The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-10
THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1870.


A BOARD OF INDIAN INSPECTORS.
The bill recently introduced in the Senate by
Mr.. Wilson ''to promote the civilization OF
Indians, and to prepare them for the rights
and duties of citizenship" is apparently de-
signed to systematic the work which the
President entrusted, some months ago, TO
commission composed of gentlemen oil the
highest standing. The efficiency OF their
iabors was much weakened by the conflict OF
authority arising from diverse laws and the
want of clear understanding in regard to
the extent of their powers. The new bill, if
passed, will obviate, to great extent, these
difficulties. 1t will entrust to the proposed
board (of which the Secretary of the Interior
a nd the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for
the time being, are members) the supervision
of all expenditures for the benefit of ''Indians
in amity with the United States"
and with the general management of
the friendly tribes, while the hostile Indians
will be left to the control of the War Depart
ment. The experience of the country has
demonstrated that the first essential step in
civilizing the Indian is q thorough fogging.
Nearly every formidable tribe has in turn un-
dergone this process, and there can be no en-
during peace on the frontiers until those tribes
which are still vain and foolish enough to
imagine that they can defy the Government
and massacre white men with impunity are
Overwhelmingly defeated and humbled by
American soldiers. The great defect in our
system arises from the inadequacy of the
means hitherto provided for the management
of the Indians after they have been COM
PEELED to sue for peace. The practical
working of the machinery of the Indian
Bureau has been to the last degree disgraceful
and deficient. An expenditure of millions of
dollars per annum has been so badly mis-
managed that it has done, on the whole, in
fnitely more harm than good. 1t has tended
+ rather to foment new wars than to maintain
peace. It has done more to brutslize the
Indian than to elevate him. 1t has served to
enrich horde of white rascals, from the heads
of bureaus and pretentious superintendents
down to cheating agents, while it has con-
taminated the Indian with all the curses, and
endowed hi an with none of the blessings, of
civilization. White taxpayers and the nomi-
nal red recipients of the liberal appropria-
tions which are continually made by Congress
have been alike victimized, without any sub
stantial and permanent good being accom-
plished, or any other positive result being
clearly perceptible than the perpetual reitera-
ton of the old story that Indian agents,
superintendents, and contractors amass
wealth, while the Indians under their charge
grow poor, and in some cases literally starve
to death.
If this system cannet be improved it had
better be abolished in tOtO 1t would be quite
as honest and creditable for the nation to ab.
rogate all the old treaties by sweeping law,
as to continue to permit swindling agents tc
rob the Indians of the benefits we have only
pretended to confer. The new bill, however
embodies a reform which may do much
good, and can in no event make
bad worse. 1t will prove difficult task
under the most favorable circumstances, ''tc
civilize, Christianize, and make productive
citizens of the Indians" The experiment
has been tried over and over again on Ameri
can soil The labors of the Moravians, tn,
Jesuits, the Quakers, and other sects hav,
not unfrequently been attended with partia
success, but they have rarely been able t.
sender any considerable body of Indians proc
against the communicating vices of civiliza
ton. Judicious labors conducted anon,
tribes which saw no white men save the few
who exercised positively good inauenc
have nearly always proved fruitful, but sucl
isolation has been, as a rule, q prim
requisite of success, and it is OK
tremely difficult to guard the friendl
tribes from communicating associations. Il
a few instances even this difficulty has bee
partially overcome, however, and it may sti
be possible, by vigorous and combine
effort of the Government and the religion
bodies of the country, to save and elevate
considerable proportion of the aboriginef
If Senator Wilson's bill becomes law, thi
question will probably be thoroughly tested
The nation has demonstrated its ability t
safely incorporate in enc body polite nc
only all the diverse races of Europe but th
sable African, and it is opening up place fc
John Chinaman. So let us not settle dow
into the conviction that determination afford
the only permanent solution of the India
problem until the new Beard of Inspectio
has had fair chance to try its hand at civ
lizing the natives.
DUDTTn RvnnTrnroayo