The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-29
JUSTICE FoR THE RED NAN.
An indian Asks the Americans to Give
the Yakimas Their nights.
From Letter ,orafsn 5v oA,.t wHd rioson
Of hs konfask Tribe

Wv Aenkm1u - hStE AhUutss
From q isnsr rraten 5v ohist wfh riossn
Of ne konfask tribe.
When all OF our minds are busy
with thoughts OF making the world
safe for democracy, ana stif-determi-
nation for races held in tutelase 10 the
fashion and tendency OF the moment,
this plea for Justice by the Indians Of
the Yakima tribe IN the state Of WASH
inGton makes one feel that the Ameri-
can household hath need OF that charity
which begins at home.
To one who has known OF the high
principles Of right, Justice and fair play
that have sver Characterised Chief Men,
mick Of the Yakima Indians In his deal
inss with the white race this trouble
over the salmon fishing seems almost
as bad as the invasion Of Belgium BY
the Germans These troubles. whore the
treaties made by tho nation with the
Americans Of the Americans are only
looked upon a. scraps Of paper" place
tho American people in q different pod-
ton especially when by man made laws
they assume rights over God made wa
tiers and interpret by court decisions
that the treaty phrase at all accus-
toned places" means that the red man
may fsh only where the white man is
permitted 70 Ash and that the red man
10 to have no privileges not enjoyed
by the white man.
Need say that by cunning devices
Of law for patents, royalties. copyrights.
&C.. the paleface reserves 70 himself
and his future generations the right
and privilege to enjoy the fruit OF his
brain, muscle and thousht7 Why should
1t be considered, then, n crime whom
my people. forced by numbers over
powerihg to give UP their broad and
rich lands for 90 little. reserve for
themselves and their descendants the
simple right Of taking a few fish from
their own streams or killing q few deer
in their own forests, not to satisfy q
commercial taste but to appease the
appetite not acquired to-day but es-
tablished by habit Of living before the
white man Gamer
In the treaty with the nation in 1859
these people thought these reserved
rights were protected. They had 30
learned II from their fathers. and al
though an Indian IL not born with q
feather between his fingers to record
things. he rarely makes q mistake in
tho Interpretation of his own laws. II
Il were so made that It does not speak
Of this reservation. and they claim that
II was understood that II did. then Il
10 only another case Of the slick dipio-
macy which characterised some Of the
acts Of former days. for which every
true American Is forced TO bow his
head in shame.
The white race think OF the Indian
az an incompetent child. Then Is II not
IL disgrace to the American people TO
wrong one Of these little ones, and
should not the milestone OF American
Indignation grind TO powder those who
try to hide behind any law to defraud
the Indian OF any right or privilege by
4 false Interpretation Of the law?
II was faith in the Justice Of the
American people for the oppressed peo-
pie Of the world that made 10000 OF
our indian boys willing to 20 to France.
I believe tina. the Great White Father
In Washington will meet his red chill
drsn In the same spirit that made him
give utterance to that famous thought
70 '.mako the world safe for democracy"
with Arm belief that "1ustice without
discrimination will be melted out to ALL"
and with 4 love OF this American land
Inherited from fathers and forefathers
for the preservation Of Americas future
honor and glory there will never be
lacking q man while there In reserved
ono drop Of Indian blood In the descend
ants Of the first sons Of America.
LITTLE NECK, L l., August Is.