What is best to do with the Indians? and
what will be their final destiny? are questions which have agitated the minds
of our statemen, and thinking men for years.
One thing is certain, they are here in
our midst. They were found on this land when Columbus discovered America. They
were the rightful owners of the soil so far as man can acquire a right to the
soil. This right has been recognized by our general government, in the fact
that the government have purchased from the Indians large scopes of the
country, from time to time, until the white man has obtained, what he pretends
to claim a legal ownership and possession of, almost the entire area of the
United States. But one remarkable peculiarity in this whole affair is, that the
Indians have retained small reservations here and there, in almost every state and
territory in the Union. This had to be in order to fulfill prophecy, of which
will be spoken further on.
The means employed and the policy
pursued by the whites, which induced the Indian to finally consent to sell his
land, may be worthy of a passing notice.
Generally the purchases have been made
after the whites have made encroachments upon the Indians’ land, and made up their
mind to have it at all hazzard. These professed purchases have one feature
about them differing from purchases made from other nations, in this, that the
whites usually set their own price, and dictate the terms of sale, and influences
are brought to bear that the Indian feels compelled to yield, but in several
instances would not give possession until compelled to do so by force of arms.
In a word, they have been driven back,
and from place to place, until they are reduced to a very small number, having
but small reservations, altogether insufficient to furnish game for their
support, and some of them are in an actual state of starvation. The whole
country is filled with villages and cities from the Atlantic to the Pacific;
and the entire land traversed by railroads form the north to the south, and
from the east to the west, and the poor Indian, it is thought by some, will
become exterminated
Those who anticipate such a fate to
befall the red mall will be sadly disappointed; for a wonderful destiny yet
awaits the Indian. He will become an important factor in the overthrow of this
great and mighty nation.
There are many elements at work to
bring about the destruction of our beloved country; among which are the many
secret combinations and trusts which are forming all over our land. The intense
feeling, and it may be said hatred, that is being engendered and cultivated,
between the laboring classes and the capitalists of our country, are assuming
dangerous proportions, although at the present, there seems to be a lull in the
storm. Possibly this apparent calm may be partially owing to the advice which
appeared in the public prints some time since, advising the Brotherhood to keep
quiet, and carefully refrain from any overt act for at least two years yet, but
to continue their organizations, and increase their numbers as such as
possible, so that when they do strike, it will be effectual. (“The
American Indian. The Lord’s Battle-Axe,” The Return 2, no. 8 [August
1890]: [318])