The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-04-06

nGlplSSS DGIOTS tOSdL Nho-
elimination and willy individuals.
Where is our national Christian
conscience? Are we suffering from
spiritual hemorrhage?
The policy was to have declared
an Indian no longer an Indian and
to abandon him completely as far as
our national government is con-
cerned.
CANNOT COMPROMISE
THESE ISSUES
This is not a party political ques-
ton but spiritual, economic, legal,
social and moral national responsible
ity that is the issue. A higher right
eousness must be demonstrated here.
We cannot compromise these legal,
social and moral issues.
We should always remember that
at the time of these treaties our gov
eminent gave the Indian nothing;
the Indians gave our government mil
lions of acres of fertile lands, for
ests. water power sites, grazing lands
and minerals and reserved to them
selves their small reservations. In
other words, the treaties and con-
tracts were not grant of rights
to the Indians but a grant of rights
from them to all the people of our
government.
Those confiscation bills, by your
aid and with the aid of host of your
friends, in and out of Congress, who
were concerned with the Indian AT
fairs knowing your rights, were de-
feated. Your officers of your Con-
gress did yeoman services for you
there, as well as The Indian Rights
Association, the Association of In
dian Affairs, and The Friends Com
mittee on Legislation.
However, now, my friends, some
thing new has been added-the by
dro-headed monster is ever alert to
wrest the riches of your lands from
you. The fight is still on. Now it IS
by regulation, the semi-Forced Fee
Patent game tried once before and
which created a national scandal.
Congress then, at that time, ordered
the Secretary of Interior to cancel
all issued patents unless third parties
could prove they were innocent pur-
chasers. Now also we have the re-
location blitz. Anything to get you
off your lands that some other in
terests can take over. In my opinion
it's just another way of reaching the
same result as termination. | do not |
believe that the states concerned real
ize the full significance of this move.
"BE ALERT" TO "THIS
NEW APPROACH"
l would advise that each of you
and collectively, as all
American Indians, be alert to the i'm
plications of this new approach by |
regulation and insist on congressional
action to establish policy so that we
may live under the rule of law and
not the rule of men. You well know
that Omitted you will prevail, divided
you will fall" for "In union, there is
strength" | am sure your legal and
economic advisors will point the way
to a proper, just, and legal solution
TO your present problems. Stick to-
gether. Make every sacrifice to keep
your lands. Keep faith in yourself,
n each other, and in your friends
md officers.
We should all remember that we
are dealing here with struggling,
developing race. All Indians can
and will in time reach the goal. J
Here the higher moral law should
apply with striking force. Let us s
all see to it that the solemn treaty
and contract obligations of our
government are honorably, fully, !
and honestly fulfilled. Surely no I
thinking-person, as a citizen of {
this country, would vote for or be {
a party to the dishonoring of our :
treaties and contracts. Some coun- ,
tries have been charged with so
doing. am sure, if fully under
stood, ours never will. l would adj
wise you to make every preparation
for a final determination in this