The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-02-17
CROWDING THE INDIANS.

1t is very likely that we shall have
another Indian difficulty next summer, or
some time within year, with the Navaios.
The other day the dispatches brought the
news that Acting Secretary CHANDLER, of
the interior department, on the 18th, inst,
sent to the House of Representative a let
ter from the commissioner of Indian stfairs
recommending that an item be inserted in
the Indian appropriation bill to enable the
secretary of the interior to negotiate with
the Navajo Indians of New Mexico and
Arizona for such changes in the reserva-
ton boundaries as may be deemed de-
sirable. The commissioner calls attention
TO the fact that for more than two years
rumors have been rife of the existence of
rich gold and silver deposits in the Carlo
mountains within the Navajo reservation,
and the Indians have been watching with
keen apprehension the visits made by the
whites TO the place for tho purpose of
prospecting. Local newspapers make the
statement that determined purpose ex-
lists to gain possession of the mines
whether the Indian title is extinguished or
not.
This is good illustration of how our In
dian difficulties originate. Treaties are
made with the Indians, the boundaries of
their possessions are fixed, which the white
man gradually approaches. Then with sly,
ensnaring art, duplicity which would put to
shame the savage, he processes friendship
for the red man, gets permission to step
over the boundary line of the reservation to
herd his stock or make ranch or even to
farm tract of land. The number of these
insinuating intruders increasing, the In
dians begin to be alarmed for the safety of
their possessions, but find it difficult to get
rid of their friends, who begin to claim
as right that which they held merely on
sufferance. Then are spread abroad rumors
that the reservation is rich in agricultural
lands and should be opened to settlement;
government is too slow in its movements of
negotiating purchases, the restless, wan
dering element in our country seeking for
that igniS fdtUuS, a new FL Dorado, is at
tracted by the rGmors of the rich lands
of such and such an Indian re-
servation, and the reported prospect
OF its soon being thrown open
to settlement Down they flock upon the
borders of the Indian possessions. I'm
patient Of delay they enter the coveted
lands. II the Indians undertake to drive
them out, their action creates casus beIIi
in the estimation of the whites, an Indian
battle ensues with the usual results, the
Indians are overpowered, and are either
removed from their reservations or their
possessions are cut down to satisfy the
clamor Of the horde greedy for their lands
If this plan of robbery is not adopted. ther
as in the case at present with the Navajo
reservation, it is suddenly discovered thai
the reservation is rich in gold and silver
deposits. Prospectors enter the country
and Congress is asked to purchase the res
eryation, and frequently, as in the present
case, the robbers serve notice on Congress
that whether they make new treaty stipu.
lations with the reds or not strong deter
mination exists ''to gain possession of the
mines whether the Indian title is extin
guished or not" AS in the case when In
dian reservations are coveted for settle
meut, any attempt to expel the invaders
On the part of the Indians is followed By
war with the old result. And SO tn,
wretched story goes on from generation t,
generation, until one bushes for the per
fdy OF his government.
how conspicuous in honor does that o
England stand out! With all our fiippau
talk about this ''effete monarchy" she set
US worthy example in our relations wit
the aborigines of the land. What is tina
policy? Learn the spirit of it from the re
marks made by Earl DUFFERIN few year
ago on the occasion of his interview wit
the Met-lah Khat-lau Indians of Births
Columbia. The children of the Indian vii
lage entertained the party with songs, and
young native lady read an address to tn
encouragement, to which the noble eal
replied in speech, from which the follow
ing is taken:
hope you will understand that your whit
mother and the government in Canada ar
fully prepared 20 protect you in the exercise {
your religion and to extend to you the benefit {
those laws which know no difference of race
OF color but under which justice is impartial
administered between the humblest and th
greatest of the land. The government {
Canada is proud TO think that there are u,
wards of sixty thousand Indians in the territor
of British Columbia alone. She recognize
them as the ancient inhabitants of the countr,
The white men have not come among you
conquerors, but as friends. We regard you
1ellON-SuDleclS ana as equal 10 US IN the eye
the law, as you are in the eye of GOD, an
equally entitled with the rest of the communi.
TO the benefits OF good government and tn
opportunity of earning honest livelihood.
If our government is not prepared I
adopt this policy of absorption, which ha
worked soGell in Canada, but on the con
trary insist on treating the ancient inhat
itants of the soil as they would foreig
states or peoples, then both justice and ns
honal pride demand that treaty stipulation
be honestly adhered to, and though noun
lins of gold ana valleys of silver should b
reported to exist in the country set apal
Tor the Indians, not white man should h
allowed to set his foot over the boundar
pm that account. National honor, our rel
1tation among the nations of the earth fc
honor and even handed justice, are wort
more than all the gold of Ophir or til
riches of the east. Let the government tie
ihe impudent adventures who say that
undetermined purpose exists to gain posse.
lion of the mines whether the Indian tit
S extinguished or not" that the honor
The nation is involved in keeping sacred Il
treaty made with the Navajos, and TIL
lhat honor will be preserved even if ever