Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1911-10-20

lOtmentS In sew
crafty have just been completed. the
Indians have both irrigated lands for
dry farming; they have a village with
houses and barns and fen ces, and they
are happy and contented in their new
location.
Around these Pala Indians more
than any other tribe, perhaps, have
romantic interest and historic associa-
tons woven a web of sentiment and
human sympathy Readers OF "Ramo-
ma" Helen Hunt Jacksons romance OF
the early days after the Gringoes
came. have shed many a tear over the
beautiful maiden whose heritage from
the handsome Scotch trader and the
Indian mother was one OF sorrow and
misfortune, and over the mad passion
and tragic death of the indian. Ales-
sandro of Temecula, son of Pablo
Assis, captain of the shearing band"
whose men were the best shearers IN
the country"
Mrs Jackson's novel painted with
equal fervor the charms OF the coun-
try we won from Mexico and the un-
happy lot of the Indians, who. despite
their weaknesses. possessed many ad-
mirable qualities and who survived
wrongs, cruelties and mistortunes
which were almost too grievous for
endurance. 1t was due to Mrs. Jack
sons sympathetic pen that the pub
lie became aroused to the injustice
suffered by the Indians, and citizens
associations were formed to aid them
One of the serious difficulties under
which the Indians labored was the
lack of title to their homes, which
were included in the public lands and
so were subject to location by white
men; or else were owned by others
who could dispossess the Indians at
any time they might choose. This was
the case with the Pala Indians. long
known as the Warmers ranch Indians.
whom Mrs. Jackson visited in 1873 as
a commissioner. with Abbot Kinney.
to report on their condition to the
government. Already the condition OF
the Pala Indians. even then threat
ened with dispossession by the own
ers of the property. had attracted wide
interest. Their love for their homes.
which had been theirs for generations,
was pathetic, and the expected order
to move on" was not accompanied b5
any intimation as to where they might
be permitted to go and remain secure
from a similar order at any time
some one might covet their abiding
place.
The report rendered by Mrs. Jack
son and Abbot Kinney to the interior
department and now to be found by
anyone interested in the miscellaneous
papers on file in the indian office. Is
an interesting human document. not
only because of its literary flavor and
the information 1t conveys about the
Indians. but also because 1t gives
abundant evidence of painstaking
and conscientious investigation. 1t
seems apparent from the report that
these Indians are the same ones Mrs
Jackson had in mind when she wrote
Ramona" In the report she refers TO
a young Indian called Alessandro. who
well might have been the original
character of the same name whose
love for Ramona is portrayed so pa
thetically In the novel In the Official
report, referring to land rights and
titles, Alessandro is introduced as
proud husbandman.
What the official reports by author
lied agents of the government show
about the treatment of this people
should make the white men blush with
shame. These reports tell OF down.
trodden and mistreated race who, In
the main, suffered with fortttude not
unmixed with pagan stoicism the Ills
which they had not earned as well as
those which may justly have been
melted out to them by fate. They were
driven hither and thither. oppressed.
imprisoned, even killed, and they had
no redress. for the word OF an Indian
was not regarded as evidence in a
| court of law But 1t may prove OF some
small comfort to know that the worst
| crimes against California indians
were committed while they were still
| the wards of Mexico. although that
| country meant well by them and
| probably could not help 1t that covet-
GUS agents despoiled their charges
In a few instances there have been
| slight Instructions among them and
threatenings of retaliations, but in
| the main their history has been one
| of almost incredible long suffering