New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-19

INTO others. But before this policy is adopted
LET rs consider whether there is not more
humane. or easier, or, what would seem mos,
important of all, cheaper way
| In considering the Indian question sc wts'
hear in mind that we deal with men, and with
. rare contacted by a social law. The Indian
race has never passed out Of the savage state;
and although efforts have been made from
the first settlement of the country to induce
them TO adopt the habits of a civilized he,
and although many good men have devoted
their learning, their energies, and even theT
lives TO this object, they have failed. 1hey
failed for the reason that they did not con-
slider that man progresses by short advances,
meyer by including in one advance and in one
age the aggregate of advances which nave
marked through many ages the progress OF INC
Caucasian race The first advance when man
makes from the savage state is into the pas
tora, and it will be in vain to attempt to Drlng
him into the civilized, OF even into the oar
barre, until he has been prepared by 'hc pas
tOral. This view is so obvious that perhaps
il would have been seen long ago, had not one
class of such writers as mold puOhc OPINION
acclaimed upon the happiness OF the savage
state. and another class ascrlbed to the hed
Man poetic and other fine qualities, when
those best acquainted with him never have
been able to see. The proper way then, to
settle the Indian question, is to set apart reser-
yations supplied with the means for their lead
ing pastoral life. Almost in this present age
the Indian has made an approach to this state
by DEMONSTRATING one animal, which Is inc
horse. in the management of which he shows
| 4 tItTu hnE
no interval remains in an advancement 10 the
care of cattle. That this is the natural ORDER
of progress has been demonstrated by the
Greeks and Cherokees in the Indian territory
west of Arkansas, where, without spcciai aSS'SV-
ance from the Government to THIS emu, 'hcS
voluntarily and naturally entered upon thiS
life. Alot, therefore, districts within orr V"s'
Western domain, suited for grazing, Win wafer
and timber, whore villages naturally VIII DC
established, and here, by proper management,
and of course with Government care hocks ana
herds will multiply, and in few years these
neople will become selfsupporting. AS to the
odiupcts hitherto deemed important-that Is,
schools and missionaries may be few,
but il will be convenient not to attempt too
much.
There is another branch of this subject OF
still greater importance. From unknown ages
the Indian women, and the women OF all saw
age pcople, have cultivated the soil while the
men roamed abroad. The reason why she has
done this is founded in the depths of her be-
ing. In one sense Ithe woman is primary, for
She is the mother; upon her, more directly, de-
mend the sentiments and the intellectual bias
of the race; and in particular do her instincts
ii. 60 for gF
while the man is removed TO a secondary place
and becomes the guardian and protector OF
| that which she brings forth. The flesh oil am
mails cannot, from day TO day, be the most ac-
| ceptable food for child, while in case OF III
ness, to which it must more or less be SUBJECT
it will be lOathsomc, nor can spontaneous
| vegetable productions DO found except our
ing brief periods of the year, and then only
by chance. Hence the savage woman would
| seek by every art which love for her children
| could suggest TO increase in quantity ana IN
variety their daily food. and in particular TO
| make the soil near her lodge bear III ana she
must have discovered early that cultivation,
rude though il was largely added TO the harvest.
| From these impulsive labor of hers to make
more certain, and more grateful, the food ne
cessary for her children, and, in connection, to
provide them with garments to shield them
from the cold of Winter. the first dawn of
civilization must be traced While the man
clngs to the uncertain life of the hunter, she
beckons to q genter and better life. These,
and analogous, reasons show that the heart OF
woman everywhere, and always, leads the way
TO higher conditions.
While our Indian hunters or warriors Of the
Plains could, with scarcely change, enter
upon pastoral life, their women would be
contented and happy in their gardens and corn
fields. 1t is to be lamented that the education
of the young women of New-EDgland, and of
other sections, by which they were made fitted
to become the wives of missionaries did not
include such practical knowledge of the growth
of plants as to prepare them TO enter upon the
bencfcent work of teaching Indian and savage
women how to bud and graft, and to acquire
by cultivation taste for flowers. Still, there
are some few women who, in connection with
cultivated minds, do possess these requirements,
and if sought they can be found. Thus the
sexes of the race which, in the progress of
events have become our deadly enemy, may,
with no other change than what shall come in
anatural order, he transformed into our friends;
and if, unfortunately, by reason of being COM
PEELED to compete with our civilization, as well
as with our vices, they are destined not to
be perpetuated long, pleasing duty will have
been done in proving to them that we, the in
heritors of their vast possessions, were not wholly
unworthy.
But we will be told by the hopeless, and GER
tainly by those most interested in telling it,,
that a new measure will bring in new men
who, because they are men, will plumber the