The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-05

'.zal7'sz 2 is seldom found
than is afforded
by the condition. of the Indians and
Eskimo of Alaska since the white man,
learned there was gold In their coun-
try. The Indian Is falling back every
where before the onward march
of the white man and his civlllZa-
ton. but nowhere has his retreat been
converted into such an almost COM
plete rout as in Alaska. The years
1898 and '99 witnessed the great rush
to the gold fields Of Alaska and 1t is |
estimated that the Indian and Eskimo I
population has been reduced by death
fully so per cent during the past five
years. I question these appalling fig
ures, but the estimate is hazarded by
more than one who has had oppor-
tunity to observe the condition of
these unhappy people. I
But, granting ali that ought to be
allowed for exaggeration, it is not
difficult for anyone who has travelled
extensively thru that country to see
that there has been a frightful deci-
nation of the native population and
to understand some of the reasons for
1t. The deserted villages and the
wretched condition of nearly all that
remain tell sad and pitlful story.
When the Russian came he brought
with him vices and diseases which
wrought havoc, and in the frequent
clashes at arms the natives suffered
heavy losses. But the Russian was
mercfful compared to the American.
The Russian had use for the native
and after a time the trade relation
was SO well established that the ma
tive derived something Of profit from
1t.
When the American came the fur
trade had declined and the contact
Of the two races meant little to the
weaker one except decentralization and
ruin thru vice and disease. I do not
mean to say that the original condi-
ton of the natives of Alaska had been
free from the consequences of i'm
morality and Ignorance, but their
condition was such as to cause them
to fall an easy prey to all the de-
moralizing influences which usually
attend the first wave of the white
mans civilization. We have seen the
same thing within our own borders.
Our century of dishonor" has written
it's record of injustice and wrong done
to the Indians here in our own coun-
try in lines of ineffaceable disgrace,
but the hand illumination, SO to speak,
has been put in since Alaska became
ours.
4 ND yet no people ever deserved
N better of their conquerors.
Long before the American in
vasion in search of gold commenced
the tribal organization, SO far as 1t
had existed, had been pretty we'll
presented an unresisting front. Not
only so, but there is among them a
natural disposition to hospitality and
generosity which should have insured
alton in return, but which
has often only encouraged inn
position and wrong. Our government
has not been entirely insensible OF its
obligations IN this connection. 1t has
tried to do something for the educa-
10rt
acted at one time prohibiting the sale
of liquor to any one in. Alaska, with
such results as might have been ex-
pected. The enforcement of the law
was 50 utterly impossible under the
circumstances that it was repealed
but not till the Indians had been
taught the art Of manufacturing ex-
tensively the vilest and most danger
Gus connections, which they consumed
in practically unrestricted quantities
I do not mean to assume that they
would not have obtained liquor under
a. license system, or would not nave
learned to manufacture the demoniz-
ing substitutes, but the prohibitorS
law, with it's utter impracticability on
that far frontier, furnishes an illus
tration Of the failure Of the gov
eminent to protect these people of the
north from the almost certain conse'
uuences Of their ignorance and child:
ish he1plessness in the presence o.
many of the representatives Of a su.
perior race, who forgot to take the11
Eonsciences with them when they wen
to meet the native and exploit him fol
their own benefit.
Some of the ways in which thu
white man debauches the native Alas
kans cannot be particularized in Thu
place, but the consequences are il
evidence in distressing frequenc.
there. Nor are the Alaskans fallins
like leaves of the forest before tn
ills incident to immortality alone, TO
it will never be known what frightfu
fatalities followed an epidemic of mea
sizes which swept over Alaska tire