Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1872-11-14

Can the Indians be Civilized?
we have adverted to the fact that the
Indians. hereafter be held to n
tstr;cter accountability, and that any
failure on their part to reciprocate the
kind intentions OF the government viii
be no longer overlooked Or suffered to
90 unpunished. Ii is reasonably as
lsuIned that they, as well as the govern
ment. have certain obligations TO fulfil
| and that the sooner they understand
their responsibilities the better for both
white and red men. We have also re-
feTred to the former manner OF holding
lcouncils with the Indians-Surrounding
them with armed troops and then ex-
! ltorting promises from them which they
never failed to break as soon as released
from restraint. Ali this has been
icllanged under the present policy. Ev-
lery special commissioner of the gov
iarnmant TO the Indians is Captain
John Saith; he peuetrates into the
heart of the red mans country unac-
Icon panied even by a eorporal's guard,
and boldly confronting them in their
native wild5 wins peaceful victory
by moral sdasion alone. ~
/ III his late expedition to the upper
i Missouri, Gen. CoWen, Assistant Secre-
Ftary of the Interior, acting in the ca
4 pacity of a special commissioner, left
forts, and even the habitations of white
linen, five hundred miles in the rear,
tentefed the wilderness, and calling the
hostile braves from the war path and
4 the chase, held a grand council, and
4 ifearlessIy told them the. Intentions OF
1.-THE government. For thirty-five days
Inc was assurrounded by from three hun
dred to five hundred savages, all arm
led to the teeth, and yet they respected
him, and said they knew he was "big
lchief,fs because he did not bring any
lsoidiers TO enforce his demands. Gen
1eraIf walker, Gen. Howard and other
/ Especial commissioners pursued the same
il course, and, as is known, with salutary
tresults. ? i@
The wisdom ST bringing the principal
q lsaefiems to Washington to make known
their grievances and hear the wishes
liDf the government has been fully dem.
} Ionstrated. Red Cloud, Spotted Tail
medicine Bear, and other Influential
.lchiefs who have been here, have re
tlturned well pleased with their visii
land strengthened in their determine
/ ton to keep tkeir young men from the
: war path. In all the councils with The
: Indians the officers OF the government
lare expected 20 maintain an infiexiblt
attitude. They first listen to grievance
t, and then inform the Indians what ths
4 government is willing to do toward.
1 righting their wrongs; what compensa
ton they viii receive for good behav
, ior; and, finally, plainly tell them tina
lany Wh0 QeYiat0 from the eOIIrS0 mark
ed out for them by the goyeinmen
|. will be summsrily punished.
2 No inconsiderable work has beer
o done during the past four years by th'
agents OF the, government and th'
board of Indian commissioners, in thl
e direction of civilizing the Indian anC
' teaching him the arts of peace. In /
late Communication to the New Yorl
Lideleldent, Hon. James A. Garfield
t who has lately returned from missiol
! to the Indians of the northwest, says o
the work of tae commissioners
' That work consists in breaking u
Q lands, in putting in crops, in erecting
: ihouses, In building and maintaining
n mills, in teaching the simpler trades; il
: short, in laying the foundation amon
the Indians of practical civilized living
lIfto this can be added habit of own
ling property in severalty; of havin
e small farms, well titled and Stoke
I-lwith their own cattle and horses; an
r if, above all, their reservations shall b
r carefully and rigidly protected agains
, the encroachments of the whites, ther
may yet be saved a remnant of thi
! Iperishing race. p WASHINGTON Star.