The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-03


febe following items, communicated by
the htbe new Indian Agents, reveal some of
hannilv b9ces to civilization that are now
ing letter frcemoved, whilst the encourag-
Lawrence, Kansahe correspondent OF the
will interest the republican DdtyJo"T"dS
TE1EeRApH, although the of TIE EVENING
ater news This issue is Hl nave orougnt
Congress and the taxi payers, ShRrly before
of avaricious contractors, backed by clique
ambitious politicians and some unprincipT |
land jobbers, be any longer allowed to de-
fraud and demoralize the aborigines of this
country, to disgrace this nation, to leopard
the lives of our enterprising frontiersmen,
and TO involve the Government in costly and
shameful wars?
This pernicious practice has become so
thoroughly incorporated into the political
system of our Territories and new States that
mere passive adherence will not eradicate it.
Some of these men, or their aocomplices, stir
Indians up to commit atrocities that the late
Indian policy may be perpetuated.
Let us all rather strive to provide remedy,
instead of expending our righteous indigna-
tion against those Who are often the mere
dupes of men in high position, socially or
Gf6Slu6uJ SrdnJ lB WILING TO De
the leader in this as in former important move
ments, and if he is properly sustained he
will fight it out on the line he has indicated
Two months since, with the sanction of Con-
gress, he relieved the Governors of Territories
from being eU-0bicjO Indian Superintendents
This eradicates much of the evil as Indian
spohations have been the life-blood of parti-
san patronage in Territories and new States.
Very many of the Senators and Represen-
tatives already feel greatly relieved, as their
constituents can no longer force them to
claim patronage that has hitherto so uuo4-
oughly demoralzed Indian service. One Of
the new agents thus writes: -"Time and
space would fail to give you particulars of the
wrongs done to the Chippeways. Every re-
source which evil ingenuity could suggest has
been used to prevent my gaining the conf.
dence of the Indians or carrying out any
plans for their benefit. The good Intentions
of my friends have been misrepresented, and
the ruin of my reputation sought. 1 suppose
that no means, however base, will be spared
to defeat me by the enemies of the Indians,
who have fattened on their wrongs. The Bois
Fort Indians have received no porti"- OF
chair goods. If they cow ~ 'ne agency
to get them ~ experience of last winter
will be repeated. They will be exhausted
and starving before they reach home there
fore their goods will, as hitherto, have be-
come the prey of whisky-sellers and other
thieves. Those Indians must receive pro-
visions the coming winter, or many will
starve. The treaty provides that their pay
ments shall be made on tile reservation, but
this provision has been persistently violated
T., I 1,
miles to receive their money annuities, which
amount to $3.50 per capita. -Four hundred
miles travel through difficult country for
$3.50 each! 1 shall, as soon as 1 can, devise
some means for relief of these Bois Forts,
then I will write and ask your aid to get the
matter arranged at Washington" He writes
more hopefully under the date of
December 2Oth:-"There is surely
enough to do to absorb all my time and
energies. / closed two whisky shops,
and Obegwad has not touched whisky since
] saw him first, and he is using his influence
and example to discountenance its use by his
people. He looks twenty years younger than
he did tive months ago. feel much more
hopeful than 1 did when 1 first came. The
Indian character responds 30 readily to true
human impulses as to astonish me. There is
hope for this people. l do trust means will
be provided to carry out the work as it
should be-"
A military officer writes thus:-*'The policy
inaugurated in Indian affairs by the present
administration is working favorably, and, from
present appearances, there is every assur-
ance that lasting peace will yet result from
it. May God and our Government sustain
you in your work of civilizing the Indians"
w. w.
The following is the letter to the Law
renee Republican State JourRa! referred to
above:-
OChULGER CREEK NATION December H.
l97O.-EdltoES Republican Daily J0urnal:-Six
years ago shs month l took five soldiers and
left Fort Gibson on visit to the old Seminole
country, distance of one hundred and sixty
miles from the Arkansas river. Then there
was not an Indian family between the Arkansas
and Red rivers. War had scattered the people
ing in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and
Texas Their homes were desolated their
houses burned, their stock killed, stolen,
ana destroyed Cultivated fields were
laid waste, their rails burned, and
their orchards and gardens were destroyed
and grown up to weeds and briers. The war
closed, all the tribes resident of this country
were invited to send delegations to Fort Smith.
They met the commissioners of the Govern
ment and formed new treaties of amity and
friendship. They Immediately set about the
work of reconstruction. They sold half of their
land to the United States, on which to locate
friendly Indians from Kansas and elsewhere
of their respective tribes. They opened new
farms and repaired their old ones They re-