New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-31
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

fLeHzN MooRUcKi And Other Indian s'Tns st,Imab
George Truman KerchevaA Boston % S1~'i
Smith Co.
Storm Moorucks contains thres lnnian SUITES
iconcerning which the Rev. E. f. Haze IN an in.O
auoforv letter says that they not merely founoeo
:. sact N a general way, but tho incidents are
lsubxtantsasIy true.p The motive OF mem Is ioen-
ltcaI II N the wrong done TO the Indians py iaWiess
white men on the frontier Bishop "mpple' "
'sfinnesota has written moving preface 70 'no
yo,rms m which he from full experience, voucnes
sor the yertsimsntude Of the pictures drawn All
~. have lived on or near the Western frontier,
,rns.6 oukt be aware that the most shocking reeitas
a, the hook are wen within the limits OF experience
The fact IS that tho borders, and especially the con-
fines OF Indian reservations have from the beginning
Assn infested by hordes Of rufRans, whose VICE.
turbulence worthlessness and cruelty degrade tnem
FAR below the worst Indians, and whose aoomlhaeio
behavior constantly dscredied their country ana
repeatedly involved 1t in costly and aesruc'Ve
1ndian wars. There is no cowardly crime whoh
these wrstches Will not resort TO when ney enlh
themselves safe from retrfbuton; ana peaceiui
indians who have acquired property but are withous
,acsi st,tna seem marked down the predestined
,rev az inst Such scoundres. From the seizure OF
an Indian garden, house small farm 10 the
deliberate assassination Of protesting victim OF some
euch outrage the frontier gamut OF crime runs ana
80 long as the Indian has no standing IN me courts
AZ Is Impossible protect him against these vhiancs
( BISnOp IN
,lIustratfon Of the frontier treatment OF Indians;
% An oaacer Of the United States Army was crossing
"a desert country with border men as guides. They
icsme to Indian village. There was no enc IN
the village but children. The knd-hearted officer
gave the children. food and filled their caiaoashes
with water. Later I'm the day he missed his gusdes'
and when they came into camp at evening he asked
sWh,re have Won beepP sTo fire those Indian
uapooses' what did you dof' We threw them
ever the precpioe and killed them; nits mako lice
when such things are possible 1T is time measure
fIlpe the Dawes severaty bill was enacted. Inc
question Is whether that law goes far enough VI
course no law VIII fit the eases Of all Indians.
These are in various stages of development. Fun
citfzenship clearly ought to be bestowed upon Indians
h6 have reached advanced position of the Natsee
viIlagers described in this book; and not only be
cause citizenship is their right, burt because u is
sha only thing that VIII protect them against naud
and force masquerading under statutory PROVISIONS
The Indian without status is much moro heipleSS
than the southern slave was He occupies position
snalorous 40 that which married women held when
an their property vested in the husband. drunken
xcemu could under that law break up his WIGS
business and house, sell her out and repeat TINS
4wsnty times, long as life and endurance 10
manned to her. The unplaced Indian can only ac-
euire property at the risk Of inviting plumber, nor
can a pubic opinion strong enough to protect him
be developed while the courts are closed against
him.
The argument Of this little book is all In the limo
of the policy which has been adopted by Congress,
and which it is to be hoped, viii be pushed forward
steaaily until every is provided for Experience
shows that there is danger In withholding
citizenship than in comforting it prematurey. IL IS
tpe that IL will not prevent Indians from being
Cheated but It will greatly check the impulse to
cheat them by putting the law behind them Even
the possibility of redress is wholesome and efficient
safeguard and especially fom the class OF sneakng
buIlics who before made practice Of utilizing the
legal nonentity of the red men. Mr. kerchevafs
tales are very sad, and the sadder for the substantial
truth but a point has been reached in the Indian
problem which justihes US in believing that such
fnfamies as are recounted here Will not again he
.posshlo IN any part Of the United States.