New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-07

abode on Annette Island. where, under grant
from the United States Government. they were
assured they would be safe from further mo-
lestation and free to advance in civillzaiIoh'
Under Mr.. Duncans guidance they have grown
prosperous. and now the adventurer looks with
greedy eyes upon their island and wants 1t Tor
his own SO he has been log-rolling in Con-
gross 10 get n foolhold among them. knowing
that once established In their ncighborhood, ne
can soon transfer their wealth to his own pocket
and in due time exterminate them. II he sue
cecds he will add another blot 10 the unhappy
record Of American dealings with the red man.
There is no reason for interfering with the
Indians Of Annette Island except the avarice
Of schcming whites, and there Is every reason
in morals and craftsmanship for leaving them
alone Experts have reported that the mineral
wealth Of the island which so arouscs whlte
cupdty is not remarkable. that there are num-
berlcss unworked and unclaimed deposits far
more valuable, and that the ores would not IN
practice yield enough to pay for working 80
nobody Is shut ont from natural BENEFITS NOT
otherwise to be obtained by the reservation or
Annette Island. But even II It were rich In
ores. that IS no reason for invading the land
long ngo granted TO the Indians and improved
bv them in good faith True. they have not
ploughed II ALL nor made II n waste OF tree
stumps after the example Of the whites.
large part Of It is virgin forest They need
that for their manner Of HE. To cut Off the
trees would spoil the trout streams and ruin
the hunting. on which they are partly dependent
They till what land they need for tillage and
keep the rest. as the Government keeps Yellow
Stone Park for their forest preserve, and who
shall say they are not more civilized for that
than If they cleared the land to turn It into
money? They need the whole island. 1t is
theirs. They should retain It.
Eut there IS yet another reason than their
actual need of the land for the exclusion OF
whites They went to the island TO escape con
tamination There they have learned TO be
peaceful vrtuous sober and industrious. The
inevitable result of admitting miners and lum-
bcrmcn to the island would be to ruin them as
all Indians have been ruined In contact with
tho frontier life. with Its whlskcy, gambling
and immortality. 4 year or two Of such com
panionship would more than undo all OF Mr..
Duncans work and leave on the hands Of the
Government n tribe Of worthless drunkards
worse than the primitive savages from whom
tho present worthy Mctlakahtlas sprung. by
ihat time what little gold the island contains
would be worked out. and the adventures
would move on. having contributed little or
nothing to the wealth Of the country, leaving
n material and moral waste behind them. II
cannot be that the Congress Of the United
States. full of sympathy with suffering races
abroad. Will at this late day repeat IN Alaska
the outragcs inflicted on Father Junipcros con
ycrts in California, not merely, as with the
Mission Indians. taking advantage OF the cha
oilc laws OF n conquered province. but dclib-
crately breaking Governmental faith with
people who asked TO enter our domniOns for
improvement. settled where guaranteed pro-
lection. and built up n community which did
something to redeem the disgraccful history Of
our dealing with the native races OF this con
tnent