| Show THE GREAT INDIAN SCARE the recently developed religious movement among the indians indiana is in I 1 reducing cing innumerable absurd phases and effects the statements regarding it il in general and in detail are so conflicting that it ie difficult to reach anything like a reliable hea i lea of the truth in relation to the the contradictions embodied in the reports are not only contained in assertions of diffie different rent individuals but in numerous in 1 stances the disparity exists between statements purporting to come from the same person the wildest juniors rumors as to apprehended indian revolts is the result of all this commotion the agitation seeming to be more pronounced among the whites than among the red men prom from different points comes the sensational rumor it is reported that the indians indiana are arming etc followed by other dispatches to the t fleet effect that all Is peaceful and there la Is inn no danger of an uprising ff etc from the same localities the lest best course to be pursued under the circumstances is to remove existing causes for revolt and be careful not to multiply other sources ot irritation we are afraid that the reverse f this ibis humane policy is being pursued instead of making an honest inq inquiry u try into the abuses to which the indians indiana have been subjected and seeking to rectify them a new cause of dissatisfaction to ta the red men to is being pushed upon them menacing them by pushing united states troops into the territory occupied by them it to is hoped that this will have the effect of overawe ing them into continuous sion aion but it might occur that it will enrage them beyond the bounds of prudence and precipitate an u uprising p the process of working upon the fears beara of the savages is a mistaken one it to is not educational and therefore must necessarily fall fail the rho only true and humane policy lei is that which wis was inaugurated and insisted upon by the late governor brigham young who maintained that there was much more profit as well as humanity in feeding than there was in fighting the indians an impartial history of the wars ware between the white and red men in this country would show that many perhaps the majority of them have been initiated by the predominant and civilized race one man is represented as suggesting that before active steps are taken against the indians in tho the present sensational phase of the question it will be the better plan to wait till they commit some act of violence it appears that the people of mandan dakota are anxious to take the initiative and have announced that after a certain date every indian found off the reservation who has not a written permit from the agent to absent himself from it will be shot down by indignant patriots this is monstrous suppose that a number of indian Indians i should go off the reservation be found away from it and be shot down what would be the probable result simply that the red men would not know any better than their white murderers and retaliate thee the retaliation would be designated and treated as an indian uprising and the troops would be precipitated upon the unfortunate savages in such matters it is sometimes pertinent to ask the question I 1 how would you like it yourself for instance if the indians should pass a resolution that on and after a given date every white man found on the reservation without a written permit from the agent should be shot down how would the position be viewed it would be deemed sufficient cause to have troops stationed in close proximity for the protection of the guileless gu whites A nd shou id the bloody be carried out spinet against the intruders upon the reservation the murderous act would he regarded and treated as an u uprising ng of indians and they would be slaughtered by wholesale according to the most approved processes of civilization all for acting upon a proposition already defined as a determination toward them of their white brethren Im signing white men who are anxious to precipitate an uprising should be the objects of governmental solicitude at least equally as much as the indians it is asserted in the telegrams that there is an intention to stop certain religious ceremonies or orgies to in which the indians are said to be indulging in the mountains it appears that that these peculiar rites are in unison with the tutored untutored condition of the savages it may wem aeu be asked whether they have not as much right to religious liberty iu their crude way as people more advanced in intelligence and civilize tion have to enjoy undisturbed their more refined methods so 81 long as the former do nothing that to is illegal or that interferes with the rights of others it seems that to compel them to desist would not be according to the genius of american institutions even if the victims be bend indians ians they at least come under the broad expression of equality couched iu the words all men some people are not willing however that the indians should be classified as human if this compulsion is resorted to it will doubtless furnish another cause for dissatisfaction and lead to the very condition it is desirable to prevent suppose the indians believe alieve a messiah will come to deliver them from what they regard as the op pres cruelties cruel ties and treachery of the white denare not the christians in a parallel situation the latter are proclaiming everywhere the coming of the true messiah and that OHis brightness wilt will consume the wicked when he shall appear suppose the I 1 indians were sufficiently 0 powerful to attempt to break do down w n the churches and moe meetings of the men who have taught them about a messiah because it was not to their interest to have an opposition deliverer set up how would that situation be re regarded gardel by the christians christiana they would hardly look upon it as being in harmony with the common rights of man to worship as him best bo long as he be makes no upon established and organized society some of the newspapers have caught u general miles absurd expression of opinion regarding the religious movement and have enunciated a belief that the mor mons mens are at the bottom of it other journals denounce such a view as ridiculous and unjust we have already shown the utter falsity of any such claim A moemon Mow non that would personate the messiah would commit in the eyes of his bis co religionists one of the worst acts of sacrilege that could be b imagined and would be excommunicated from the community without delay the fact is that if the government and the people of this nation generally had bad pursued toward coward the indians indiana the same policy as have the mor mons there would oe be no indian queR question tion agitating the country today unless it might be in relation to the adoption of measures mea cures for their advancement aud and the amelioration of their condition As samples sample swe we may consistently point to the indian farm of Washa klein ein box elder county where a num number berof of indians are living jiving under mormon supervision they conduct a farm on the operative cooperative co plan and live in houses being instructed in the civilized methods of cultivate cultivating dg the soil the same maybe may be said regarding the indian settlement at thistle san peto pete county where a number dumber of the red people are making advancement in the arts of civilization every effort made by the imor mormon people in their contact with the indians has been in the direction of peace and progress many of their settle ments are on the borders of the indian country and an indian war would probably be as disastrous to them as to any citizens in the entire west they have as much it not more anxiety than any other people for the maintenance of pacific relations between the white and red men the irritating conditions that are being precipitated precipitator upon the indians are much to be regretted as they are liable to cause the very condition it is claimed they are intended to pre prevent |
