Nelson A. Miles Quotes

• Step by step a powerful and enterprising race has driven them back from the Atlantic to the West until at last there is scarcely a spot of ground upon which the Indians have any certainty of maintaining a permanent abode.

  Nelson A. Miles

  Powerful, Race, Lasts

  Nelson A. Miles (1992). “Personal Recollections and Observations of General Nelson A. Miles, Embracing a Brief View of the Civil War, Or, From New England to the Golden Gate and the Story of His Indian Campaigns with Comments on the Exploration, Development, and Progress of Our Great Western Empire”, p.340, U of Nebraska Press

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• Our relations with the Indians have been governed chiefly by treaties and trade, or war and subjugation.

  Nelson A. Miles

  War, Subjugation, Relation

  Nelson A. Miles (1992). “Personal Recollections and Observations of General Nelson A. Miles, Embracing a Brief View of the Civil War, Or, From New England to the Golden Gate and the Story of His Indian Campaigns with Comments on the Exploration, Development, and Progress of Our Great Western Empire”, p.341, U of Nebraska Press

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• The Indians, however, could not migrate from one part of the United States to another; neither could they obtain employment as readily as white people, either upon or beyond the Indian reservations.

  Nelson A. Miles

  White, People, United States

  Nelson A. Miles (1985). “Nelson A. Miles: A Documentary Biography of His Military Career, 1861-1903”, Arthur H Clark

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• One hundred years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, the Spanish government issued a decree authorizing the enslavement of the American Indian as in accord with the law of God and man.

  Nelson A. Miles

  Men, Years, Law

  NELSON A. MILES (1911). “SERVING THE REPUBLIC”

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• A Christian people who have for two hundred years kept a race in bondage, deprived of the advantages of civilization and religion, owe them a debt of gratitude which it would seem ungenerous to withhold.

  Nelson A. Miles

  Christian, Gratitude, Race

  NELSON A. MILES (1911). “SERVING THE REPUBLIC”

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• To illustrate to the Indians the advantages the white race had in the telephone I divided a body of warriors from Sitting Bull's camp into two parties and had them talk to each other over the telephone line.

  Nelson A. Miles

  Party, Warrior, Race

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• The intrusions of the white race and the non- compliance with treaty obligations have been followed by atrocities that could alone satisfy a savage and revengeful spirit.

  Nelson A. Miles

  Race, White, Atrocities

  NELSON A. MILES (1911). “SERVING THE REPUBLIC”

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• It is unfair to suppose that one party has invariably acted rightly, and that the other is responsible for every wrong that has been committed.

  Nelson A. Miles

  Party, Unfair, Responsible

  Nelson A. Miles (1992). “Personal Recollections and Observations of General Nelson A. Miles, Embracing a Brief View of the Civil War, Or, From New England to the Golden Gate and the Story of His Indian Campaigns with Comments on the Exploration, Development, and Progress of Our Great Western Empire”, p.340, U of Nebraska Press

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• If we dismiss from our minds the prejudice we may have against the Indians we shall be able to more clearly understand the impulses that govern both races.

  Nelson A. Miles

  Race, Mind, Prejudice

  Nelson A. Miles (1992). “Personal Recollections and Observations of General Nelson A. Miles, Embracing a Brief View of the Civil War, Or, From New England to the Golden Gate and the Story of His Indian Campaigns with Comments on the Exploration, Development, and Progress of Our Great Western Empire”, p.339, U of Nebraska Press

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• The more we study the Indian's character the more we appreciate the marked distinction between the civilized being and the real savage.

  Nelson A. Miles

  Real, Character, Appreciate

  Nelson A. Miles (1992). “Personal Recollections and Observations of General Nelson A. Miles, Embracing a Brief View of the Civil War, Or, From New England to the Golden Gate and the Story of His Indian Campaigns with Comments on the Exploration, Development, and Progress of Our Great Western Empire”, p.340, U of Nebraska Press

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• For a time during the early settlement of this country peace and goodwill prevailed, only to be followed later by violent and relentless warfare.

  Nelson A. Miles

  Country, Warfare, Violent

  Nelson A. Miles (1992). “Personal Recollections and Observations of General Nelson A. Miles, Embracing a Brief View of the Civil War, Or, From New England to the Golden Gate and the Story of His Indian Campaigns with Comments on the Exploration, Development, and Progress of Our Great Western Empire”, p.341, U of Nebraska Press

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• If the graves of the thousands of victims who have fallen in the terrible wars of the two races had been placed in line the philanthropist might travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Lakes to the Gulf, and be constantly in sight of green mounds.

  Nelson A. Miles

  Travel, War, Lakes

  Nelson A. Miles (1992). “Personal Recollections and Observations of General Nelson A. Miles, Embracing a Brief View of the Civil War, Or, From New England to the Golden Gate and the Story of His Indian Campaigns with Comments on the Exploration, Development, and Progress of Our Great Western Empire”, p.339, U of Nebraska Press

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• The troops were occasionally occupied in pursuing scattered bands going north or south, and on three occasions the large camp of Sitting Bull ventured south of the Canadian border, and important expeditions were sent against them.

  Nelson A. Miles

  Important, Troops, Borders

  NELSON A. MILES (1911). “SERVING THE REPUBLIC”

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• On the contrary, if they are treated with justice and humanity, proper example and the advantages of education given them, the coming years will be as bright and prosperous to the unfortunate race as the past has been dark and painful.

  Nelson A. Miles

  Dark, Past, Race

  NELSON A. MILES (1911). “SERVING THE REPUBLIC”

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• The tide of immigration in Canada has not been as great as along our frontier. They have been able to allow the Indians to live as Indians, which we have not, and do not attempt to force upon them the customs which are distasteful to them.

  Nelson A. Miles

  Immigration, Able, Canada

  Nelson A. Miles (1992). “Personal Recollections and Observations of General Nelson A. Miles, Embracing a Brief View of the Civil War, Or, From New England to the Golden Gate and the Story of His Indian Campaigns with Comments on the Exploration, Development, and Progress of Our Great Western Empire”, p.345, U of Nebraska Press

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• These are hallowed moments, when every American has reason to express his gratitude to Almighty God that it has been our good fortune to witness the light of this auspicious morn.

  Nelson A. Miles

  Gratitude, Military, Light

  NELSON A. MILES (1911). “SERVING THE REPUBLIC”

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• Looking at the purpose of our government toward the Indians, we find that after subjugating them it has been our policy to collect the different tribes on reservations and support them at the expense of our people.

  Nelson A. Miles

  Government, People, Support

  Nelson A. Miles (1992). “Personal Recollections and Observations of General Nelson A. Miles, Embracing a Brief View of the Civil War, Or, From New England to the Golden Gate and the Story of His Indian Campaigns with Comments on the Exploration, Development, and Progress of Our Great Western Empire”, p.342, U of Nebraska Press

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• Whether or not our system of Indian management has been a success during the past ten, fifty, or hundred years is almost answered in the asking.

  Nelson A. Miles

  Past, Years, Asking

  Nelson A. Miles (1992). “Personal Recollections and Observations of General Nelson A. Miles, Embracing a Brief View of the Civil War, Or, From New England to the Golden Gate and the Story of His Indian Campaigns with Comments on the Exploration, Development, and Progress of Our Great Western Empire”, p.345, U of Nebraska Press

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