New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-29
THE INDIANS.
.oo,, an oco.s,oNAI CORRESPONDENT ]


frRoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT
surNA. Kansas, Dec 21.-I am engaged IN Iahiis
look at Kansas. have seen something OF inc M
ma here which, added to slight study Oh 'nen -
TSehrasla. has led me 70 some conclusions WIN"
,yisb briefly to communicate to you. -.
Or Government is spending vast sans IN keepins
.sle hostile tribes in order using in some oaseS
.b.t are disgraceful 10 civilized people. am
Cd that plan exists by which all lndlah tiouoi0S
cam he definitely brought TO close the OoIcruiuen'
ooycd the expense of keeping up war WIN 'ncIi
,,a,sa Of the disgrace Of periodical butchenea
Tho plan IA this:
gl,, Indians. rs we know, depend on buffalo NUM-
Il - their sport as well as the man source u
,,bs,stence. One Of their great grievances Is 'na'
a. h,r.lo are being driven away by the endoaou
,,,.,t. of the whites, and their hunting-9i ounus
s,oiled The Indians are extremely iona Oh NO.
10 r,ss,ss them is one Of the great inducements 20
,c,r,it jnroads and thefts. They are also iona OF
rt,in games and at times OF their rude uahcos "uu
,npsc Taking these few points into Considerations
7 would recommend that the following orgahiAd'ioh
De earned out with them; .
l. Establish proper reserves win large neIuS Vi
e,ttle and set them to tending these herds Iufash
-, b.es and so svstematize the work that bodies
Of them can be engaged Alternately anu lor nan
DIV ,t a time. We must adapt the work 10 Their
-, "
o persistence no method on the part Of the Indian;
he very active and very inert alternately. Arrange
matters 80 that be can engage in the care of the herds
xyhe, II pleases him. and enough labor will be got
ont of him to meet the reQurementsot embarrassing
Tho treat point TO be attained Is to draw the lndan
60 productive industry; to induce hun TO engage
voluntarily II il and thus support himself Ii Is I'M
uosible To do this if we offer him only the prolonged
and systematic work to which the white laborer Is
accustomed. We must ind the hdiWdi iiahSlJyry1nn
from the hunting life 10 the lndnslIlh NO. IWo
Transition Is the case Of d0Cks and herds on t@yS
scqic and on horssbcck as 10 keep up ne azure ara
rorhg he trhch is necessity Nth te indian schools
Bnd our civilized industry are repnlSye to the I'M
ui-ciuIiued and infantle mlnd OF the Ihulai IL IL
usele, to try to force them upon him. he WI not &C
rept them But offer hm Work eloSeiy hi,'u 70 l9
natural OccupatiOn-hunting-and he can be lnoucen
10 engage in it, and with ardOr. Remember ihat our
distant forefathers were once Sayages. anu tat inc
pastoral life-the rearing OF HOOKS ana hcI"s--"d
Inc transition to more civilized life Let Ms 90 at
pnce FOR the Indians on our Western prallcS WAat
yur ancestors did for themselves by ages of ehoTt
Increase the power and strengthen the authority
II their chiefs 10 some extent so as TO enable them
o maintain the moderate degree of order necessary
i'm thor new pastoral industry. This c0uld be zone
by ntrustng the cniets, under proper SUPERVISION
with dividing among the Indians Tie prouts Oh thelr
Industry.
kinds suited the Indian nature 10 keep them occu-
tied and active during periods when not engaged
with the care Of their herds This IS necessary, bOth
b keep them out of mischief and TO maintain some
kind IF regular activity among them. The alterna-
lions from work TO play VIII DO source OF charm 10
lhe rude children of nature.
such briefly stated, is the plan which, think,
tOuld be carried out. The Indian is intelligent
though 10 execute the labors and perform the duties
That would be required of him. Ne is brutal IN hes
t,es 0Ed IN his affections but he is quick, often inte
,.1ept ~ The iatelleCL lie would understand this
Gnple organization Of one branch of industry-oi
cattle Taisng-and would engage in II With the IN
lucements that would be held out to hlni-nameiy,
ipur To perform the work to great extent on horse
hack; Second With squads or bodies of companions;
Ahird TO be paid for his labor; Fourth. 10 be al
lowed TO continue occupations at pleasure tItth. 10
be furnished wide space for roaming
o. do not say that the United States Government
ran carry out this plan; but if 1t would give COM
pauy fine tract of land. and a subsidy of half
tnilhOn a body of capable and intelligent men could
Doe found to realize IT, A tract of o0OOOOO acres-tbe
Usage lands in South Kansas-are about beng given
lv Congress to one two railroad companies for
Salid reason whatever. Let Congress reserve hall
az these lands and give them 10 company that VIII
Engage 10 employ 800 Indians usefully in productive
5nd0sTy. with $4,000 10 buy herds, horses etc. 70
DE increased to S5OOOO as operations are developed
and the great problem OF peaceful settlemeut OF
our Indian difficulties could be solved. The eXper-
5nent once made, imitation would be easy, ana the
r,lap could bo uniyeTsaized. The Indians would 90
Gradually initiated into industry; they would ne I'M
proved in their mental nature. and by degrees eie
siecessary to exterminate them; they conld be
preserved and possibly among these via races
vyould be developed men Of new and valuable claT-
zcler Al any rate, the experiment IS worth trying
A,nd would reflect more honor on great ana power
Iul Government than the policy OF butchery and de-
viii add that if this business of cattleraising IS
rroperly organized and prosecuted, 1t may Oe mace
very profitable both for the company undertaking IL
and i0s The Indians. a b.