"When you refused to till the ground, you did well, for it was not in
your nature--the nature of man cannot be changed like that of a moth.
Yet, at that time, you understood well the means which give power to a
great people. Wealth alone can maintain the superiority that bravery has
asserted. Wealth and bravery make strength--strength which nothing can
break down, except the great Master of Life.
"The Shoshones knew this a long time ago; they are brave, but they have
no wealth; and if they still keep their superiority, it is because their
enemies are at this time awed by the strength and the cunning of their
warriors. But the Shoshones, to keep their ground, will some day be
obliged to sleep always on their borders, to repel their enemies. They
will be too busy to fish and to hunt. Their squaws and children will
starve! Even now the evil has begun. What hunting and what fishing have
you had this last year? None! As soon as the braves had arrived at their
hunting-ground, they were obliged to return back to defend their squaws
and to punish their enemies.
"Now, why should not the Shoshones put themselves at once above the
reach of such chances? why should they not get rich? They object to
planting grain and tobacco. They do well, as other people can do that
for them; but there are many other means of getting strength and wealth.
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