New-York tribune., 1873-05-05
A SOLDJER,S WAY.

Gen. Crook has conquered peace with the
Arizona Apaches. Exactly how he did 1t may
be told in few words. He withheld his hand
from Indians who kept their reservations; but
those whom he found wandering about he
smote hip and thigh. Every Apache had
been made to understand that he had no right
off his allotted reserve. He knew what to
expect when caught trespassing; and he
caught it. We are glad TO see by late semi
official dispatch from Washington that the
President considers this exactly his policy
The trouble has heretofore been that the
Peace Policy put the Indians on reservations,
but it also prevented their punishment when
they left on doubtful errands. Gen. Crooks
wav is to keep the white mans word i'm
plicitly with the Indians both when they keep
and when they break their own word. How
much would have been saved to the country
and to humanity if this had always been the
rule of national conduct with the red men!
Considering the pressure which the Indian
question now has upon the popular apprehen-
sion, something may be learned from the cam
pa1gn in Arizona. The Apaches have for more
than two hundred years detied the white man,
whether he represented the power of Spain,
Mexico, or the United States. Everybody
knows how the well-ntentioned but variable
policy which Mr.. Vincent COlyer and Gen.
Howard carried to Arizona made the last
state of that Territory worse than the first.
A few months ago, the civilian agents being
withdrawn OF wholly subOrdinated in military
councils, Gen. Crook organized his forces, con-
sisting of thirteen companies of cavalry and
two hundred armed and uniformed friendly In
dians. With these he attempted vigorous police
duty. The Apaches pretended to have treaties
with the Peace Commissioners; but Gen. Crook
compelled them to adhere to the fundamental
principle of all agreements-the reservation
system. They were pursued and punished
without mercy when roaming among the scat
tered settlements; raids on OutpOsts and
ranches were instantly followed up by sharp
engagements with the cavalry; and the policy
of stern reprisals was so tenaciously enforced
that the incOrrgible Apaches were at last
compelled to sue for peace We have not
space for the details of the final talk at which
the Apaches, on Sunday, April G, came under
the white flag, and solemnly agreed to lay
down their arms forever. A local chronicle
describes, with much fervor, the curious scene
when these widest of the wild Indians filed
alorg the banks of the Rio Verde to the
"big talko with Gen. Crook and his men.
One Shuzler Pan, an Apache of prOmi-
nence and renOwn, spoke for his tribe. He
said his people were much sickn of copper
cartridges; they had disturbed the peace and
safety of his young men for many moons past;
he and his men had nearly died on their feet
from watching and fasting; they were ready
fno tl,,t
fraudulent peace could be thought of. He
could have killed more Apaches if he had
chosen; but the Great Father at Washington
was willing to give them one more chance to
behave themselves. Shuzler Pan sorrowfully
confessed that he did not propose to change
his way of life because he liked the change;
but he thought even that better than dying
on his feet. Branching into polemics, the
Hon. Shuzler Pan said that the Great Spirit
had made the red men bad at heart, for
which the Great Spirit was very much to
blame; but he and his people were willing to
do as the General advised, since he had the
power, apparently, 10 undo the evils which
the Great Spirit had forced upon them. These
irreverent but weD-meant remarks were taken
in good faith, the swarthy convocation present,
even to the pack-laden women in the back
ground, looking on approyingly. Shuzler Pan
said that Del-chaye, a vagabond outlaw hiding
in tho mountains, wanted " come in and
make a peace for himself and band. Gen.
Crook said all were welcome; that they
should be treated like white men, so long as
they did well f; that they must support them
selves on their reservations that they should
have ample assistance in their rude attempts
at husbandy should be protected from bad