430 INDIANS. 



CHAPTEE XLIV. 



CONCLUSION. 



THE plains Indian, while not so degraded as many other 

 tribes and people of this and the older continent, is as 

 thoroughly savage as any. His religion inculcates neither 

 obligation nor duty either to God or man. His education 

 teaches no morality. His social life is scarcely a re- 

 move from that of the beasts of the field. His idea of 

 right is the execution of his own will ; of wrong, the en- 

 forcement of another will in opposition to his. But, how- 

 ever savage he may be, it is worth while to reflect that 

 the ancestors of the most enlightened nations were at 

 some time in the world's history as savage as he is now. 



Our growth has been the slow development of ages 

 upon ages. It is hardly fair to expect him, even %ith 

 superior advantages, to change his nature in two or three 

 generations. He has, moreover, never had a fair chance. 

 His advantages, knowledge of and contact with civili- 

 sation, are rather apparent than real. 



The fur trade of North America has founded and 

 built up some of the most colossal fortunes in England, 

 France, and America. The larger portion of this trade 

 comes from the Indian. Its profits, even with the legiti- 

 mate traffic, were and still are enormous ; and, when ad- 

 vantage is taken of his passion for finery and fire water, 

 these already enormous profits are so far increased that 

 sharp arid unscrupulous competition is not to be wondered 

 at. The nature of the direct trade, the small capital re- 

 quired, and its position outside of the jurisdiction of the 



