The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-06-20
OFFICIAL CITY PAPER.
THURSDAY JUNE 20, 1901.
"MAN's lNHUMANITY TO MAN."

Cree Indian problem is now under
Roadway, and the editorial lament is
abroad in the land, says the Helena
Herald.
The massive brain of the average
journalist is dedicated, not to devlslng
WAYS and means for the amelioration
of the evil, but to picturesque descrlp-
lions and frightful word paintings OF
the horrors of the vagrant invasion.
If some locality is compelled, in the
trend of events. to render a little as
sistance when some of these Wretched
beings are suffering from contagious
disase, an inhuman howl goes up from
the secular press because the demands
of charity filter through the necessl-
ties of the ragged red man.
Apparently, the fact that these Crees
are human beings-the poverty strlck-
en- descendants of once well to DO
race-is overlooked and curses and
maledictions alone are visited upon
the heads of these miserable outcasts
in their search for bread.
Christian civilization ought to
teach mankind a more wholesome les
son, in that they should recognize the
inevitable conditions growing out OF
the occupancy of Indian territory by
the whites.
In the despoilation Of their once pro-
life hunting grounds the federal gov
eminent has granted to the American
wards suitable reservations, with pro-
visions for their food and clothing
spirit of national charity that would
bathe the bloody features OF fallen
enemy and wet his lips with the wa
ter of life.
It so happens in the Canadian regu-
lations of the British empire, that the
Crees are practically unprovided for,
and without habitation or name
among men, these relicts of a once
great tribe are forced to forage as
best they may for something to eat
Magnanimous Montana, having fail
ed to induce the rightful guardians
of the Cree remnant to do their duty
should not-while waving the banner
of Christian civilization and exploiting
the virtues of charity and brotherly
lOye-turn with savage contempt and
bitterness upon the human wretches
grovelling at it's feet for the crumbs
that fall from the tables of luxury
and success.
The Cree is child of misfortune
hopeless, helpless, ragged and dirty
and foul, yet withal a human being,
possessed of soul as much entitled
to the saving as are those which mis-
sionary expectations are equipped to
rescue from the savage luxury of can
nibalism.
The tendency of human nature to
kick a man when he is down, f1nds
ample illustration in the annual on
slaught of the Montana press upon
the Crees.
It is but an expression current II
the civilization of the day emphasized
upon a more conspicuous and clearl!
defined target.
Would it not paint better picture
on the pages of history if Montan;
would prove itself as merciful as it Il
great and grant it's charity in a spiri
of humanity to this wretched remnan
of the Indian race?
The above excerpt from the Helen
Herald might lead one to believe tina
there were no deserving poor in tn
capital city; that no families We're Il
need; that brotherly love was ran
pant
For the authorities of Flathea
county at which this jeremiade is d
rected, we simply reiterate that whic
has been said before. this county frs
took care of the Crees, surrounde
them with everything necessary fo
their comfort and then began to cas-
about for the responsible parties
this outrage. These Crees instead {
being prosecuted or mishandled, ar
now the recipients of better care an
attention than they have prObabl
ever before experienced. Flathea
county is not devoid of charity, an
in our knowledge has never shippe
from its confines. to be a burden
its nearest neighbor the trodden poo
the helpless and the hopeless. Their
are other counties and cities in th
state which cannot say as much.