The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1872-12-21
THE INDIAN POLICY OF THE
GOVERNMENT.

OISSe OCCoSlO0 IOI MISUNDERSTANDING.
ing or misrepresenting the actions
OF tho Administration, it is to be
hoped that men OF all parties, aud
particularly the editors Of news
{ papers, viii consider more candid
II the. Indian " sicl -at General
Grsn', and its results. The sener-
u Textures oi that policy ha,. been
long he!o,e the put'iic; but its de-
tails have been long subjected TO
a ereatdeal OF unfair criticism, or
iginating partly in the ipnorance--
partly In q e political hostility OF
the cri ics. Every outbreak Of
robbery or violence on the part of
the Indians has been trnmpeted as
failure, and every employment of
force on the part OF the Govern
ment has been hernl,ied ~ change
OF the "Indisn policy whereas,
in truth there never has beer any
plan adopted which ignored the
possibility OF such outbreaks, or
the necessity OF Furnishing them,
and Of using forco to maintain Or
der.
Partisans talk as ii the protec-
ton of citizens had not been the
aim Of the Government, 40 II the
attempt had been made to treat all
Indians alike; rs IL the white in
habitants OF the remoter Terrific
ries had been defrauded Of some
thing to which they are justly en-
titled. But these accusations are
based on erroneous conceptions Of
the facts OF the case, and Of the
relations Of the parties.
Strictly speaking. the Govern
ment is not bound to maintain in
security and peace the settler up
on unsurveyed lands. A man who
pushes out into the wilderness be-
fore the first steps have been taken
to prepare it for inhabitation, CIV
ilization and law, has no right to
demand that the army OF the Unit
cd States shall follow 10 look after
him, and see that he comes to no
harm. 1t is question of policy,
Of the interests of the whole peo-
pie, which pays the cost OF the
operation, whether civil Govern
ment shall be extended everywhere
throughout its domain, or rot.
But this question has been tacit-
ly decided in the affirmative.
Whether this decision was wise,
may be . matter OF doubt. 1t was
certainly in accordance with the
impatient and entcrprising spirit
of our people; and obedience to it
the Government has loyally en-
deavored to maintain peace, sup
press disorder, an d protect the lives
and property Of it's citizens
throughout the Indian country.
In desling with this difficult and
expensive work, it has been neces-
sary to decide what should be the
treatm ent Of the Indians; and al
the heart Of this problem lies the
question, whether Indians have
any rights at oil, which white men
are bound to respect. 1t would he
an everlasting shame to America,
should the answer TO this question
! be other than an honest, just and
! Christian one. Honesty requires
that we keep our plighted word
often given to the Indian tribes
| justice would demand even in the
| absence OF . foregoing promise
| the protection of Indians as well
| as whites: and Christianity en-
forces these considerations With
double stringencv, because the OBJ
! jects Of them are our interiors.
These arc commonplace senti.
| ments: but they need to be reiterat.
ed often, in the face Of an auda
| cious barbarism which lifts it.
voice at intervals throughout the
land, calling for the determination
| OF the Indians. The root Of the
factious opposition to GenerA Al
Grants policy in this matter i.
this sentiment OF determination
nourished. probably, in many 10
calities, not 80 much by the desir,
for blood ~ By the hope for profit
Nothing distributes money In /.
new Territory like . steady pro
longed, not too successful Iadial
war-and this is just what . va
of determination would be. Crooke'
| campaign in Oregon was SO short
sharp and decisive that it endet
in disastrous peace. The arm,
posts we're dismantled; the troop
we're Withdrawn. and the p.ice Q
hay, oats and barley fell from mag
+, nificent heights to o desolate depth
But il it had been question q
determination, tho war might hav,
been going on yet, and s.times'
! would have continued shvely'
along the John Day and the Boise
/ One form Of this feeling crop,
out in the dem aud that the set
tiers themselves shan be above,
to deal with the Indians. Thi
sounds very brave; but experience
has shown that what it means il
most casesis the enlistment, equip
ment and payment Of volunteer
by the General Government. Th
/ Montana "war claims" for the cx
| penses Of an expedition which va
probably unnecessary to begil
with. and which accomplish,
nothing whatever, are q good illus
tration. 1t ought to be clearl,
understood in the West that th
determination policy will never b
permitted by the Christian an,
humane people OF this country
And it ought to be understood i
the East that the current condem
! nation of our present treat,n emit a