New-York tribune., 1872-07-16
INDIAN MISMANAGEMENT.

Here at last, is Jealous servant of the
Administration entering the lists as a defender
of the so-called Indian policy of President
Grant. He considers THE TRIBUNE Inconsistent
because, while it has favored an attempt at
civiizing the Indians, it now believes in a
severe policy towards the Arizona ApaChes
If there is anything truly admirable about
Grants Administration, cries this Friend of
Humanity, it is his Indian policy. And what
pray, is that policy? Does any mortal man
know7 Is it not to send the aborigines hymn
books and plows one day and cavalry and
death the next? Has not this tickle and un
systematic policy been mere grotesque
mixture of bullets and bibles, rifles and rakes
COlyer and calicoq 1t is not because peaceful
attempts at humanizing the poor abOrigines
have been made that we have grown weary
and discouraged; but this changeful and half
hearted treatment has thoroughly sickened
every observer with the mismanagement which
is now dignified by the name of "a policy"
When the President announced his intention
of trying to bring the Indians under the bene-
ficent influences of the arts of peace, no one
was more hearty in applauding the motives
and plan Of the experiment than THE TRB-
gestions which have been made in these col
umns for years. 1t promised good results: in
its general application it was based upon hu-
manitarian and cOmmon-sense ideas. What
has been effected7 We have made no refer
ence to the result in other parts of the Union
than Arizona; but in that Territory, as
we showed the other day, there has
been nothing but confusion and series
of blunders, which has cost hundreds
of valuable lives and millions of dollars in
property. The Government, with its frivolous
and tickle policy, has succeeded only in en-
broiling the citizens in war, and has, by series
of the most extraordinary mistakes, only en-
couraged the Apaches (who are a wild, un-
tamable race) to believe that they are to be
left at last masters of the situation. Peace
missions have alternated with military cam
paigns with as much regularity as the changes
of the moon follow each other, until to-day,
when we can safely defy any man to tell
whether the rich and naturally productive Ter
ritory of Arizona is under the military surveil-
lance of Gen. Crook and his cavalry, or the
preachers of Vincent Coyer and Gen. Howard.
But we will go further, and say that the
peace policy has never promised well with the
Apaches. 1t failed utterly under Colyers
management; and when, after his return, the
Arizona people yet left alive learned that Gen.
Crook had orders to commence hostile opera
tiops against those who remained in the field,
defiant, they took heart OF the blunders
which followed, the changing of troops in the
Territory, the conflicting orders from Wash
ington, and the ineffective mission of Gen.
Howard, we have previously spoken at length.
And now, the unhappy Territory is again
deuged with blood; and, while the President
and his advisers are worrying about the can
vass in North Carolina, the Apaches are
having their own wild will in Arizona. Only
the other day, The Ala California, a servile
Grant sheet, spoke thus of this boasted
policy:
While Gen. Howard Ia taking his pets, the Apache
Chiefsi they may be termed such-around the country
at the countrys expense introducing them TO the Pres
dent and with the high officials listening to their pro-
fessons OF peaceful desires and intentions their fellow
Indians in Arizona are, usual engaged in their long
time aud fayorite occupation OF tneft pa and murder
Not mail reaches MS that does not contain accounts OF
hese vurages War with everybody IS their normal con