Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-04

AMAA AMIA NWM AAAAMM ~ nWMa
According to the organ Of the re
spectacle citizens who are banded To-
getber to fleece the Indians on the Win
nebago reservation. Agent Matthewson
has been mallgned and prosecuted be-
cause he refused support to the editor
Of The Bee IN the senatorial campaign
two years ago. This is a decidedly
lame defense. The editor Of The Bee
was not aware either during the o
torial campaign or since its close what
candidate Agent Matthewson favored or
opposed. Every republican candidate In
the district In which Agent Matthewsou
was in position to exert any influence
vas defeated In 1900, consequently he
could neither harm nor help any repub-
lican candidate for the senate in the
senatorial contest before the Legislature.
The respectable land spectators in
and about the Wlnnebago agency have
doubtless forgotten that Agent Matthew
son had an unenviable reputation before
he was given charge OF the Omaha and
winnebagoes. At the time his appoint
ment was pending In the senate news
papers that could not possibly have en-
tertained personal hostility to Mr..
Matthewson criticized his selection So
verply. With almost prophetic provision
n of them, the Chicago Journal, d.
rected the following editorial appeal to
President Mckinley;
Mr.. McKinIey-Deer Sir. Your reported
nomination Of an alleged Nebraska bank
wrecker and absconder 10 be Indian agent
for the Omaha n winnebago reservation
might not cause remark were it not for the
unfortunate time in which IL occurs. Sim
liar appointments have been made with per-
feet impunity in the consular service within
The last two years, and as for Indiana. no
body seems inclined to complain when fhey
are illtreated. when their affairs are mis-
managed and their interests betrayed SO
they would probably have been left 70 take
their chances this time.
But as Il happens, the county is about 70
embark In the enterprise Of governing in
fertor races beyond its borders. and the
manifestation Of Its intention to DO 90 has
provoked hostile criticism OF Its miseoy-
eminent Of inferior races within Its bpf-
ders. The opponents OF expansion have
asked the advocates Of expansion. q they
had q right to ask II: DO you intend thai
we shall govern the Philippine islanders as
ne have governed the American Indians
turning them over with heartless indidsr-
ence TO be pIundered and oppressed by 4 lot
OF thievinx ~scoundrels who hays gainedtheir
positions through worse than careless meth
DDS Of the presidents friends, and who hold
them only By the miscarriage Of justieef"
ina is a very hard question to answer
while the making Of mat appointments cen
tinuss. These appointments furnish the Wis
ibIe evidence that the abuses in Indian ad-
m~inistration have not been perceptibiy
. : . It may be that you have been
deceived about this particular case. and that
when the matter is laid before you the nona-
win be recalled. Il is sincerely to
be hoped that this 10 50.
That President Mckinley was imposed
upon IN making this improper selection
there can be no doubt. But so long as
no complaint was made The Bee re-
Trained from urging Mr.. Matthewson's
dismissal. Had he been vigilant in pro-
tecting the interests OF the Indians In
stead Of standing in with their despoil-
ers bis previous baa record would not
have been recalled ne additional reason
for his removal, It Is scarcely neces-
sary to add that the attempts to make
Matthewson a martyr Of personal spleen
and political hostility are groundIess
and only prove that his misconduct is
a-I-N-A~ff1~ 'r I