Press and Propaganda

Changing Attitudes

Two days later, the Colonist suggested that all Natives should be sent away from Victoria to prevent the colonists from the dangers of smallpox. It did not speculate on how the Natives felt about the disease, but instead maintained that the smallpox was sent to punish the colonists for allowing Natives to stay so long.

28 April 1862, p. 2.

The Small-Pox Among the Indians

When it was first intimated that one or two cases of varioloid had made its appearance in this place, we predicted that if proper precautions were not taken at once to prevent the loathsome disease from spreading, the Indians on the Reserve would become infected and through them spread itself throughout the colony. We regret to say, that so far as the Indians are concerned, our prediction has been verified. It now remains to be seen whether prompt steps will be taken to confine the small-pox to the Chimseans. Some twenty deaths have already occurred in their village; and so far as we have learned every case has been fatal. In a few days more we shall probably hear still more gloomy accounts of the continued ravages of the disease. The other fragments of tribes on the Reserve will doubtless become infected, and thus the Reserve will be made one huge lazaar-house, in which its savage occupants will rot and die with the most revolting disease that ever afflicted the human race. Were it likely that the disease would only spread among the Indians, there might be those among us like our authorities who would rest undisturbed, content that the small-pox is a fit successor to the moral ulcer that has festered at our doors throughout the last four years. The chances are that the pestilence will spread among our white population, a fit judgment for their intolerable wickedness in allowing such a nest of filth and crime to accumulate within sight of their houses, and within the hearing of our church bells. There is nothing to prevent its spreading, except the savage superstition that instinctively leaves the diseased to suffer and die uncared for and alone. Beyond that one preventitive, there is not a solitary preventive measure. The Indians have free access to the town day and night. They line our streets, filling the pit in our theatre, are found at nearly every open door during the day and evening in the town; and are even employed as servants in our dwellings, and in the culinary departments of our restaurants and hotels. Even such as are employed as servants are in frequent communication with their friends, visiting the town or living on the Reserve. In addition, those who fall victim to the virus are buried near the surface and near the town where everybody walks out occasionally, and as a matter of course the effluvia at present, or a slight disturbance of the grave hereafter, may revive and spread the infection.

It requires no further comment to show what a terrible scourge we are nursing at our doors--tolerating in our very midst--a scourge that may strike down our best citizens at any moment, as a sacrifice--sacrificed to the lust, cupidity, and culpable negligence of our citizens, and our authorities. What is more, the reports of such a disease existing among the Indians in the vicinity of the town, is calculated to alarm immigrants, and not improbably have a tendence to keep them away. The most vigorous means, then, should be adopted to-day--should be adopted at once. The entire Indian population should be removed from the Reservation to a place remote from communication with the whites; whilst the infected houses with all their trumpery should be burned to ashes, and the graves of the dead covered so thoroughly as to make the escape of effluvia impossible. This duty and other regulations devolves on our citizens. It remains for them to act forthwith, so that families may be freed from alarm, and in order to let the news go forth that visitors are not exposed to contagion here. No half-way measures can be tolerated with safety; nor no whining about Indian trade can be allowed to interfere with the purification of the Reserve. We are assured that the Indians cannot be removed because the Governor is absent in British Columbia! ...