Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-02-17

ment. They indicated preference fol
war.
Thereafter all attempts to hold the
Indians on the reservations were fu-
tile. Even the agency officials refused
to encourage the braves to stay 81
home.
1t Might Have Been Different
Had the rights Of the red man been
respected, had the miners and from
tiersmen been forced to stay out Cd
ment, how different might have been
history's storyl
The possession of land-the sover-
eighty Of his own country-iS vital to
man, whether he be red, white or other
color. He has the pride of possession,
the satisfied feeling Of independence
that is necessary to human well-being
In such secure condition race Is
more amenable to negotiation of prob
lens, more willing to treat for mutual
advantage and profit.
Had the United States insured the
sanctity of the Indians rights, no
doubt carefully nurtured herds of buf-
falo might still roam appropriate sec
tons Of the country between the yell
lowStone, the Black Hills and the Big
Horns. The mineral resources could
have been exploited on royalty to the
profit of the Indians and the miners
The Indians themselves might have
developed a personal interest In the
development Of their country, gradual
~ combining nomadic inclinations with
part-time fixed abodes and civilized
labor and planning. At the proper time,
there might have come living to-
gether Of Indians and whites, occupy
ing the country in equal citizenship
and opportunity, as was done q few
generations ago In the old Indian ter
ritory-now the eastern part Of Okla
hOma--where intermarriage has abb
Sorbed the five civilized tribes into
the general population to a major
extent.
Had such a situation been developed
through a sympathetic and under
standing relationship, and an honest
inclination on the part of both whites
and Indians 10 work together for
mutual benefit the story would have
been written differently.
At any rate, honest observance Of
treaties, enforced upon the adventur-
ing miner and frontiersman, would
Sam sought TO keep the faith Of
solemn obligations. That alone would
have held the Indians respect and
good will. He would have been more
amenable to negotiation of later prob
lens.
And frontier history would have
been far less bloodyl
Instead, the violation Of the Indian
country continued. Efforts Of the
troops to keep white men out OF for
hidden country soon turned TO pro-
lection of the invaders
The Indians, who had been more or
less divided as regards tribal unity
and intertribal relations, were con-
SoIidated by their resentment.
In fataIistic spirit they pooled their
forces and their battle skill for one |
great effort-a super-effort which |
their leaders no doubt realized was to !
be their last stand
Massacre Was Result
The result was the Custer massacre
IN June, 1876.
The cost to the red man was terrific. !
The Indians could not maintain a /
huge force IN concentration for long
of the supply problem. Once
hey had scattered to secure supplies,
,aking them off the primitive country
1t much effort, they were at the mercy
If the rowing bands Of troops that were
iure to follow.
Though it was the greatest, the
Custer massacre was not the last battle
VIII Tic 41Al1AeAAos 11At tAAC OlAoSCA A4S4ASt
vas the one in which, with victory
theirs, the Indians actually
ost their future sovereignty.
Once the supreme effort had been
made, the Indians were slowly but
forced to the reservations
nd to a life Of virtual Imprisonment
nd complete dependence upon gov
rnment bounty.
In restricted life the old nomadic
eneration pinned away. Great men
1ere Of that generation-men as great
S the cOnquerors of the world In
asst history. Many of them never
gain knew peace and contentment.
)4hers saw the inevitabiIity Of their
copies destiny, accepted the white
heir people to adapt themselves to a
In many OF It's aspects it was a
itfful transition.
The same story, except In detail,
pplied to the Indian tribes OF other
scti0ns Of America And for many
ecades the Indian population dwtn- !
led
Tt Is only Ia very recent years that :
new generation OF red men, born
, the new life and more adaptable h
changing ways, has begun TO bring o
bout an increase IN numbers of In .
It Is only IN recent years, too very I
cent, indSed-tha& the Indian has c
nallv attained a measure of tribal Z
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gezza@zz8 GR 1EsSSsm@ @aaasszs 81