The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-02
THE PEACE COMMISSIONS REPORT
Misrepresentation of Fact and
Sinking Of Responsibility.
A SERIES OF SENSIBLE SUGGESTIONS.
The Peace Men Called Upon to Cease Reviling
the Settlers and TO Civilize the Indian.


TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
As friend and supporter OF the present admin
HtratiOn ! cannot be charged with any act OF
hostility II comment upon what deem to have
been erroneous in the management and cOnstruc-
ton OF Its Indian policy q subject now OF utmost
Importance and OF complicated features. In COM
mon with the people OF oregon, desire to assist
the government In it's endeavor to carry out just
and humane treatment OF its Indian wards; but
do not wish to assent to policy which deem in.
efictual, either by its merits improper enforce
ment and shall only make my assertions applica-
BILE to the country in which l am specially in
terested-O Oregon and Washington Territory. 1t
has become custom In the Fast to call every In
dian war or disturbance on the Pacific coast an
act caused by the dishonesty OfUregonians for pur-
poses Of speculation, and to speak freely of their
usual cruelty and nhumanity toward the red
man. In the formation Of this custom officials at
Washington have lent their aid, until now the
people OF that western coast can be branded as
''berder ruffians," and destitute Of humane in
stinct and feeling, by Official speakers before
Washington audiences, and without any reason
therefor other than the complaint of Digger
Indian or the scribbngs OF an irresponsible CORE
spondent. Twenty years Of life in Oregon, and an
acquaintance with probably three-fourths OF It's
citizens, enable me to claim them the peers of any
in their peaceabe and law-abding character and
true humanity. Those years have mostly been
spent in official relations, which have brought me
into good knowledge as to how the Indians are
treated there.
TREATMENT OF INDIANS IN OREGON.
The Secretary Of the Interior, In his ex-
PLANTATION Of what he terms the "Quaker policy,n
gives us to infer his opinion OF that treat
ment; for he says now, "Under its influence
Quaker policy it is hoped that humanity and
m tn "a hp nj hor horitv
cruelty" as though up to the golden era OF peace
policy 'barbarity and crueltyv had alone
characterized the Indian policy. Such IN
limited and unguarded expressions teach
strangers to form mproner conclusions.
Neither barbarity nor cruelty form an
element in the laws Of oregon and Washington
Territory; nor do they enter into social ethics
there nor in the twenty OF control Of Indians
upon reservations there an instance indicative
OF either be found. In the main find no FAULT
with the peace policy; but find Insists friends
claim that it is about to accomplish wonders, when.
in fact, those very things have existed in full force
and beauty for years in oregon. In order to ex-
plain my meaning quote from the official expla-
nation OF the Quaker policy. The first proposition
is "to place the Indians upon reservations, &c. and
provide for them as the dictates of humanity ana
Christian civilization require" Is that anything
newf Has 1t solely accomplished this In Oregon
and in Washington Terrtory2 assert that not
single thing the kind has been done since its
Inauguration. The Indians IN all that coast west
OF the Cascade Mountains had been long time
residents upon reservations, and the work OF
civilzing and instructing the Indians was carried
on years ago as fully as now and as successfully.
THE RESERvATIo PLAN.
Turning to the Eastern portion OF that coun-
try, the only effort to put Indians upon reser-
vations under that policy is this lamentable
Modoc failure. Now, just as before the rowing
bands Of the Umatillas continue to live where
they please and plumber where they cam Bands
OF the Yakimos, Simcoes and Warm Springs
have never been placed upon their reservations,
and they stretch along the Columbia River from
Priests Rapids to the Cascades. The Modocs are
deserters of four years. standing. Klamath River
bands are but nomads The great band OF Snakes,
claiming near a third part of Oregon, conquered
and treated with years ago, have no reservation,
but are held under military rule; no Quaker policy
OF improvement for them. Unfriendly bands of
Nez Perces control one-third OF Union county, not
only away IRON their reservation, but outside OF
Idaho Territory, their home, and across the Snake
River, and to-day they threaten danger and death
to the settlers of Walowa Valley They
have so acted for a long time, and, until
the M0doc I'm peasantness arose, no peace commits
sion has visited them. The government well
knows that these bands take with them their thou
sands OF horses that trespass upon the unprotected
lands ana crops of settlers and in the enjoyment
OF their fishery treaty rights they wronguly bring
from their reservations every horse they own,
UNTIL in and about the fishery of Tumwater, five
miles from my house, and adjacent points, have
seen at least four thousand horses feeding for
months upon the lands claimed by settlers and
upon adjacent lands, consuming that which is the
property OF the whites. Yet no settler dare to pas
ture his stock within reservation limits under
penalty, because the Indians complain; in other
words, an Indians complaint prevails over white
settlers protests and shapes government policy
These things are fast rlpening into collisions
and should have been removed long ago. The
citizens viii lose faith in the efficiency OF a
policy, which, processing to create an Indian mil
iennium, tails 10 MAINTAIN the first propositions OF
It's policy, and fails to operate more kindly and
successfully than the old plan. They universally
favor policy that shall be humane and Christian
izing, without losing sight OF Justice to both the
white and red races. The past experience, under
the quaker policy, only suggests and establishes
the belief that Justice has been laid aside, and
Therefore tins latter generally fails, in civil
tzed cities and chrch-going communities, ana
faith always evaporates when founded upon
failures.
Again, the Secretary says:-"lt Is the determine
tion OF this policy to that all supplies-l0od or
clothing, purchased ior Indians upon reservations
are procured at fair and reasonable prices, without
their purchase" SO say we ali in one unanimous
verdict This statement liners that, heretofore,
the custom has been to cheat the Indian and
squander government funds. 1t Is sad con-
fession. Government must have known OF these
evils at the time. OF commission, or very
shortly after for sh0ddy articles out soon and
complaint follows from the wearer, and an inspec-
lion OF commercial price lists would have exposed
that the Confession is that. with knowledge OF
frauds, no enort has hitherto hoen made to inter-
pose some check to such acts, and the assertion
now Is that the Quaker policy Is alone competent
to reform abuses. II government has winked at
such things the people have not ana will say
shame on such failure in duty Let the depart
ments at washington proclaim the fraudulent
things done and the names OF the doors and the
reform will follow. What new reasons have been
furnished to convince the people that the Quaker
policy alone can prevent crime and stop financial
leaks Can 1t plan out some new Credit MobIlier
bhall IL be placed In Congress- alone or In the