Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-12-27
Al Indian Temperance Advocate.

Old Chief Joseph the father Of the
ruurierous warrior ruled large division
Of his tribe when the white men first
came to the Lewiston valley His Juris-
diction was the Snake river valley south
TO the Seven Devils, along the Grande
Ronde to the Blae mountains and the
lmuaha and Wailowa valleys.
The old patriarch was noted for his
wise and conservative reign. His people
were very strong in arms and they won
many victories over the Snakes whose
territory adjoined Joseph settlements
on the south The old Nez Perces always
took pride in his friendship for the white
people and was ever ready TO fight the
Snakes with the white soldiers. lie
would detail guides and scouts to hunt
down the Snake bands OF hostiles when
ever opportunity was afforded.
In 1860 the government formally in /
vited the Nez Perces to submit to the
government rule by accepting the author.
ity Of an agent at Lapwai. Old Joseph
was invited to come to a council and it
was expected that the old man who had
been firm friend on all other occasions
would favor the treaty and the submission
/ 10 authorities of the government and
eagerly accept the annulties. Old Joseph
came to the couhcil with his warriors.
They held aloft scalps of the common
. la, 81,
in pretentions OF friendship for the white
man.
a thousand Nez Perces assembled on
Sweetwater creek The Kamiahs under
Lawyer were ready to sign treaty and
come under the agent. By the terms Of
the treaty Lawyer and Joseph would each
receive five hundred dollars annually and
two other sub-chiefs would receive three
hundred each. The salaries were bats
for the chiefs offered as pay for official
services. In addition to these salaries
the Indians were to receive annuities i'll
the way of food and clothing.
All had accepted but old Joseph and
his followers. The chief was asked 10
sign the treaty. He arose with as much
dignity as ever a king possessed. He
began an imprisoned speech that was
grand example of aboriginal eloquence.
He outlined the history of his division,
of his tribe and their friendship for the
white people. The scalps of the Snakes
were pointed to as evidence of the friend
ship his people maintained in the past
and pledged the same for all future time.
He paused with both hands extended
to Heaven as if in prayer. Silence
reigned as far as his laundering voice
had been heard till the suspense was OPP
pressive. Then he cried out in the
natural language of desparing soul.
5 "No shall not sign your treaty. Your
e pay is alright, l wonld like to receive that
0 Your annuities would be of great service
E to my tribe. We would like to have the
y money, food and clothing, and above AL
we would like to appear to always be the
a good friends of the white people, but
l cannot sign your treaty, your earnest eff
d forts to pursude ME will have noinfluence
i your threats of the use of arms, of the
{ invasion of my country by Genera
Il Harney's soldiers will not Brighten my
people into submission, | am afraid o
your Christian civilization. Your relig
ion is good, but with your Christians
come the fire water that ruins the young
Indians. am afraid of your whiskey ant
: its influence. My people are strong ant
- healthy hut in your civilization see ruiz
: in the comningling of my people will
:, the white people, which must come, ifw'
come under the authority of an agent a
Lapwai. We will go back to our Sc
- clusion i'll our pretty valleys. We viii
D. take with Oour friendship for the whit
y people but we will not sign away on
right TO exclude from our midst tn
7! whiskey which we know will be ours
y" to our people if we submit to the author
lily of the sgent which will mean an in
CT flux, of white people with their fire waite
and the ruin it will bring to our youn
e. men and women"
II is historic fact that the fear {
whiskey restrained the Joseph Indians
6 from full submission to the government
authority as early as 1860. The war whic
1T followed i'll 1877 was the direct outcom
of the refusal of the old chief to sign tn
treaty in 1860. The young chief pei
haps did not consider moment til
y prime cause of this ARBITRARY action of h
ancestors but the fear of whiskey was tn
indirect cause of Josephs war