Viewing page 50 of 485

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

citizenship, they say: "If the Government wishes to make us like white men, they should give us some of the considerations shown white men. We have asked but one thing, asked it by petitions having the name of nearly every man in the tribe and what heed has been paid to our voice." When the government wants us to do anything it promises much & we are to be white men. When we ask one favor, we are only Indians not worth heeding"  Others say: " We want no acres, if this man is to be our Agent, he is no friend. We had better leave the reservation. We are slaves here."

From careful observation I am led to believe that these Indians would accept allotment without difficulty if they were not so wrought up on account of the putting over them as their Agent the one man they seem to distrust with a strange unanimity. The excellent clerical qualifications of the incoming Agent do not appeal to the Indians; their feeling is based upon a long familiar acquaintance that gives the opposition the character of a family trouble, one of the most difficult troubles to control. That these Indians are over their wrongs and awaiting the result of the appeal of their appointed delegate, sent to Washington by money raised among themselves before the Inspector had left Lewiston. There is no doubt and it is sincerely to be hoped that the Government will make no mistake and force an issue which all would regret.

I leave the Agency at once, and go to the Eastern part of the reservation to be absent for an indefinite period. I shall not be within mail communication and cannot therefore report again for sometime.

Respectfully
[[signature]] Alice C. Fletcher [[/signature]]
Special Ind. Agt.