The New York herald., 1871-11-01
THE FRIENDS OF POOR To.
What the Indian Peace Commissioners
- Think Of the Red Men.
The Noble Savage Does Not Want to Fight but
Would Like to Eat-No Necessity for War
The Cherokeas and the Broadbrims-
Friend Lang o. tho Situation.

The Indian Peace Commissioners, who are the
special providence OF Poor Lo, assembled at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel yesterday. prace OF HERALD
reporters called upon the distinguished gentlemen In
the afternoon and talked with them on the present
aspect OF Indian affairs. Mr.. Vincent COllyer, who
is meek young man and fanatically reticent. told
what he knew about Indian farming, and Mr.. John
D. Lang, Friend, discoufsed on the Cherokees and
Choctaws. The latter was verv communicative-for
q Commissioners. Tne conversation had with Mr..
Lang was interesting, and was as follows:-
REPoRTER-I understand you are making your
report OF the condition Of the Indians, Mr.. Lang'
FRIBND LANG-Yes, we will have II ready to-
night. 1t win show that President GRANTS policy in
dealing with the Indians mas been quite success
ful. There is no occasion whate yer for levying
WAR ON THE RED MEN,
or course there are great many people Interested
In getting up war-the Indian Ring, for example.
1t s the business or the contractors to f0ment dis
turbances. It has been our business to prevent
them from lndulging in these weaknesses. Thee
must know that the policy OF the border people u
Shoot Shoot all the time They think no more Of
killing an Indian tnan dog or q deer. Now we be-
eve that 1t Is better to conciate the Indians than to
murder them.
REP0RTER-But number Of people in Arizona
believe with General Crook that the only way to con-
cillate our mutual friend Lo Is to kill him.
FRIEND LANG-N0 doubt. 1t always was the pol.
icy or the army hangers on to make perpetual war
on the tribes. They are trying the same game now,
but they won't succeed. sa
REPoRTER-But the Indians are said to be given
to throat-cutting, scalping and making burnt Offer
ings to the Great Spirit Of luckless wMtess
FRIEND LANG-The Indian is merclless when
wronged. Most people are savage when outraged;
but am certain w 9MaN tHn
n4 THE INDIANS PREFER PEACE es.4
to war at all times. Of course there are some in
the mountains very hard to control their chiefs hav
ing but little influence over them, but even these
REPoRrER-Inen instead OF running them down
with cavalry, you would awe them INTO submission
FRIEND LANG-There ia no occasion Whatever to
use lorce with the Indians. travelled 90 900 miles
with them last year and $4,000 this year, and am
lighting as little as most men. He demands the
right to live, and thou will admit think, that that
sorry set; Ill clothed and Ill ted. WHAT they want is
food and shelter and protection against lawless
whites.
REPoRTER-Then, Mr.. Lang, you think that the
Indian dinculty may pc summed up IN Q sentences 7
REPORTEK-Bellies and blankets summed up the
FRiEND LAra--Thee comprehends the situation.
People who are properly fed and clothed don't care
to fight much; but starving wrctcnes have some
NO OTHER RESOURCE THAN MARAUDING.
It will cost several millions OF dollars every year to
fight the Indians. A lew thousand dollars judi
Cf0usly expended will suffice u feed them. A few
years OF peace policy viii, think, SETTLE the In
dian dlfnculty.
REPoKTEa-so, then, it would seem that Lo has
been mlsrepresented. He doesn't nanKer after
EcaplS any moref
FRIEND LANG--It would be rash to assert that
the Indian nature can be changed at once but thee
Is aware that time and patience Will work wonders.
Consider the OF the Cherokees. Thee is doubt
less aware that after our revolutionary war the
CherOkees were placed In North Carolina on res
ervatiOn. Little provision was made tor their pro-
lection, and they were ultimately swndled out of
their lands. The history OF tnat unpleasant matter
thou knowest. Well the Cherokees IN North Caro-.
Ina v ere in q most wretched condition. went
down to them and selected the most wretched and
transported them to the Cherokee Nation. Tney
were received with open arms and advantageously
THE FINEST COUNTRY m TIE WORLD
aud Will prosper. Tney are law abiding ana easy
to govern.
KEPORTER-Semt- clviiZedf
FRIEND LANG-NO, the North Carolina men are
not very civilized; those in the Nation are. The
latter have State House, public offices, schools
and so forth, and are most eager to advance their
material interests ana become good citizens. We
have made arrangements for the transportation OF
all the North Carolina Cherokees out West as soon
as possible. They will prove good and useful cit-
zens, nave no doubt. certainly they will have all
they want in location and climate. And what has
been done with the Chcrokecs can be accomplished
with the other lrbes. merciiul policy, friend, Is
the only policy worth following; muruerOus policy
Is always mistaken policy.
Mr.. Vincent Collyer, who was present during the
above conversation, vehemently n0daed his ap-
proval Of Friend Langs remarks.