The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-05-13

been the subject Of innumerable nara
tives. It's story is familiar to every
school child in the Northwest. Too much
cannot be said, however, of the remark
able man who proved himself so capable
a leader, and of whom General Nelson A.
Miles nee said: He is the whiteSt In
dian I ever knew"
Cause of NeZ Perez Uprising
After the Civil war, Grant and Sher-
man were the military dictators Of the
United States. These two dignitaries had
become the idols of the north, in con-
sideration of their salient victories which
had brought the recent war to a close.
There word was law in military circles.
And, today, in the northwest, the ques-
ton arises as often before it has: Did
these officials exercise their power to the
very best advantage in treating with the
Indian tribes? The story Of the rebellion
of Chief Joseph against the conhscation
of the lands of the Nez Perces by Cen
eral Grant; the story of the reputation
by General Sherman OF the terms MADE
by General Miles to Chief Joseph, fol-
lowing the latter's surrender at the Bat
tie of the Bear Paws, would indicate hat
these men might have abused their
power.
The white race, and more especially
those who were living in Montana at the
time of the Nez Perez uprising, are in
clined to blame Chief Joseph for the
bloody war which he waged against the
SeJJlerS OF montana III 1911. AS d LldI~
ter of fact, however, Joseph was fighting
for a principle-an ideal which was as
sound as any patriotic principle which
ever inspired a soldier Of the United
States.
Nez Perces a Superior Tribe
From the time of Lewis and Clark, up
to the days when the government began
to play a fast and loose game with the
Nez Perez nation, that tribe had always
been aun friends Of the white peo-
pie. The Nez Perces were a superior race
of aborigineS. They were devoted to
peace and we're praised by every explorer
M settler III has passed over the Ore
gon Trail, as well as by the early mis-
sionaries, Fathers DeSmet and Ravalli
and Marcus Whitman.
The story of the Nez Perces was much
similar to that Of the FlatheadS (Sa-
leeshes). Just as General Garfield had
miSrepreSented to the government his
negotiations with the Bitter Root valley
Indians, claiming that Chief Chariot had
the rights OF the SaleeSheS
to that valley, when he had not. Early
day commissioners sent out to treat with
the NeZ PerceS made a treaty with sub
chiefs n head men who did not by any
means represent the entire nation.
1t was this plan Of pursuing the course
of least resistence-a plan too much in
vogue by commissioners endeavoring 70
make a name for themselves in those
days-that was the direct aus Of the
NGH EeIC6 uprising. n group O1 SUI
chiefs were cajoled into signing away
the rights of the entire Nez Perez nation
and when the matter was reported tc
the tribe, the greater portion Of the
tribesmen resented it bitterly.
Broken Promises
Governor Isaac N. Stevens of Washing
ton territory negotiated the first treaty
with the Nez PerceS in 1855. 1t was {
liberal treaty confirming the rights o.
the Indian nation to hunting grounds
in Idaho, Washington and Oregon. 4
second treaty was made in 1868. BY thil
agreement, the fertile valleys Of the Wal
Iowa and Imnaha were re~linquished b!
the Indians. The valleys in question
were occupied by a tribe Of the Ne,
Perez nation of which Joseph 1. wa
chief. as had been his father before him
Old Joseph and his followers who wer
the ones who shOuld have been consult
ed, refused to recognize the treaty. The,
were the original owners Of the a n
The government held that the agreemen
with the whole nation was binding Of
the old warrior leader held that the In
dians not under him and not residing il
the valleys which the treaty coded to tn
United States had no right to sign ava
the rights of his people.
Chief Joseph
Chief Joseph is represented as being
royal blooded Indian, whose forebeaI
had held high place in the unc c
his nation, for many generations. tn
dissatisfied Indians rallied around hin
The a that had been clandestinel