New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-11-14
rs the Iasiaa Policy Failure i!
BS HON. d. Il. CowEN, ASSISTANT SECRE-
TAEY or THE INTERIOR


BS HON. d. Il. CowES, ASSISTANT SECRE
TAHf or THE INTERIOR.
IL the pabie were TO credit the surreI
runners In regard to the Indian policy of tn
Government, it would he forced to the con
clusion that its authors and managers la
about decided it to he failure, and that
change OF policy was decided upon. A care
ial analysis of these rumors will reveal thei
origin to be identical with the many other er
roneous statements relative to the policy ant
designs OF the Administration. Were thes.
rumofs confined to their oIginatOrs--th,
managers OF the opposition press-their ei
iect would be ia a great measure neutralizel
by the weil-known character Of the inventors
whose genius in that line is only eSualed b)
the malignity of their Inventions and designs
But some of these stories about the supposed
failure OF the Indian policy having found ttei,
way into friendly newspapers, and having been
repeated by persons who would rot knowingly
misrepfesent the acts Of the President, it il
obligatory upon those who are in possession
OF correct information on the subject to en-.
deayor to communicate that information tn
the public.
The Indian policy Of the Government il not
failure! Under former Administrations In
dian wars of greater or less magnitude were
OF almost annual occurrence. Enormous ex-
pense was incurred and heavy loss of life re-
suited from the efforts Of the Government to
compel the 1Rdans to submit to a system
which Is said to have been little better than
lega.ized scheme Of imposition and outrage
whenever the Indian was driven to resist his
oppressOrs, he was looked upon as the as-
gress0r, his severe punishment PROM tly fol-
lowed, and was generally regarded as a siIl-
pie act OF justice. The Indian had no hist0-
rlan--no newspaper organ to tell the world
the truth with regard to his treatment He
was, doubtless, often in the wrong--often
committed Outrages without prOyOcation, aud
deserved all the punishment he received.
But he was as eften sinaed against as SHINING
ears Of such treatment had confirmed
the Indian ia the idea that the white man was
his natural enemy, and that he had better
die lighting than by the slower operations of
the systematic imposition under which be
suffered. 1t was under such circumstances
that General Grant came into the Executive
Office. A policy was soon after promulgated
which was IN accordance with the views be
had formed Of the Indian character during
his service at frontier posts His experience
there had convinced him that the Indians
were as amenable to kindness aud lust treat
ment as any other class Of equal intelligence,
ana he telt confident that, so soon as they
could be made to understand that the Gov
eminent Intended to treat them kindly and
justly, making it tn their interest to become
peaccahle, they would behave themselves.
Neither the President nor any OF the
especial friends and advocates Of the new
policy ever claimed or believed that its ariop-
ton would at once put a stop to all Indian
disturbances. 1t required much time To in
and set in working order the new
policy. 1t required much more time to reach
the indians with efforts to convince them of
the good faith of the Government. The natu-
rally suspicious character OF the indian had
been deepened by long years of unjust treat
ment, and more than words was needed to
change his opinion OF the whites. While
this was being done, what more natural re-
suit could be looked for than martial con-
tinuance OF former outbreaks and disturb
ances: That these outbreaks became more
intrequent within very short time after the
adoption of the new policy must be counted
as largely in its favor. That they have not
yet entirely ceased may be attributed to the
fact that all the tribes have not yet been
reached by the new influences and appll-
ances; or, having been reached, they are
not yet convinced that the Government is
willing to cOndone all past ohenses and enter
upon so different a policy.
The assertion has been made recently that
an entire change Of policy has been agreed
upon. This impression, if the assertion be
made in good faith, doubtless grows out of
the fact that it seems to be necessary in some
localities to invoke military aid to suppress
Indian depredations. It is an error to sup
pose that the existing policy ever contem-
plated the withdrawal Of military force ia any
case where it might seem to be needed. No
one has ever aathOritatively claimed that the
new policy does not embrace military assist
ance in all cases where the usual appliances
are inadequate to protect the whites from
indicn depredations. Official reports have
repeatedly stated this to be very important
part OF the new policy, the alternative to be
applied il case Of the tailAre Of peaceful
efforts.
To charge asw, when aecessity may
have arisen for the paaishuaent Of any tribe
OF band, that the policy is failure and has
been abandoned, shows utter ignorance of
the whole subject or wiilful saisre plesenta.
ton.
SO tar from the policy being taiiare, the
experience Of the past season has served
more fully to yi1dieate, the wisdom and
affords encouraging eyideRce Of its capacity
to deal with most difficult problem Of gov
ernment. 1t has thus far proven as effiea-
caoias as Its most saaguine friends have ever
anticipated. It vas an experiment entered
upon with many uisgivngs by officials charged
with its execution. 1t was at the, mercy Of
blaaderers, and had to contend with The
prejudices, ridieuie, and misrepresentation
which usually assasls any attempted radical
change Of lOag-estabtished customs. 1t ar
rayed against it those politicians who desired
to retain control Of desirable patronage,
But it has almost eutlived all these, and il
daily commanding itself more and more, moi
only to the Christian community, which sees
in it vast opportunities for the elevation Of 6
| race, but to The honest, thiakisg men Of tht
nation, as web, who see ia the changed pod
icy measure Of justice and economy which
stamps it as an enterprise Of sound and wise
statesmanshp.-N. Y independent.
Cost Of TunaeIs.
| The Times, ia an article ea the Easlisl
Channel tunnel, gives the following list O
first-class tunnels, with their costs:
The Mont Gems tunnel, e., 400, 400 So
OOO,0 900.
| The Kilsbuy tnAael in Englaad, estimate,
at 200, 900, cost at least 1856, 600 81 $50
600, ewing to vast quantities of water ifoI
a Al