New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-21
QUE INDIAN RELATTONS-NOE AND HERE


OUR INDIAN RELATIONSHIP AND HERE-
AFTER.
While at work in reforming our political
system, let us not forget an important feature
which, though spasmOdically notorious, is
commonly moderated or overlooked. What
ever may have been the necessities or ex-
cuses for it in former years, there is no good
reason for longer endurance of our Indian
policy OH its present basis The experience
of ages shows that the contact between the
white and red races has been beneficial to
neither. FrOntier-men and Indians readily i'm
bibe each others vices-the better qualities of
both classes being overwhelmed by whisky
and RIGHTEOUSNESS, intermingled with avarlce
and cruelty. After all their Indian experience
after all the schemes of religion and philan-
thrOpy for improving the savages-even Puri-
tanical New England and Quakerish Pennsyl-
yana can show little or nothing to relieve the
dark picture presented even now by the fire.
Quent alarms and massacres along our widely
extended frontiers Our legislation about In
dian affairs, generally liberal, has been sadly
perverted in administration. Good intentions
of lawmakers were never more sgnally nulli-
fed by inefficient or rascally agents. Treachery
similar traits from its opponent; and the his
tory of centuries shows scarcely single re-
deeming consequence of the intercourse be-
tween the white and red races.
Our Indian policy" has truly proved
costly and bloody failure-signalized by de-
moralizatiOn on both sides; and now is a fit
ting period for reforming it altogether" The
spread of settlers and the extension of railway
intercourse-the interest of the people individ-
ually and of our nation at large-require that
the vast interior regions shall be freed from
roaming savaees, and that, too, with the
greatest possible expedition. Humanity and
justice toward the Indians may be promoted at
the same time and by the same means. Be-
nevolence and public policy thus happily COM
bine in demanding immediate reformation in
these matters.
And how may that reformation be most
readily eflectedi Common sense, intelligent
philanthropy, aud the welfare Of both races,
unite in offering an economic and speedy So
luton of the problem. Cases of public neces-
sity, in the way of health, comfort, defense, or
intercommnnication, frequently require that
lands shall be taken from individuals among
us, for promoting the general welfare-reason-
able compensation being made to owners. Is
not the principle involved in these cases equal
" applicable to our Indian relations u Though
we still go through the fOrmality of treaty
making with them Ga species of humbug that
should be superseded by n general law, the
Indians are, after all. in pupilage-mere wards.
of our Nation which will not allow any other
power to intermeddle with their affairs. 1t
is one OF our theoretical glories that Amer
lean citizens are protected in life and property
everywhere under our flag, especially on our
own territory, within our National boundaries
But how is the facts At what point within
striking distance of the Indians, through all
the vast interior. can settlers or travellers be
considered safe from tOmahawk or rifle Why
should immense regions-empires in extent-be
rendered useless for human improvement, mere
ly to perpetuate the vagabond propensties of
savages2 Why should millions of acres be
reserved" as hunting ground for q tribe that
could be better fed and clothed from the pro-
ducts of a single one of the large Illinois
farms And why should the safety and COM
fort of millions of civilized settlers be jeopar-
died in attempts to appease sayages, with
whom whichever party may be N faul) it
has always been found impossible to preserve
enduring peacef A hundredth part of such out
RACES as we have borne from the Indians
would have reused the American people TO
war against tho most powerful nations of the
world. Let there be an end OF this long-pro-
tracted National nuisance. Mere cumberers of
the earth without cultvating it should give
way for people who in this respect will obey
the commands Of Heaven and common sense
We do not charge the Indians with all the
blame-far from it. Probably the largest part
of the trouble is traceable to the white race.
But, as evil has thus far been the almosb inva-
riable result of contact between the races, the
argument for speedy reformation is conclusive.
National and humanitarian considerations
require that the Indians shall be promptly pro-
vided with subsistence in some way not detri-
mental to the interests of civilization. Viewed
merely in peouniary light, it would be
cheaper and better to feed and clothe the
savages than to hunt and fight them with our
armies. Let them DO collected in few adjoin-
ing Reservations" in mild climate, with land
enough to allow farms for families that will
cultivate them,' and let the payment for their
old hunting grounds" be invested so as libe-
rally to supply their wants, giving farming
tools to such rs will use them, and sheep or cat
Ito to such rs will take even the first lesson
in civilization by turning herdsmen, Religious
and benevolent societies would readily CO.
operate in the work Of improvement by offer,