Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County, Texas. Page: 142 of 1,110
vii, 9-1011 p. incl. ill., ports. : ports. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this book.
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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
"In discussing the character of the Indian,
writers have been too prone to inindulge
in vulgar prejudice and passionate
exaggeration, instead of the candid temper of
true philosophy. They have not sufficiently
considered the peculiar circumstances in
which the Indians have been placed, and the
peculiar principles under which they have
been educated.
"In general, no being acts more rigidly
from rule than the Indian. His whole conduct
is regulated according to some general
maxims early implanted in his mind. The
moral laws that govern him are, to be sure,
but few; but then he conforms to them all.
The white man abounds in laws of religion,
morals and manners, but how many does he
violate."
"c It is claimed by many that the Indian had
no civil rights here in this country; that he
must be treated as a brute; that such is his
nature that he could not be treated otherwise;
that with all the kind treatment given him
the more traitorous and ungrateful he would
become. Just such ideas were also entertained
by some historians concerning the
Mexicans; but the writer is glad to state, at
a time when but little was known of the better
class of the population of our noble sister
country, that a kinder and a more affectionate
heart could not be found than that possessed
by some of the crude, rough Indians,-yes,
such as were found in this section, now Dallas
county. When he would find you his
friend his devotion was remarkable. The
following touching words, once spoken by an
Indian chief, strikingly exhibit this remarkable
trait of character, found in the heart of
almost all these Indians.
"(I appeal to any white man if ever he entered
Logan's cabin hungry and he gave him
not to eat; if ever he came cold and naked
and he clothed him not." Of course the
wild, savage Indians were exceptions. Still
the Indian race is like the colored race: the
characteristics possessed by one tribe or class
is possessed by all. Education ameliorates
and civilizes to a certain extent, but does
not change the characteristics peculiarly implanted
in them by Divinity.
TREATMENT OF THE INDIAN.
The rights of the Indian have been very
little regarded and properly esteemed or appreciated
by the white man in any section or
country. He has been taken advantage of
in peace, and by stratagem has been the
'; dupe of artful traffic," and his life or death
has been regarded as that of a brute, of minor
importance. The prejudice which existed in
the primeval days among the pioneers exist
to a certain extent at the present time; but,
much to the credit of certain philanthrophic
societies throughout the country at present,
they have endeavored to ascertain the true
characteristics and inward life of the different
Indian tribes. Well has it been said and
much to the honor not only of our county
and State governments, but also of our national
government, that the American government
has been indefatigable in its exertions
to meliorate the situation of the Indians, and
to introduce among them the art of civilization
and civic and religious knowledge.
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Lewis Publishing Company. Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County, Texas., book, 1892; Chicago, Illinois. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth20932/m1/142/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dallas Public Library.