Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-04-26
What Shall be Done With the In-
dians?


There could be but one solution to a
question of force between the United States
and the troublesome tribes of Indians that
hang upon the skirts of our frontier settle
ments and >harrass the travellers across the
plains. They would, of course, be subdued
and badly punished. Whether this or a
more peaceful mode of quieting the dis
turbances now so rife shall be adopted, was
the proposition laid before the last Coz
gress, and to which it gave simple heaf-
| ing. Between the belligerent army officers
and the corrupt traders OF the of the Bu-
reau it has been difficult to, obtain clear
| insight into the actual situation of affairs.
| The recent wholesale ,massacres, however,
the frequent attacks upon emigrant trains,
and the rumors concerning coalition of
| the larger tribes, Indicate the necessity of
| Immediately recognizing the difficulty.
The contact with white men has, we are
obliged to admit, opened the doors of de-
bauchery, intemperance and wretchedness
! to the Indians, giving them in homeopathic
and virtue. Whisky, guns, powder and
shot have for years been our staples in
trade with them, and under the influence
of the first it has not been difficult to cheat
them with the rest. Using the firearms for
| shooting game, the Indians had almost for
gotten the bow and arrow, and calculated
on the fulillment of the treaties with the
i dlJC Js.Su
! ply. Suddenly, for reasons best Known. at
headquarters, these essentials are denied
the Indians, who are, nevertheless, drug
| ged more than ever with the Yilest whis-
keys. Angered by the want of faith shown
by the whites and maddened by the strong
drink, they have indulge in a series of out
RACES whose frequency demands the serious
Government, One party clamors for their
annihilation; another begs Tor continu-
ance of trading facilities, hoping by STRAIT
| egy to secure all the Indians possess and by
drink to debase them below the level of en-
emies whose anger need be feared. Is
either of these courses justifablee? Can a
| Christian nation permit the wholesale muir
der of these men, women and children? Or
| can it answer to its conscience for consent
ing to their debascment as an indirect pre-
liminary for their destruction? ~
1t seems to us that war with the rem
nants of these tribes would be disastrous,
whatever it's end. We might, undoubtedly,
after little, exterminate them, but mean
while overland communication with the
Pacific slope would be rendered extremely
hazardous, If not destroyed; millions OF
dollars would be expended, many lives
would be sacrificed, and after all our only
gain would be the "renown = OF success
full Indian war;. AS our frontier forts are
managed at present, they seem to present
at once temptation and prize to the row
ing bands who mast live in some way, mast
obtain ammunition or starve, and knowing
this, revenge themselves for broken treat
les upon the nearest and weakest represen-
tatives of those who have cheated them.
We have but little to point to with pride in
this whole Indian matter. 1t has been a
bargain and dicker from its earliest his
tory Against the occasional missionary
efforts made among them, stand in formid
able array the persistent treachery, trick
cry, and bad example of the agents, traders,
and spectators who have managed our af-
fairs. 50
The plan suggested by General Sully is
that $50 far from concentrating them and
treating them as we do, as foreign ma
ton, it would be better, where people
wished eland the Indians occupy, instead
of pushing them into the wilderness, to
even purchase tract of land in some of our
densely populated Eastern States, and place
them there, for there, in few years, they
would be forced to adopt the habits of civ
ilized life, or they would soon become ex-
tinct." Whether this plan can at any time
be adopted we know not, but it will be re-
membered that in our own State the Indi-
ans on the Reserve are "in prosperous
condition, and increasing in numbers and
wealth. The need of the present is an in
crease of the armed forces on the frontier !;
the need of the immediate future would
seem to be fair treatment, the keeping of
faith with leaders, equitable exchange OF
property, and possibly the adoption of some
plan similar to that set forth by General
Sully. AS at present situated, General
Hancock has quite enough to do in pro-
viding for the emergencies OF the passing
moment,-Ne1u York Times.