6
THE
CHEMAWA
AM ERICAN
here in Missoula, of the failure of the attempts at suppression and we
might present the reasons, as they appear to us, for this failure. We
might quote Judge Bourquin in connection with the use of stool-pigeons
by the men who are working, ostensibly, toward bringing about this
suppression.
But the paragraphs of the Sells letter which we have quoted stand out
so conspicuously from all the rest, that they seem to us to have a broad
bearing upon the general question of personal responsibility. And
this is a great question in itself.
Commissioner Sells might, with propriety, have ommitted the word,
Indian, from the first quoted paragraph. All that he alleges in connec
tion with the mixture of whiskey and Indian might have been said with
equal truth regarding the results of the consumption of whiskey by any
man, no matter what the color of his skin. And his plea to save the In
dian from the curse of whiskey might, with equal propriety, have been
made as to the sax ing of every man and women, of every race and creed,
from this very evil.
Commissioner Sells declares that, with the responsibility of his official
oath upon him, he would not touch a drop of any intoxicating liquor.
This is a responsibility which should be realized by every person in
authority, no matter who he is or where he is. The father cannot
reasonably preach to his son against the use of liquor, if he himself
drinks it. The employer cannot in fairness forbid his employe the
drink of whiskey which he himself takes.
Each man is his brother’s keeper—each man knows in his heart that
he is. He may haltingly ask the question, but he knows the answer
before he speaks the words. He knows that he is the Big Brother to
every weaker one than he. This principle wss established when Cain
was driven into the wilderness, banished for his crime—but more for
his cowardly evasion. Recognition of this principle is a belief in every
man’s heart, no matter how zealiously he may strive to disavow it.
The whole country is better for this letter of Commissioner Sells. It
contains much excellent advice for the people in the Indian department,
but—more than that—it carries a sermon to every man in every station.
It is another answer, specially well put, to the ancient question, “ Am
I my brother’s keeper?”
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