The Spartans of the West 53 



Catlin's summary of the race is thus: 



"The North American Indian, in his native state, is an honest, 

 hospitable, faithful, brave; warlike, cruel, revengeful, relent- 

 less — yet honorable — contemplative and religious being." 

 (Vol. I., p. 8.) 



Omitting here what he gives elsewhere, that the Redman 

 is clean, virtuous, of splendid physique, a master of wood- 

 craft, and that to many of his best representatives, the 

 above evil adjectives do not apply. 



Bishop Whipple thus sums up the wild Indian, after 

 intimate knowledge, during a Ufetime of associations, 

 ("Century of Dishonor," Jackson; p. VII.): 



"The North American Indian is the noblest type of a heathen 

 man on the earth. He recognizes a Great Spirit ; he believes in 

 immortality; he has a quick intellect; he is a clear thinker; he is 

 brave and fearless, and, until betrayed, he is true to his plighted 

 faith; he has a passionate love for his children, and counts it a 

 joy to die for his p>eople. Our most terrible wars have been with 

 the noblest types of the Indians and with men who had been the 

 white man's friends. Nicolet said the Sioux were the finest type 

 of wild men he had ever seen. " 



Why, then, has he so long been caluminated? "Be- 

 cause," explains the Bishop, "Ahab never speaks kindly of 

 Naboth whom he has robbed of his vineyard. It soothes 

 conscience to cast mud on the character of the one whom 

 we have wronged. " 



When General Crook, after he had crushed, and enabled 

 the nation to plunder the Apaches, was ordered to the 

 northward on a similar expedition against the Sioux, a 

 friend said to him, "It is hard to go on such a campaign," 

 the General repUed, "Yes, it is hard; but, sir, the hardest 

 thing is to go and fight those whom you know are in the 

 right. " (" Century of Dishonor, " p. VI.) 



