Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-06-18
"PL0T AGAINST
THE WHITES"
Interesting Article Published in
1874 Relative to Status
of Indian War

In the issue of the Idaho Signal pub
lished Saturday. February II, 1874, II
the editorial department an article APP
pears showing the conditions existing
Mt that time with relation to the "Plo
things with relation to the rights o
the whites on Nee Perez Indian reserve
land The article Is strong and fore
shadows results which later proved t.
be well founded and as everyone In thi'
section knows. was one OF the things
that agitated the Nee Perez Indian wal
Ut 1877. From a historical standpoint
the article ia interesting and Is wei
worth republishing.
I'VE must possess ourselves, as fa1
as possible. unimpassioned. 1t will re.
quire all our moral and political
strength to avert the evils which
threaten the people of the northwest
coast and which are sought to be fast
ened upon US by those having power al
Washington. The recent demonstration
made in relation to the rights of white
persons living upon the Nee Perez res
ervatlOn. under treaty laws are but
Ms cloud the size of mans hand,
which betOken cOpious rain of other
evils threatened. We will be compelled
to meet these evils and overcome them.
Or else submit to be vanquished and
surrender the country to the Indian al
Hes. The query suggests ITSELF whether
we can succeed by proper representa-
tlons made by our people at Washing
ton, where we have from our infancy
been taught that we could obtain re-
dress for our grievances. or shall we
be compelled. employing our natural
rights. to assert our claims to the soil
W. inhabit against the grasp of the
powers At Warrington for the exclusive
use OF the ~red men," which powers
seem deterFnined that We shall not only
surrender the land to the Indian, but
shall be made to pay tribute to support
the fndoaent savage and the representa-
tives Of his white allies while living
ut their ease upon this land. We con-
Tess We are stalled at the rapid strides
this Indian peace agrarion policy IL
making. while 10 many representatives
from the Pacific Coast and other Indian
countries are supposed to be on duty,
- the protectors OF the rights OF our
people, In the legislative halls at Wash.
lngt0n. That we have some men there
whose voices will be heard against this
policy we fully believe: that few
men or the east who comprehend In
dian character and the true position of
the settlers In an Indian country will
stand In with our own true representa-
lives. we equally believe: hut have they
the mental and moral lever-power to
move the scores of congressman and
senator's WHO are In the interest Of the
pseudo religious and fanatical masses
Df the east to aGop. laws and measures
Just to us? We confess our faith in
their efficiency against the tide IL
trembling faith. Nesmith. from Ore
ron. will do his duty upon this uues-
lion we are assured. and will make Is a
speciality. What attention the two
senator's from Oregon may do In the
premises we can not premise Neither
Of them possess predominant knowl-
edge of Indian character. though many
years on this coast. That they may be
counted against the peace policy. we
think 10 certain. The same Is true of
California senators and representatives
and the delegates from the western ter
ritories: but all together they are few
IN numbers. and each and all have
other and numerous objects to attain for
their constituencies. which will absorb
most Of their ttmea nd attention. The
present II the FIRST period In the history
ofsour government when the religious
reefs have been permitted to exercise
any direct control Of the affairs Of
state. Now they have the helm OF at
Eairs IN the Indian bureau. They have
assured the frontier that the white man
70 the asgressor and the Indian the
only one who has been outraged. Upon
this theory they have assumed control
1t the Indian department. OF the sov.
esnment. Upont His theory they are
determined to conduct Indian affairs.
The leverage power they possess in
many Of the older states over the vot-
ms masses ~ the east 10 20 immense
Nat eastern congressman dare not re-
list It, much less attempt to ignore Il,
though they may be fully convinced
lhet the present Indian peace policy 10
'An3aactelM, faiiacious in.every re-
Dpect. mainly founded upon conceptions
of Indian character and habits deduced
rom the dead Of romance. Al read by
HE masses Who perhaps never saw a.
Indian. The great blunder was made
when the churches. a. such. were called
n by the government to take the tenn
poral charge Of the Indian bureau ana
dictate the policy to be pursued toward
The Indian. This call to exerciset en-
posai power inspired the churches with
new hopes and ambitions. such as they
before had never enjoyed in our gov