Page 196 - Confronting Race Women and Indians on the Frontier, 1815 - 1915

C H APTER FIVE

These two men's adventures were not unusual. Male contact with
Indians f a iled to f o ster communication between Indians and whites and
to bring native and white men closer in understanding. Consequently,
white men seldom experienced changes in their attitudes toward
American Indians. Usually committed f r om the inception of their migra­
tion to an adversarial position toward Indians, most men had neither
motivation nor opportunity to get to know Indians or develop sympa­
thy f o r themY o Instead, they hung on to their beliefs that their colo­
nialist quest was noble and providential, even if it resulted in the death
of Native Americans.9! Had men changed their attitudes, it might have
undermined their effectiveness as invaders and takers of Indian home­
lands, and perhaps recast history.
Exceptions to pugnacious men did exist. One was Alonzo Delano,
who came to believe that white men caused nine-tenths of white-Indian
trouble.Yet he concluded that peaceful coexistence was impossible and
American Indians would "have to yield because of their obvious infe­
riority ."9 2 Another exception was Howard Egan, who fo und a "good"
Indian whom he took back to Salt Lake City as a friend and servant.93
Such men as missionaries, teachers, fu ndraisers f o r missions, explorers,
and religiously oriented individuals also expressed compassionate fe el­
ings, but they did not adopt these after contact with Indians. Rather,
they brought pro-Indian attitudes with them and continued to main­
tain them.94
Y e t other men went west claiming to have open minds toward
American Indians. One of these, Dr. Thomas White ofIndiana, was soon
disenchanted. After a fe w days' exposure to what he called "hateful
wretches," he said he had lost any pity that he had f o r Indians. "I used
to think the Emigrants at f a ult, but I know it is not the case," he
insistedY5 Another medical doctor, traveling on the plains in the 1860s,
indicated that the more he saw Indians the more he disliked them.
Having observed Omahas, Pawnees, and Sioux, he concluded that all
Indians were "filthy," "sneaking," and "treacherous." Having read an
acquaintance's description of an Indian council, he was convinced that
Indians thought themselves to be superior to whites. Although his evi­
dence was scanty and his "personal observation of their customs" was
biased, he advocated that the "tribes of the plains must be given a

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