Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-11-28

subjected for generations by the white men with
whom they have had 10 do. The frontiersman
in general is not person OF delicate sensibii-
ties or many scruples, and his appointment as
Indian agent or the securing ola contract for In-
dian supplies does not effect his regeneration. No
doubt if the balance were struck between the
wrongs done and suffered by Indians within the
last twenty-five years, the latter side of the ac-
count would not be greatly deficient This does
not, of course, make it reasonable to permit
these outrages to 20 on indefinitely, but 1t is a
reason for giving the policy of kindness and for
bearance patient trial
Another reason for forbearance has been the
difficulty of effecting a thorough understanding
with the Indians. They are conStitutionally
and by training suspicious and mistrustful; they
are scattered at long distances from each other;
the interpreters are sometimes incompetent and
sometimes may be suspected of bad faith and,
owing 10 these and other obstacles, it takes
long time to convey TO all the tribes and bands
an adequate knowledge of the real intentions
=, Of the government toward them, and Of what is
required on their part. For these reasons the
government has been slower than many have
thought wise and Just in resorting to severity 10
enforce its requirements. 1t is not surprising
that some outlying communities which have
suffered from Indian depredations should be
fierce and bitter in their complaints: but the
policy Of the government should of course be
more tolerant and forbearing in temper than
the persons who are themselves smarling from
| eXasperating injuries.
In spite of all drawbacks, however, sensible
progress has been made. The larger part of the
rowing Indians have retired to their reservation
willingly or unwilingly. OF those who have
not yet yielded, most are more careful than
| they have been to avoid giving provocation by
robbery or murder, and their ranges are gen.
| orally so situated that they come much into
contact with white people, and so long as in
this way they support themselves in their own
fashion, without causing any practical incon-
Yenience, it has not been thought best to en-
force its reservation policy with special strict.
ness. From this time onward, however, Gen.
Walker thinks it will be the duty of
the government to insist upon obe
dence, and visit infringement of its demands
with memorable penalties. The Indians cannot
be permitted TO stand in the way of civilization,
and even their determination is not too great a
| price to pay for peace, if it could not, as it
doubtless can, be purchased at a lower rate. As
to the prospects for the success of the present
Indian policy, Gen. Walker says:
| at belongs not TO a sanguine but to a sober
| of the gitunIiOO that will
| the alternative of war eliminated from the In
| dian question, and the most powerful and hostile
bands OF to-day thrown in entire helpleSSnesS on
| the mercy of the government. Indeed, the prog
| reSs of two years more, if not of another sum-
mer, on the Northern Pacific railroad, Will of
| itself completely solve the great Sioux problem,
and leave the 10000 Indians ranging between
| the two trans-condnental lines as incapable of
| resisting the government as arc the Indians of
| New York or Massachusetts. Columns moving
| north from the Union Pacific and south from the
| Northern Pacific would crush the Sioux and
| their contederateS as between the upper and the
neither millstones while the rapid movement of
| troops along the northern line would prevent
| the escape Of the SayageS, when hard pressed,
| into the British possessions, which have hereto
fore afforded convenient refuge on the ap-
| proach of a military expedition. Toward the
| south the day of delverance from the fear of
Indian hostility is more distant, yet il is not
too much TO expect that three summers of
of the power Of the tribes and bands which at
present disturb Colorado, Utah. Arizona and
New Mexico 10 claim the consideration Of the
country in any other attitude than as pension
ers upon the national bounty. The railroads
now under construction, or projected with Tea-
s0nable assurance of early completion, will
multiply four fold the striking force of the army
in that section. The little riffs OF mining settle
ments, now found all through the mountains of
the southern territories, will have become self
protecting communities. The feeble wavering
line of agricultural occupation, now sensitive to
the laintest breath of Indian hostility, will then
have grown to be the powerful reserve TO lines
still! more closely advanced upon the last range
OF the lntractable tribes. No one certainly will
rejoice more heartily than the present commits
Sloner when the Indians of this country cease to
be in a position to dictate in any form or degree
10 the government; when, in fact, the last hos
tile tribe becomes reduced to the condition of
supphants for charity This is indeed the only
hope OF salvation for The aOOrigines Of the CONT
nent. IL they stand up against the progress of
civilization and industry, they must be relent-
essly crushed. The westward course of popu-
ation is neither to be denied nor DELAYED for the
sake Of all the Indians that ever called this
country their home. They must yield or per-
ish."
General Walker has not much faith in the pos
sbility of the Indians ever obtaining 4 position
Of independence and equality with the whites
Their permanent position, he thinks, must be
that of dependents, subjected to legalized, re-
iormatory control by the agents of the govern
ment. Disarmins them is not enough. The
report is, on the whole, the abest, most intelli.
gent and honest discussion of the Indian ques-
lion that has been presented by any commits
sioner, so far as our memory extends.