New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-15
THE indian OUTBREAK.

Indian outbreaks have become infrequent
less il is to be feared, because the Indians have
been lifted above them than because they have
been degraded below them. A fierce assault
upon Minnesota farmers by war party OF
Mile Laos Chippewas, with the possibility OF
general uprising, is for this reason a matter
of greater importance than it would have
seemed a few years ago. Isolated from their
own race, and surrounded by covetous white
men, the Indians at Mile Laos have long been
exposed to many evils The immediate cause
of their present hostility is said to be their fear
that a canal which the farmers have under
taken to dig for irIigating purposes VIII drain
the lake, but Of course it is evident that no
single act of this sort would have provoked
murderous assault. Equally OF course they
have been subjected to continued depreciation
and encroachment, and what is worse, have
been effectually contaminated by Intercourse
with their white neghborS
The Comm ssiOnerS appointed by the Presi-
dent to treat with the Chppowss, namely, ex-
Senator Rice, Of Minnesota; Bishop Marty, OF
Dakota, and DR.. Whiting, Of Wisconsin, are
now in ST. Paul, whence they were 10 set
forth next week for q consultation with the
Mile Laos band. Their opinions are quoted
in the dispatches, and it is Significant that with
out apparent conference they agree that the
Indians have had strong provocation 10 attack
the whites. at is simply the result Of the
long delay in the realization OF the promises
made by Congress" says Dr. Whiting. There
must have been some great provocation or they
would not have committed the oWrageS'" Is
the conclusion of Bishop Marty. They are
in a wretched condition and very much de-
moralizsd. The Mile Laos have not
been n bad people. Their pine lands
have tempted the whites 70 encruach upon the
reservation" says ex-senator Rice, who also
attributes the immediate outbreak to drunk
enness, wbiSkey being abundant all around
them. and accessible at innumerabhe points
on the reservation" This is no new thing.
-Four years ago the agent at White Earth, in
his report to the Commissioner Of Indian Al
fairs, dwelt upon the opportunities for obtain
ing LIQUOR which unpnncfpled white men were
constantly putting in the way Of Indians in
their neighborhood, and upon the inevitable
degradation which resulted, and specified tho
Mile Laos as being particularly unfortunate in
this respect. 1t is evident from the uaerance
Of Commissi oner Rice that the situation has
not improved since that tame.
Bishop Marty expresses the opinion that the
present outbreak will tend To help the Com
mission by convincing the sensible members
Of the various tribes that the time has come
for them TO give up their reservation life ana
| become like white men" We hope that the
result will be beneficial, but we fear that the
good Bishop is rather too sanguine. The pros
pect of becoming like the white men with
whom chiefly they are brought in contact can
not be very allurng to sensible Indians who
retain in some measure their inherited dignity
and sef-command. There Is, however, cause
| for satisfaction in the fact that the Commits
| aoners who are about TO enter upon negotia-
lions with the Chippewss, and whose task has
been rendered more delicate by this latest com
plication, are in the mood which their converFa-
ton with correspondents at ST. Paul indicates
Even in the first excitement Of an uprising
which may assume dangerous proportions they
see clearly that the chief burden OF response
bihty rests not upon the Indians, but Rpon
the whites.