The Spartans of the West 17 



"Every human being born upon our continent, or who comes 

 here from any quarter of the world, whether savage or civilized, 

 can go to our courts for protection — except those who belong 

 to the tribes who once owned this country. The cannibal from 

 the islands of the Pacific, the worst criminals from Europe, 

 Asia or Africa, can appeal to the law and courts for their rights 

 of person and property — all save our native Indians, who, 

 above all, should be protected from wrong." (Century of 

 Dishonor, " title-page.) 



And this is the land whose Constitution grants equal 

 rights to all alike. This is the land that waxes virtuously 

 indignant when Russia expels or massacres Nihilists, Poles 

 or Jews. Have we not enough courage left to face the sim- 

 ple truth that every crime of despotism in Russia has been 

 more than doubled in atrocity by what has but recently 

 been done in America? Nihilists, Jews and Poles were 

 certainly breaking the law, usually plotting against the 

 Government, when attacked. Russia never used burnings 

 at the stake, as did the American unofficial Indian-kiUers. 

 And never did Russia turn batteries of machine-guns on 

 masses of men, women and children who were absolutely 

 quiet, xmarmed, helpless and submissive: who had indeed 

 thrown themselves on the mercy of the Government, and 

 were under its protection. 



Americans were roused to a fury of indignation by doubt- 

 tul newspaper accounts of Spanish misrule in Cuba. But 

 the atrocities so credited to Spain pale into insignificance 

 beside the mispeakable abominations proved against the 

 United States by records of its own officials in its dealings 

 with the native American race during the last hundred 

 years. 



There are many exceptions to this charge that the 

 Indian is cruel to his enemies, enough, almost, to justify a 

 complete rebuttal, and among these was none niore honor- 



