The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-06-20
WRONGS OF THE INDIAN
The Red Men Deserve More Humane Treat
ment Than They Receive,
THE INDIAN PROBLEM A DELICATE ONE
The Indian Will Soon he Il Man
without u ntry-Pnshctic story
of Oppression and wron.-Des.
DoiIcd U Possessions ana Enn.
fsheA from Homo.

The Cheyennes are reported ia be on
the war path. Again there are prcdic-
dictions Of an Indian war, and again
the cry is raised:
THE only good Indian is a dead III
dian"
At the risk OF offending those who be-
lieve that The red men arc no more de
serving Of humane treatment than
wolves, that their lands Sllauld be con
fiscated by Chrfstianized hosts Of Amer
lean civilization that it. would he II
waste of human energy to endeavor to
protect these savages from unscrupu-
lous traders, and their acquired Ameri-
CAN vices, attention is respectfully in
vited TO the following extracts from the
fourteenth annual report of the execu-
tive committee of the Indian Rights
Association:
The history Of the five so-called civil
lized tribes Of the Indian territory-the
Greeks. the Cherokees, the ChoctawS,
ChickasawS and SeminoleS-will be Of
interest, although it may be familiar
to many. They were removed from
Georgia and from other Southern States
some sixty years ago. when civilization
among them under the guidance Of
white missionaries had made such pro-
gress that there was fair promise Of
their ultimately being absorbed into the
surrounding white population. Such alb
SorDtion is the end aimed at as a solu-
ton of the Indian problem Ivy an over
whelminE majority Of the friends of the
Indians
But Georgia wanted the lands Of the
Indians. and bulled the United States
government until it consented to move
them West of the MissiSsippi river 10
what has since been known IFS the In
dian territory. This policy was wholly
unsound, and 1t was attended with great
practical cruelty, for a large number
probably about half the Indians ire
moved died from the effects OF the long
march through the wilderness, and from
the hardshiDs to which they were eN-
posed. IT was proposed at that time to
erect in the Indian Territory an Indian
State which should gradually work out
the civilization of all the Indians Of the
country. The idea was that the wild
tribes. as their lands were wanted
would be removed just as the Cherokees
had been, to the Indian Territory, and
would there become civilized by CON
tact with their more advanced brethren
This theory was a good conscience
salve for those who were Indifferent to
the real welfare Of the Indian So far
as 1t was entertained by sincere people
and those who have taken the trouble
to acuuaint themselves with the facts
Of the ease, it has been wholly abandon
cd for the view which holds that the In
dian and his island reservation must
be gradually absorbed in the sea of
white civilization which surges about
him. True and wise friends desire to
watch every step in this process Of alb
sorntion, to defend the Indian, so far
as possible. from every real wrong, to
guard his individual rights and to turn
him as rapidly as possible into a civil
lied white man.
This, broadly viewed. would bring
II ~ In 1.,4s ot@ f~s rs T ~
walton to reasonable number of indi-
ridual Indians. We say reasonable num-
Der because in the process OF transition
from the savage to the civilized state
many would be sure to go TO the wall.
the victims Of their own or the white
mans vices
This uniform policy OF the white man
in dealing with .the Indian has been first
to acquire possession of the red man S
land, and then in Il perfunciory way TO
undertake the work of civiliZinr him
with n view to Ultimately driving him
into the aI!.ali deserts or the Pacific
Ocean. Treaty after treaty has been
concluded between the United States
and the Indians. the latter have been
told that they could retain the lands
coded to them as long as water runs and
grass grows, yet they have steadily suf-
fered from unlawful invasions of the
whites In the treaty provisions Of 1866
there appears the following:
Article &c The United States guaran-
tees to the people.of the Cherokee nation
the quiet and peaceful possession of
their country, and protection against
domestic feudS and instructions and
against hoStiiticS Of other tribes They
shall also be protected against intcrrup-
tons or intrusion from all unauthorized
citizens Of the United States who NAV
attempt TO settle on their lands or re-
side in their territory. In case Of hos
tlities among the Indian tribes The
United States agree that the purity or
parties commencing the same shall, so
far as practicable, make PREPARATION for
the damages done"
Speaking of the violations of these
treaties Charles NJ. McScrve, president
Of Shaw University, Raleigh, n. c.. a
gentleman who made a special inyesti-
CATION into the affairs Of the Indian Ter
ritory, says:
What applies to one nation. prac-
tically applies to all, and when we
see that the population Of the five ma
lions is 365, 000 and that practically 500, :
900 are intrudcrS, IL can readily be seen
that the problem is one Of great diff
Guilty and magnitude
The Hon. II. l.. Dawes, head Of the
commission appointed to graphic with
the Indian problem. is on record as
saying:
Everyone Of these treaties made since
1866 contemplatcs one OF two thing:
First. That they shall hold this land
Indian. share and share alike, and