New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-21
PROPER TREATMENT OF THE INDIANS.

PROPER TREATMENT OF THE INDIANS.
rr7-rp FROM GEN. sHERMAN-HOw THE INDIANS
WOULD BE TREATED BY THE AHNY-wEAKNEss
OF THE PEACE PoLICY-THE MoDoCs.
Cen. sherman, who has had many opportunl-
ties OF forming correct estimate OF the INDIANS, mas
written letter to friend in Washington, from which
tbe following extracts made Of especial interest
at tins time;
The army has no "policy" about Indians or anything
else Il voice IN Congress- out accepts the aws
officials ana executes them with as much lntelngenee'
fidelity and humanity as any other oouy VI ~ feto
the Indians and Indian Bureau were un1ef the 20
partment that nearly all the clyliLallon anu IN
Cured under army supervision. To-day, III case an
70 appeal 10 the commanding officer OF the nearest
military post than 20 his own agent Iot IN lne One S
whereas in the other nothing OF the KIND III
IKE manner believe the annultes 10 treaty indians
wOuld reach the parties in interest quite as surrey
fbrou Oh army officers through civilians. Ana When
indians nave committed depredatODs-ds u very com
mon-and the annutes are chargeaDle win me amount
OF damages such stOppages could more safely De made
by commanding officer having soldiers AZ hs DacK tlAh
by agent afraid Of his fe-as 700 many OF Ie are
aud have reason be. The present Indian agents as
class very good mem out they Ack the FORCE 'he
The existing policy, usually called the peace policy u
20 gradually assemble the wandering tribes on feselva
tons, with boundaries clearly Geuneu anu llei ~
civilians 70 instruct them IN agriculture ana the rnheT
arts ana educate them as far as possible 10 this /
think army officer objects. Ana IurtheI Nheh INC
Indians their reservations 20 steal murder ana
they fall under the lurlsdcllOh OF inc army
nis the theoretical condition OF things, but II would
require ten times our present army 20 make coIVl
around the reservations that murders are done the
stealing Of cattle horses, &c perpetrated ana the III
diaus quickly escape their reservations Where lhe
trnops cannot follow them that IN TACT thest
mons help them In their lucrative business am safe IN
I saving that half the horses ana mules now oNue1 ~
tbe Kiowas COmanches. Cheyennes, Afapahoes olouA'
6c-all treaty Indians, all at peace Win hgeIeles
and anuuitles-haye been stolen from thc IiIleu
stfes or from have myself seen AT the hlo"a
and Comanche agency, and AT several Of the sioux
agences. and mules branded u . ea W 20 20
/ hacked with annuity goods. ana never heAEn OF an
agent demanding the restitution OF one IOf tbal ro
80 tiouash murders of frequent occurrence 40
not hear the murderers being sufrendsiea, ~ ~
required by the treaties NO se"1 80,
mic an answer the government OF every rlbe, gu.
each ust e treated according 10 their Conduct ahn
mink the army officers better quallhed 70 luuee
thao tie average OF ctlzens though am ~ no means
Gus that lls disageeahie duty should be ~ Poe'u
On IA III the Christian agents can Oetttf coht4p. ~,
sid euvages wish them ali success, Dht surrey tu'
wnie people who venture intO tho wilderness 70 IAoo
ana to are entitled tho DrOtoc non Oi thcF fos IN"