ment, the white settlers in the valley could be induced to leave it, others would come."

To all these statements Joseph replied that he "askod noth- ing of the President. He was able to take care of himself. He did not desirc Wallowa Valley subject him and his band to the will of, and dependenee on, another, and to laws not of their own making. He was dis posed to live peaceably. He and his band had suffered wrong rather than do wrong. slain by as a reservation, for that would Onc of their number was wickedly a white man during the last summer, but he would not avenge his death."

The serious and feeling manner in which he nttered these sentiments was impressive," the commissioners say, and they proceeded to reply to him that the President was not dis posed to deprive him of any just right, or govern him by his individual will, but mercly subject him to the same equal laws by which he himself as woll as all lis people were ruled,"

What does it mean when commissioners sent by the Presi dent to induce a band of Indians to go on a reservation to live, just and tell them that they shall be subjected nierely to the same ident and "all his people the explanation of their being so apparently enoruity of the lie that they leave it on official record, signed by their names in full? It is only explained, other things in the history of our aro only to be explaincd, by the habitual indifference, careless ness, and inattention with which qnestions relative to Indian allairs and legislation thereon are handled and disposed of, in whatever way seems easiest and shortest for the time being. The members of this commission knew perfectly well that the instant Joseph and his band moved on to the roservation they became subject to laws totally different from those by which on that reservation just and equal laws" by which the Pres- are ruled And still more, what is unaware of the as thousands of dealings with the Indians