New-York tribune., 1868-11-06
THE INDIAN QUESTION.

Whatever we may think of the authenticity
or humanity Of the kilograms which reach us
about Indian difficulties, enough is certain to
render active hostilitios necessary. 1t is true,
we never get the Indian version of these
stories; but equally true that the outrages of
the savages cannot for moment be permitted,
no matter what the provocation. The pro-
ercss of the Pacific RairOad-emig grafton
overland business--all these threaten Indian
existence. Ii must DO remembered, too, that
the country thus taken is still recognized by
the United States Government as theirs. Pro-
posals for treaties have been pending, but the
lands have neither been bought nor paid for.
Again the Red Men nave been treated to
wretched conflicts Of authority. One day, Il
military officer would assail them: the next an
Indian Agent, or contractor would feed them
or give presents The assurances OF one set
were confoundod 10y the denias of the other.
The assaults on their rights 10y individuals,
railroad men. teamsiers, settlers, and others,
are matters of which We hear little. Affairs
have thus gone from bad to worse until We
have war. The warlke spirit appears to be-
general, too. The Comanchc puts on his paint
and prepares his arms on the frontiers Of
Texas. So dO the Cheyenne, Kiowah, and Ara
pahoe in Kansas and Colorado, and the num-
berless branches of the Sioux from the Platte
TO the Upper Missouri. Nor are the Indians of
the Great Basin inactive. Tribes whose names
are hardly known, and whose haunts are but
beginning to bc explored, prepare to join in "A
last struggle for their country and their mode
of life
IL seems 10 be- generally conceded that the
war-sincc war must come-should loo waged
| vigorously. Our best commanders, Sherman
aud Sheridan, have il in charge. Still. we
think it barely possible that its difficulties are
under estimated. Our cavalry horses cannot be
kept up without forage; and, if they wait for the
| forage wagons, can never catch the Indians
The country over which these warlke Red
Men roam ia larger than dozen States. In
fantry il useless; artillery, for little more than
show. Is is said. destroy the Indian villages
Indian villages" are like the mirage of their
country. Their women and children will strike
OF pitch tents in nm incredibly short space OF
time. No military camp can do it sooner
Their commissary is where the buffalo roam
or the wild potato crops from the hill. They
are ahcdys war footing. In our military
experience 50 faI, we have usually lost many
more men than they. We cannot impoverisl
those who have no surplus. The misery te
which their tato OF our maltreatment has M.
duced them, saves them from the "ruin =.
freely threatened.
Ii has always been our opinion that an agent
to such tribes as Comanches, Sioux, ana Choy.
ennes, is waste and Il fraud. If he were tt
teach them such christianity and civilization a,
his, we might be alarmed for the consequences
Luckily, he spends most of his time in Wash
ington or elsewhere and, save while escortine
. contractor, does not pretend to be OF use {,
anybody. All these wild tribes should be sub
jected to one head and for some time tha
head must bo tho military. Christianizng ani
civilzing influences cannot OF course, com,
that way, Let the rising generation be eiu
Gated in schools; and let the aged or inlrm b
provided for in aJlums. Tho robust male
might le taught to sustain themselves by rear