The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-12-05
Report of the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs.
The following are the main features of
the report of General Walker, Commits
sloner of Indian affairs

The following are the main features of
the report of General Walker, Commits
sloner of Indian affairs
Want of completeness and consistency in the
treatment OF Indian tribes by the Government has
been made the occasion for much ridicule and
partisan abuse, and it is indeed calculated to pro-
woke criticism and to afford scope for satire. But
it is none the less compatible with the highet ex
pediency of the situation 1t is, of course hope
lessy illogical that the expenditures of the Govern
ment should be proportioned not to the good but
the IL desert of the several tribes, but that large
bodies of Indians should be supported in entire
Incidence by the bounty of the Government
while eiIdisposed indians are only assisted to
sell malntenance, since it is known they VIII not
view of it that delegations from tribes that have
frequently denied our authority and fought our
troops, and who never yielded more than patial
or grudging obedience to the most reasonable re-
quirements of the Government, should be enter
tanned the national capital, Toasted and loaded
with presents. There could be better subject
for the lively paragraphist in his best estate for
the heavy editorial writer's dull news day, than
such course on the part OF the government.
These things can be made to appear vastly amusing
and are undoubtedly influenced, in great degree,
to the prejudice of the Indian policy by the inces
SAINT small arms fire of squibs and epigrams even
more perhaps than by the ponderous artillery of
yet for all this, the Government is rigid and its
critics strong The Indian policy is sound, sensi-
BILE and benefcent, because it reduces the mini
frontier and allows the freest development of our
settlements and railways possible under the
oppose the present Indian policy is not in errone
ously trying to change the course of the
Government from the standard they have taken,
but in taking an altogether false standard for the
purpose. 1t Is not more unreasonable that the
Government should do much for hostile Indians
and little for friendly Indians than it is that pri
vate citizen should to his life, surrender all
the contents of his purse to highwayman, while
applicant for charity he would measure his conJri-
button by his means and disposition at the time.
There is precisely the same justification for the
| chievous Indians to repieton While permitting
more tractable and peaceful tribes to gather bare
subsistence by hard work 1t is not, of course, to
be understood that the Government of the United
States is at the mercy of the Indians, but thou
sands of its citizens at their mercy. Their
posed situation, on the extreme verge of the set
| Elements affords sufficient justification to the
Government for buying off the hostility of savages
excited 80 exasperated they are, and most nat
uray so, by the invasion of their hunting grounds
and the threatened extinction of game 1t would
require 900 troops at least to form Gordon be-
hind which our settlements could advance with the
extent OF the range of unrestrained choice of To-
cation, security of feeling and freedom of move
ment which have characterized the growth of the
past three or four years. Indeed the presence of
| no military force could give that confidence to
pioneer enterprise which general cessation of In
| dian hostility has engendered. Men of adven-
| turous cast will live and work behind line of
troops with, it IS possible some exhilaration of
feeling on that account, but rule men will not
place women and children in situations of even
possible peril, nor will they put money into per-
manent improvements under such circumstances.
Especially has the absence of Indian hostilities
been of the highest value, within the last few
years in directing and determining to the extreme
frontier emigration arriving in such vast numbers
| On our shores Americans habftuated to contem-
plation of this species of danger of the fea
lures of pioneer life, will scarcely comprehend the
reluctance with which those accustomed to abso-
lutte security of person and property in the settled
countries of Europe expose themselves and their
families to perls of this kind The fact that Anne
ricans are more daring and adventurous in the
presence OF danger more familiar 10 tnem 1 CON ;,
munity which has for three years now been Sc
cured by the feeding system There are innumer-
able little riffs of agricultural mining settle
ments all over the Western country, which, if I'M
molested, will in few years become sef-protect-
ing communities, but which, in the event of gen.
| eral Indian occurring at the present time,
would utterly and instantly disappear, either by
abandonment or massacre. The first month of
hostilities would fifty valleys up to which pop
ulation is now slowly but steadily creeping under
horrible atrocities Of an Indian war or deserted BY
their afrghted Inhabitants hastily driving before
them what of their stock could be gathered togeth-
| er at moments notice, and bearing away what of
their household goods could be carried in their
single wagons. Such would be the result, even
with the most favorable issue of military opera
lions.
1t is right that those who criticse the policy of
the Government toward the Indians, and udicule
ii undignifed in its concessions and unstates-
manlike in its temporizing with a recognized evil
should fairly face alternative which Is present
ed There Is no Question of national DIGNITY be il
rem nbered involved in the treatment of savages
by civilized power. With wild men, as with wild
beasts, the question whether. in given situation,
one small nS0I run. Is question OF WHAT
is the easiest and safest The system now pursued
il dealing with rowing tribes dangerous TO our
frontier population and obstructing our industrial
progress is entirely consistent, and requires but
occasional of the military in restraining or
chastisng refractory individuals and bands. Such
a use of military constitutes no abandonment OF
the peacy policy, involves disparagement in it.
1t not expected in the nature of things that the
entire body of Indians should be restrained in
Ishmaelltlsh procliv1tes without struggle on the
part OF the more audacious for their traditional
| freedom In the first announcement made of the
reservation system ii expressly declared that
| the Indians should be made as comfortable and
uncomfortable of their reservations as it was in
| the power of the Government to make them; that
| such OF them as went right should be protected
/ and fed, and such Is went Wrppg shoRld be has.