North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1867-07-24
Oar Indian system

Oar lndfan Systems
The Commissioner Of Indian Affairs,
Col. Taylor, is said to be preparing docu-
ment setting forth his views of the present
Indian troubles, taking the ground that the
government is in a great part, 1t not who'll
ly, to blame in the matter, and that the
trouble can be settled in q few days by
commission of few honest and capable
men who would give themselves earnestly
to the task of making peace. The Com
missioner will submit his memorial direct
y to the President. The people have be-
come 30 much accustomed to viewing the
Indian troubles from the "civilizcd'' or
frontier standpoint, and to regarding
the Indians as the only savagcs engaged in
the predatory warfare on, the plains, that it
10 difficult matter to bring them to any
thing like deliberate and impartial con-
sideration of the causes which produce
these oft-recurring outbreaks. When We
are Mt open war with the Indians, moro
particularly, it is an impossibility to re-
gard them in any other light than that Of
enemies to be got rid Of in the shortest and
most effectual way that civilized ingenuity
can devise. And so, in pursuance of this
uppcrlnost feeling, we recently had such
orders AZ the infamous one of Superintend-
ent Cottrell, of the United States Express,
to "Shoot redskins at sightr-an order
which was promptly and eagerly obeycd
which is now working and will continue
to work out its legitimate consequences
The order, which was ostensibly designed
to afford security, proves to have the oppo-
site eiiect-as any person conversant with
kk< TrA:~s> n1~~ g
upon moments reflection. The Indian
is entirely at home in the kind of warfare
whiclf Cottrelrs order invites. He haunts
the gorges and patches Of trees and brush
all along the route Of travel, watching his
opportunity TO TIRE ut passing coaches, or
H anything were required in addition to
the faithless and injudici0us treatment
hitherto awarded to the Indians by the
government, to make every red -mSsf an
iimplacable foe to the whites, the order Of
cos.s. ~, ,,r,iia1 4 .l,e de6c;egey; The snl<
mittcd by "n system Of savage telegraphy"
to every Indian camp west Of the MissOu-
ri-and that it will render the hostile
tribes more hostile, and turn the friend
ship Of others into enmity, there is no
good reason to doubt.
This crime of Cottrcll,i is but one Of ma
nv. 1t is one Of the latest in connection
with the treatment of the Indians, and
therefore more conspicuous than many 9TH
ers Of perhaps equal enormity. How to
prevent the recurrence ofsuch crimcs--in-
centives to the continuance of frontier pill
lage, assassination and bloodshed--is Sc
rious problem, and one which is worthy
to engage the thoughts of our ablest states
men and philanthropists. Many PROPOSE
tions for the better government of the In
dians have been made, but in most, if not
all of them, the essential principles Of
good government have been entirely over
looked, or male subscrvicnt to some pet
scheme Of the proposer. The Indians can
never be placated until, in it's intercourse
with them, the government shall rigidly
maintain honest dealing and strict re-
gard for the safety Of human life. The
Commissioner appears to have made the
singular discovery, for government Off
ciai, that these principles have not hereto
fore been regarded by the agents OF his
department. Who knows but some good
may yet come out of SO unpromising q Ma
xareth.- Winona Republican,. =