The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-21
wnnns or rRuTH.

Ex-Governor Fletcher, of Oregon. in a recent contribution to The Southern Workman, has some sound sentiments regarding the Indians and their treat ment by the goverhment-so sound. in short that wo offer no excuse for. making somewhat lengthy extract. He says:
 The red man should be taught self accept civilization than civilization is to accept him. Instead or providing him with a gun with which to hunt, give him an Implement with which to to him with Calling gun. Benevo- lence cannot be inserted into his heart with a bayonet. The policy of pur- chasing peace when he reVolts Dy in- some duty that has been neglected, betrays a weakness and acknowledge ment of guilt on the part of the au- shrewd enough @ to construe into fear. And titus. having extorted from the powers that be" an acknowledgement of his claims, he will not be slow in adopting the same method when he again thinks himself aggrleved. The proper course is clear: to see that no cause for complaint exists. When this policy Is honestly acted upon, should
 
 of rebellion, the government with be- coming grace can appeal to the law to enforce discipline and obedience. It Is folly to pay out millions every year lives when a much smaller expendf- ture for their education for few years would make them largely self If rn shs money tss tast sst tbras years in fighting the Indians had been spent Id establishing proper schoola. supplying them with horses ing ing out properly qualified men to in- struct them In the arts of agriculture and mechanics, at the same time giv- ing them to understand that they must support themselves. we would now have many tribes of loyal and compar- atively prosperous Indian people.
 There Is no doubting the fact that our government has pursued a most irrational policy towards the Indians. At one time it treats them as req sonable. intelligent human beings with whom it is proper to make treaties and contracts, and at another time they are treated as brutes who must be kept in subjection by force. That we have not always treated the mfairly, justly or politically is beyond dispute. That we have not always kept faith with them is equally true. If they resent a breach of faith we send soldiers to subdue them. If they fail to exactly carry out a treaty or agreement which they do not under stand, and which they would not have signed if they had understood 1t, then we send more soldiers to bring them to terms Then. to add to their just cause of complaint, the government sends agents and other officials who are either wholly incompetent or thoroughly dishonest.
 These are some of the reasons why there is forever trouble with our red wards The course indicated by MT. the Indian tribes a contented and self supporting people. The opposite course has fomented and kept up trouble and will continue to do so while any of the savage tribes are left. There are now among the Creeks, the Chero- kees. the Choctaws. chic%aws and Seminoles many who are As orderly, as self-reliant and as industrious citi- zens as can be found in the Union. They have become so under adverse circumstances, and because they have been better able to adapt themselves to those circumstances than some of the other tribes have. but as a general thing our treatment of those people has not been creditable to a great government.