moral responsibility, we are not
claiming that syery red. skin or q light
er.shaded epiaermis ID an insiplent
saint, or without guile. There are
only too many susceptible to the perni-
cious influence Of the warehouse sys.
tenn. For consideration In provender
whose averdupois Is less than the load
Of sin they bear such truokles to the
local Poobah, and vow eternal alleg-
lance.
II support must be bought and main
tanned at such price, well and good,
but we wish 1t generally understood
that this support has tangible uateri-
al side, and therefore Is worthless from
q moral point Of view. And word in
defence Of those so ignominiously term
ed "squaw.men. Their sin Is that
being white men they have chosen to
cast their lot with an alien people, and
that from the motive Of family affection
they raise their voices against the
arbitrary olamors Of their brethren
across the line. Often the epithet
squaw-man 10 not sufficiently denouno-
ing, 30 the charming appellations,
renegade and 'outlaw'' are added.
1tnay be true that here and there on
reservations, may be found those who
are deserving Of these epithets, but we
protest against the general usage Of the
terms. On this reservation for instance,
are dozens Of reputable, intelligent and
industrious men, members Of churches,
and the peers Of any respectable man
elsewhere.
Having rights through their families
they are entitled to a voice In matters
which concern the public welfare, by
which, we mean the rights Of speech,