The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-18
BRITISH ROASTING.

There was good deal of familiar British
boastfulness in the claim set up by Mr. J.
A. Carman, published in yesterdays Posi-
INTELLreEScER, invidiously comparing this
country's treatment of the Indians with
that which they have received in Canada.
From his point of view the English side Of
the question is exceedingly rose-colored,
while ours is made to appear as though
"seen through glass darkly."
Mr.. Carman has evidently closed his
eyes to the true facts in the original situa-
ton and policy in the two countries. Can
ada was ruled from distance with main
reference to English wants, English COM
merce, and the interests of an English
privileged class. The greater portion of
the vast territory of British North Amer
lea was turned over to the Hudson Bay
Company, an enormously wealthy hunt
ing, fishing, trapping and trading monop-
oily. The policy of England, as represent
ed by this monopoly, was to keep out set
Element and civilization, to maintain the
country in its condition of a wilderness,
upon which the continuance of their high
ly profitable business was dependant.
To the Hudson Bay Company it was
more desirable that their domain should
be occupied by the uncivilized Indian
hunter, trapper and fisherman than by the
civilized forest-conquering and farm-culti-
waiting white man. 1t was to their inter-
est to train the Indian, use him, keep him
in and keep the white man out. The pol
icy of our people was the very opposite.
Our mission was to extend the area of free
dom and of civilization; of subduing the
wilderness; of conquering the forces of
nature; of opening up vast areas to agri-
culture, to mining, manufacturing and all
useful arts; to empire-building in fact.
The great expanse of country which had
been monopolized as the hunting grounds
and fishing places for few thousand saw
ages was capable of making comfortable
and prosperous homes for hundreds of
millions of civilized, industrious and pro-
gressive people.
Between people pursuing this policy
and the Indians harsher friction was in
evitable than was to be expected as a re-
suit OF the Hudson Bay Company's policy.
The latter were prohted by giving the In
dian full scope and verge enough i'll roam
ing over country capable of supporting
millions of civilized people. We were
compelled to encroach upon the red man
or forego the welfare of the whites. As q
result we have sixty-five millions of civil
lized population. Canada has about five
millions. Of our forty-four states, there
are at least five, any one of which has
more wealth and larger commerce than
the whole of the Dominion.
Where were once the hunting grounds
over which few thousand savages roamed
are a score or more of great states, teeming
with wealth, dotted with churches. school,
houses and manufactures of all descrip-
tions, maintaining millions in aifiuence
swelling the worlds commerce and feed
the hungry of all nations. To accomplish
these tremendous, these beneficent, these
magical results, it was necessary to crowd
the Indian back, and back in an ever mar
rowing circle. 1t was necessasy that he or
the march of civilization should Weld.
Natures supremest law, 'the survival of
the fittest," has worked itself out in this
case. Barbarism has had to give way to
civilization. In some instances, perhaps.
the Indian has been mistreated. But on
the whole this government has dealt more
than fairly, even generously by him. And
it can well afford to challenge full and
fair investigation of its dealings with the
whole people, savage and civilized, and the
results of its policy as compared with
British policy. treatment and results.
1t is an open question whether there are
IN Canada any Indians equally advanced
with our Shawnees, Delawares, Cherokees.
Creeks and Choctaws, or in the whole
Dominion nearly so many Indians rs
there are in the United States who are en-
gagged in useful pursuits. And it must be
remembered that of actual hostiles there
are but few hundred in this country
while all other of the savage or partially
civilized are gathered on reservations. fed
by the government, and their youth are
being educated in schools maintained NJ
public expense.