Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-10-31
INDIAN AFFAIRS.

iADfdA
The reports which have been industri-
ously circulated throughout the country
that the Indian policy of the President is
failure, and that it is about to be changed
for one of war and determination, were
summarily hushed by the appearance OF
the Presidents letter Oh Tuesday morning.
Those best acquainted with the working
of the policy adopted by the President to
ward the Indians, know that it has been
successful, and that the purpose and opin-
ions of the President have rather strength
ened in regard to its support than other-
wise.
But there are persons 10 whom the pol
lev of the President is not satisfactory,
who are continually sending abroad false
reports designed to poison the public ear,
which is more ready than it should be to
accepl and credit them There is little
doubt that if designing. wicked white men
would leave the Indians to themselves,
there would be few murders and outraEes
by them, and the Government would need
to send no troops into the country to keep
the peace. But they are cheated. vexed
with insults. preyed upon by harpies. de-
prived of their rights, outraged, regarded
as little better than wild beasts, and then
If they retaliate after long provocation,
the hounds are let loose upon them and
they are hunted down. When an Indian
agent is willing to pay fifteen thousand
dollars to secure place which has sala-
~ of but fifteen hundred it means wrong
aud plumber to the Indians. There are
many ways in which spectators find it for
their pucuniary interest to keep the In
dian in ignorance and barbarism. They
are opposed to his Improvement because
it thwarts their plans. Trade would not
be so profitable to the white dealer If the
Indians should go TO work. Their lands
conld not be obtained of them for triAe
If they learned to know their value. And
so in many ways the new policy Injuries
the crafty and unprincipled whites.
The policy of the President Is to treat
the Indian as human being, So n man and
not wild animal, to deal with him kind
ly, Justly, and show him the advantages
Of civilization, and help him to start in
the new way. The prejudice of the Amer
lean people is averse to this. They have
been taught that the Indian is only fit to
be slain like the wild buffalo, an encum-
brance for which determination is the only
available remedy. and thus it is that when
an Indian outrage is reported it is at once
taken to be true, no investigation is re-
quired, and wholesale slaughter is de-
manded to protect the poor whites.
The facts which have come to the knowl-
edge Of the government the past year are
favorable to the policy Of peace. Those
who have been engaged In the work were
never more hopeful than at present. As
showing how the new policy operates, we
ask our readers to observe the following
statement made by VIM. Nicholson, Cen
eral Agent of Executive Committee Of
Friends on Indian Affairs. 1t exhibits the
comparative condition Of the Indians Of
the Central Superintendency, for the years
1869 and 1872. 1t embraces the condensed
statistics of the Kickapoos, Kaws, Osages.
Quapaws, Peorias. Ouawas, Wyandottes,
Senecas, Sacs and Foxes, Absentee. Shaw
nees, Chippewas and Munsees. Cheyen-
mes. Araphoes, Wichitas, Keeches, Cad
does, Ionies, Kiowas and Camanches.
The Superintendent. (Enoch Hoag),
and the Agent for these Indians, were
nominated at the request of the President,
by the Society of Friends.
Date. 1868. ls.l
Population, ld,205 1887
Number of schools, /.