New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-02
INDIAN PROBLEMS.

| A OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES NECESSARY REFORMS IN
OUR POLICY.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR TO any one even very partially ac-
kquainted with the history o. indian affairs 1t must
be matter Of grave surprise TO find not only the people
In general but the Indian Peace Commissioners them
selves, In their last official report assuming that an In
dian peace policy is new IN our government; by
quence, that, up TO the present Administration this
great Christian nation has been making war on these
savage people. Such assumption IS cruelty unjust.
not only all past Presidents bu. also TO the present
Executive, who. following the footsteps Of his prede-
cessors has not failed any sgnay than tho best
or wsest OF them II is unfair either TO credit him with
| the orlgnation Of an Indian peace policy hold him
responsible for its disastrous results His error lies
| in not learning from the experience Of the past HIS
natural persistence leads him TO fight 1t out on thn
line :" but he changed base from spottsylVana; an"
when line has proved, for half century or more To 10
one disastrous failure, 1t Is time TO change base koDer'
Dale owen his father thought he was enuncstihs
new truths when only repeating the dognas Oh fa'
and his mistake hnds parallel in the Charming SIN
pllcity with which the Peace.Commissoners speak OF
| their work.
From first to last our national policy toward Indians
has been peace, peace, peace, at any price, different
Presidents have used different means, bat the central
idea has always been peace and the Improvement OF our
savage neghbors. When went TO Minnesota Territory
early in 1851 conversation there was largely nterspered
anecdotes OF the peace pOicles OF tbt len
present and past Administrations aud OF their attempts
10 oyiize and Christanze Indians through the inter
yenton OF Christian missionaries and sect I'd u that
/ time the Presbyterian and Baptist missionaries had
served the Government right eye aud right hand IN
managing Minnesota Indians; but the outbreak OF 1862
made the Indian frauds so palpable that Mr. Lincoln
changed his Indian advisers aud the management
in that State to Bishop Whpple. Mr. johnson continued
this arrangement AS Ihave no proof that Qiakers and
Methodsts are superior in shrewdness and integrity to
Presbyterians, Baptists and Episcopalansi as INC
present Commission congratuates the country on being
rid Of Mr. JohnsOns agents. as must believe that bshop
Whipple Is Christian gentleman and devoted friend Oh
the Indian aud abundant proof that the stealing
under his regime far surpassed any former acnis'e-
ments in that line must believe that the near future
will prove that thetealng now going on IN the lhuah
Department SURPRISES everything In the past IL Is
plain oglcal deduction This Department Is the noticed
in which were first the seeds OF official peeatloni
| There the plant has grown and matured ana
thence Ia. scattered its winged embryos broadcast
Some OF these have grown tall aud strong. especially
those the Credit MOber garden but no one mas ever
approached specimens produced in this original sort
For meanness, cruelty, and cowardce no other act OF
Official corruption has equaled the least Of our In
dian frauds. After a while will have another " in
yestigaton" conducted on that approved plan OF pety
and poeness which speaks dsapproving!y OF theft and
leaves the thieves quiet possession Of their plumber
That the present Commission does not materially differ
from all past Commissions is plainly Indicated by the
false position has assumed the representation OF
primary peace policy This assumption is full of false
hood aud must weaken confidence either In the inte-
| gence or integrity of the Commissioners.
| THE INDIAN AS FARMER.
In the Spring OF 1851 there thousands or dollars
worth agricultural implements sent ont by the Gov
ernment for the of Indians lying rotting on the
prairies of Minnesota and. far as could carn not
one red hand on plow. Hundreds Of acres that had
been fenced and broken for them lay out unncosed re-
! claimed by nature. Houses that had been built Tor
them were burned like the fences, or were going TO
pieces Government agents had fenced aud powed ana
planted for them at cost, while most OF them
sat looking like and Others aided the agents as
the best way TO win favor with power whose rewards
of merit embrace Spencer rifles, ammunition, aud scalp
ingkniyes. Then. TO wash away the stain OF having
done "sauaw's work. they picked out tho seed Tor
present use turned in their ponies to eat the growing
| crop These last are good Indians who conde-
| scend to listen TO the peace pow-wows OK
Commissioners and are gracious enough 20 grunt
| occasionally by way of answer These good Indians
will listen to any amount Of talk will act as guides glVe
information get their hair cut be bapsed even noe corn
an hour sometimes IL the inducement Is strong enough
but Western settlers afraid of them than OF bad
Indians one old chief who especially willing to be
civilized had had house built and furnished for him.
| aud had taken possession early In the summer Inc
agent was 50 proud of his model Indian that he made
quite journey visit him late in the Fall and see that
his wants supplied but was no little surprised 70
see Mr. Caef quietly smoking in the door OF wlgwam,
built by his squaw stones throw from the house Agent
swore like the army in Flanders. Chief paced him by
assurances that house good in Summer, but never
do for Winter" number of BOYS had been educated by
the missionaries Some had learned in Eastern colleges
TO read Latin and had been nonized by Eastern people,
but failed to pass examination, when they returned to
their tribes and asked 10y the old warriors to make
an arrowhead, build canoe, clean gun, ride pony
shoot a buck do anything else which indian intel
gence could recognize good or useful. They were s
failures and the public sentiment of their tribes made
| most OF them vagabonds Hole-Inthe-D Day permitted
his son and heir taught in mission school IN ST.
Paul, where he became a good English scholar ana
| dandy. Government built him sixroom frame cot
tage which his tribe finally burned, but In which no
lived many years of elegant leisure with six wives,
| who used TO raise crop OF corn and other Vege-
tables. mats and keep my lord comfortable lie
always had plenty OF money given HIN by the Govern,
| ment and when he travelled, he went IN style, Wouu
attend church in ST. Paul with the most aristoeratic
lady on his SIT in the front pc W. and dine with tue
| Governor. on his last visit 20 Washington he gOt
$4,000 and seventh wife, aud was more than ever tho
to drive the Mormons out Of GSah for having more
| wives than one.
The INDIANS AS PoLYGAMoUs AS THE MoRMoss.
Every Indian tribe is organized band OF which the
central idea poygamy and the absolute slavery Of its
| women, while its whole code Is much opposed 10
Christianity any law OF Bengal which Christian peo-
pie have called upon the British Government repeal;
vet the united Christian sentiment OF this country has
maintained these cruel heathenisms on our own soil.
and powerful Christian society The indian Aid As
sociaton" demands that the Government shall
cede from every step Il has taken toward breaking up
How can these people who send professional mission
aries to all sorts of heather, assume such attitude
the day in work Of civzng aud Outstanding
the race How they grant 70 every IDLE naked saw
age privilege IL it be privilege, which they deny 20
the Mormon, who, whatever his faults, does al Ieasb
| make the wilderness blossom as the rOSet
ne ALA ly AZ haN Wprk q