Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-27

1T epic ptIlOu SuoBlu PERISH, lhOAS
,uld vet remain TO us in the "Recol-
Iections of a Virginian," a series of vivid
pictures from which might be deduced
the very form and pressure or the tunes.
How, then, is ii that the author OF that
VOlume-a volume which the philosophical
historian of the future Will justly regard
as priceless-how is it that he who has
painted so strikingly, with SUCH tenclty
and such fidelity, the life and spirit Of
the white American, should misread so
strangely all the leading idloSyncrasleS
OF the red American.
INDIANS RELATIONS TO WHITES.
An answer to this question would be
q virtual solution of the most vexed fea-
ture of the Indian problem. And per-
haps the easiest way TO get a general
grasp of the subject will be by running
few parallels on familiar lines.
II is evident that the relation which
the Indian has borne TO the white man
On this continent resembles. in many re-
Spects, the relation which long existed
between the people of the North and the
people of the South. And ii may be that,
In the image Of our cause We'll see the
portraiture Of his. He was guilty, ike
and was imbued with strong desire TO
enjoy his own inheritance in his own
way. Like ourselves, he was welded TO
his own mode of life-the life Of his
fathers-and. like u.s. he asked only to be
let alone Like ourselves, he was first
wronged, until he resisted, and then
crushed because be resisted. And, like
ourselves, only In greater degree, his
story has been told by his enemy, and
by his enemy alone. Like ourselves in
the process Of subjugation, he has been
Judged by the apostates OF his race; yet,
with US, the apostates by this time have
weilnigh run their course while with
him they still abide.
If we Will recall the evil days Of Recon-
struction, we shall have before us the
conditions which confront the Indian still.
n.rrr 4rrifh a 81
less zeal to bring into the Union fold all
the lost spirits who had wandered into
the desert places Of Secessa. And when
they had found such paragons of loyalty
as Judge Underwood, or reclaimed such
tristful penitents as Brother Hunnicut,
they lifted up their voices and sang
triumphant songs. Yet, when they had
drawn the redeemed TO their bOsoms--
when they began TO catch the real flavor
OF their converts-it is little wonder that
they marYelled exceedingly, and spake
unto each other in shuddering whispers,
saying: II these are indeed the ransOmed
ones. what must the unregenerate be?"
And So for a season, the renegade and
the traitor and every creature which
could crawl and writhe and betray acted
after his kind and received the wages
OF his apostacy. Yet in the fitness of
time IL was seen that back Of these
smooth and supra-lOyal proselytes were
a great and earnest people, crushed TO
the dust, yet rich IN every quality Of a
scalawag passed away, and new dawn
ing opened upon the stricken South.
NO CHANGE WITH THE INDIAN.
But with the Indian there was no change.
The apostate continued 10 be his spOkes-
man 10 the end and the white man never
realized that what he called the friendly
Indian" was always traitor 10 his own
people: an Outcast, sycOphaEt, q hypo-
crite--in one word, a scalawag. These
were the creatures, General, who appear
ed 10 army officers as the representative
OF their race. IL was these whom Won
employed as guides and scouts-the Hun
nicuts OF their tribe--false, uncleanIv
yahoos, with whom. perhaps YOU wouid
have 70 ratify solemn treaties: wretches
who would sign away the domain of their
people or commit any other infany for
q canteen OF rum. Such were ina
friendly" members OF every Independent
or hostile tribe which ranged the plains
IN the OLD days which preceded their i'm
prisonment on the reservations.
But glance down the shadow naet
and summon the free~born Iacotab ~
forty years ago-the indigenous native
American, whom we have 80 WantoniJ
destroyed Look at him. 1.-the. sinewv
suohs, hanahome In form, and In move
ment graceful as the leopard. Constant
IN MS friendships, faithful 20 his people.
Sro%nec with the majesty which can
oven only where freedom s--a kingiy
nearing, tempered by that gracious COR
,tAf winch springs from a union o. kind
~ Keeling with conscious strcngtb--f an,
nyl asnaned 70 say have met few men
ia hays IMPRESSED me more WITH a