Page:A Century of Dishonor.pdf/142

124 in Idaho is the contest between the Catholic and Protestant churches. This strife is a great detriment to the Indians. To illustrate this, they quote Chief Joseph's reason for not wishing schools on his reservation. He was the chief of the non-treaty band of Nez Percés occupying the Wallowa Valley, in Oregon:

“Do you want schools and school-houses on the Wallowa Reservation?” asked the commissioners.

Joseph. “No, we do not want schools or school-houses on the Wallowa Reservation.”

Com. “Why do you not want schools?”

Joseph. “They will teach us to have churches.”

Com. “Do you not want churches?”

Joseph. “No, we do not want churches.”

Com. “Why do you not want churches?”

Joseph. “They will teach us to quarrel about God, as the Catholics and Protestants do on the Nez Percé Reservation, and at other places. We do not want to learn that. We may quarrel with men sometimes about things on this earth, but we never quarrel about God. We do not want to learn that.”

Great excitement prevailed among the settlers in Oregon at the cession of the Wallowa Valley to the Indians. The presence of United States soldiers prevented any outbreak; but the resentment of the whites was very strong, and threats were openly made that the Indians should not be permitted to occupy it; and in 1875 the Commissioner of Indian Affairs writes:

“The settlements made in the Wallowa Valley, which has for years been the pasture-ground of the large herds of horses owned by Joseph's band, will occasion more or less trouble between this band and the whites, until Joseph is induced or compelled to settle on his reservation.”

It is only two years since this valley was set apart by Executive order for the use and occupation of these Indians; already