New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-18

which politicians Of all races and colors preach
more than they practise The Indians however,
looked at the matter from their own point Of
view. After hearing one OF them remark pthily.
We'd have been fools to vote all alike onA
could hardly avoid the suspicion that there was
more in the division Of the Indian vote than mere
diversities Of individual opinion Again. it looked
If the white man had trustfuly mistaken the
secretive humor of the Indian for q guileless
naivete. 1t stands to reason that astute Indian
leaders-and there are such leaders, men who are
probably not as often seen in Brantford as others
are-would encourage rather than repress differ
ences Of opinion Oh all questions which do not
directly affect the Reserve 1t Is to their interest
to keep on good terms with the Opposition, a.
well as with tho Government, especially In
Provincial contests
Within the Reserve there are two main al.
visions, Christian and pagan Only about 600
in population of 5000 are confessedly pagan!
The word, II understood In the ordinary modern
sense is misnomer Nothing could be further
from the truth than to suppose that the adj
herents Of tho ancient religion, like the Onon-
dagas and Caydsas, are idolaters. But If the word
is taken in its original meaning-the religion of
the pasus or tribe, in distinction from civic or
established forms OF worship--it is cor
rect enough. AS in Italy, paganism
was the religion Of the rural population I'M
willing to yield to the Christianity of the cities,
80 among the Six Nations, the ancient religion
is the mark of those who resist most stubbornly
the advance of what on the Grand River is
dignined by the name Of civilization. The power
of this small body of pagans is quite out Of pro-
portion to its numbers Most of their supersti-
tons ape shared by their Christian friends and
oir &c roal1y In Lave
part, an Indian characteristic, and so far as 10
is matter of blood, this also is shared by tho
Christians. Thus the weight Of public opinion
seems to be in favor Of letting things remain %
they are. There are those who are ambitious 70
make money like white men. One man, who Is
really getting rich, as such things go on tho
Reserve boosted that he began SIX OF seven years
clothes he had on. There are also those
who would like to have a. railroad
through the Reserve and who talk h Of ,h the
are few. The majority are content with their
cabins, and their patches Of corn and wheat and
oats and potatoes, with the interest which each
OF the land first. granted to the
Indians by the British Government. Thanks to
pitonce. The land was sold outright II it had
been held on long leases, the Indians Of the Re-
serve would now be among the richest peasantry
Ing to about $4,000 acres. cannot be alienated;
In theory il Is held in common, all individual
ownership being terminable by the action OF
the Council. While no land can be sold TO out
siders the communal syttcm has gradually lapsed
within the Six Nations. Indians can sell their
farms to each other and can devise their prop
erty to heirs by will. The effect of this change
in Indian notions of property 10 shown in dis,
pute now in progress between the Council and
the Chippeways. Some of the latter about
fifty years ago begged for place on the Re-
serve, promising that they would go away, as
they came, empty-handed. But in the course Of
made other improvements Now they want tho
fee Of thcir land, but are told that they became
tenants at will upon their own request. and must
epdixision Of the land; somewhat after the man
ner OF the ancient Hebrews, has shown that the
communal fellowship of the Indians has merged
idly than was supposed. Only in one way can
an outsider obtain an interest in property on the
Reserve, that ts, by marriage white man who
marries an Indian woman gets IRE interest III
her relatives The white wife Of an Indian hus-
band however, becomes an Indian, Divorce cans
not deprive her of her rights, and these rights ex-
Of an Engllshwoman, who had never been out OF
England but who had married q, Mo-
hawk traveller, and then had secured divorce
for good cause the Council voted tnat sne &C. naa
intendent decided that under the act she was
stil an Indian. entitled to her share OF the semi.
annual interest. In her case and In mat or many
other persons the assertion Of Indian rights Is y
matter of sentiment An Indian princess Is still
an object OF curiosity in London.
Az might be expected Christianity mas don"
more for the women than for the men on ,,e ne ne
PARASITIC white trash that infests the borders OF
The tract, lurking in nasty whiskey-soaked VII
THE IROQUOIS