As another Lame Cherry exclusive in matter anti matter.
There is always the charge that the American Indian was abused by whites and slaughtered by the military. I place here an example of the Rogue River Indians.
The northwestern Indians were like all aboriginals in feigning friendship when outnumbered and murdering white people when outnumbering them. They were murderous at times and at other times friendly.
They were induced to reservations after an outbreak and there were the problems of governmental lack in starving Indians and Indians not willing to give up their wild natures.
The Rogue River band destroyed everything they had when a member of the tribe died, so they were always poor. They had medicine doctors who were all frauds and extorted property from sick people, and then fled to the military when the patient died and the families were outraged.
One such woman did this to a notable Indian, and the Indians caught her on the fort ground and killed her.
The military could not allow such a thing as it would spread and cause problems.
Lt. Phil Sheridan was sent to bring in the 16 killers, and in the process of being alone, had his gun stolen from him, and almost killed himself, as he was laughed out of the village.
The commander knew this could not stand, so more forces were sent in, the chief captured, and a parlay took place at the site of the Indian ambush laid for the troops, in which the Indians desired to have one of their worthless bucks shot while the others ran to the side.
This was accomplished, the wounded Indian taken to the fort with the 16, and Sheridan got his six gun back.
The Indians were put into chains at hard labor to break them, and this is what Sheridan found for his efforts later:
The punishment of these sixteen Indians by ball and chain ended all trouble with the Rogue River tribe. The disturbances arising from the incantations of the doctors and doctresses, and the practice of killing horses and burning all worldly property on the graves of those who died, were completely suppressed, and we made with little effort a great stride toward the civilization of these crude and superstitious people, for they now began to recognize the power of the Government. In their management afterward a course of justice and mild force was adopted, and unvaryingly applied. They were compelled to cultivate their land, to attend church, and to send their children to school.
When I saw them, fifteen years later, transformed into industrious and substantial farmers, with neat houses, fine cattle, wagons and horses, carrying their grain , eggs , and butter to market and bringing home flour, coffee, sugar, and calico in return, I found abundant confirmation of my early opinion that the most effectual measures for lifting them from a state of barbarism would be a practical supervision at the outset, coupled with a firm control and mild discipline.
Personal Memoirs of P. H. Sheridan, General, United States Army
The Rogue River Indians transformed when they had a mind to with direction. They were educated, Christianized and made farmers to take care of themselves and were productive.
This was all done under government supervision as was a success.
There was not an Indian tribe in America, which was not offered and afforded the same access to education, Christianity and implements to farm with homes built. It was the Indians who refused to advance because they refused to advance. When the Rogue River Indians could transform in 15 years, it is a reality that those Indians still on vast reservations could have and should have advanced.
This certainly is the case with the huge sums the BIA still deposits on Indians yearly. Welfare whether on Wall Street, asphalt street or BIA lands does nothing for the human condition.
People need to be protected in their work, and rewarded in their work and not enabled or rewarded for not advancing themselves.
agtG
