Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-03-13
The Indian Agents and Traders

The Indian has no means OF
knowing how much in value or
how many presents of any KIND
the Government, the "Great Faith
err as he terms it, has sent him.
For knowledge on this point he
must accept the statement of the
agent. The goods sent by the
Government are generally those
which would most please an In
dams fancy. The Indian trader
usually keeps goods of a similar
character. The trader is most
frequently particular friend of
the agent, often associated with
him in business. and in many in
stances holds his position of ira
der at the instance of the agent.
They are always located near each
other. The trader is usually pres
ent at the distribution of annui-
ties. If the agent,instead of dis
tributing to the Indians all of the
goods intended for them by the
Government, only distributes one
half and retains the ,other half,
who is to be the WISER Not the
Indian, defrauded though he may
be, for he is ignorant of how
much is coming to him. The
word ofthe agents his only guide.
He may complain a little, express
some disappointment at the lin
tied amount of presents, and init
mate that the ''Great Father''has
dealt out the annuities with a
sparing hand, but the agent ex-
plains it by referring to some de.
probation which he knows the
tribe to have been guilty of in
times past, or if he is not aware
OF any particular instance of guilt
he charges them generally with
having committed such acts,
knowing one can scarcely go
amiss In accusing a tribe of occa
sionally Staying white man, and
ends up his charge by informing
them that the "Great Father"
learning of these little irregular
tiles In their conduct, and being
pained greatly thereat, felt com
PEELED to reduce their allowance
OF blankets, sugar, coffee, etc.,
when at the same time the miss
ing portion of said allowance is
safely secured in the storehouse
OF the agent near by. Well, but
how can he enrich himself in this
manner! it may be asked. By
simply, and unseen by the Indi
ans, transferring the unissued Dor
ton of the annuities from his
government storehouses to the
trading establishment of his
friend the trader. There the
boxes are unpacked and their
contents spread out for barter
with the Indians. The latter. in
gratifying their wants, are forced
to purchase from the trader at
prices which are scores of times
the value ofthe article offered. |
have seen Indians dispose of buff
falo robes to traders, which were
worth from fifteen to twenty dol
lars each, and get in return only
ten to twenty cups of brown SUI
gar,the entire value of which did
not exceed two or three dollars.
This is one Of the many ways
agents and traders have Of amass-
ing sudden wealth. Ihave known
the head chiefs of a tribe to rise
in council in the presence of 9TH
er chiefs and of officers of the
army, and accuse his agent, then
present, of these or similar dis
honest practices. Is it to be won
dered at that the position of ira
der among the Indians is greatly
sought after by men determined
to become rich, but not particular
as to the manner of doing so9 Or
is it to be wondered at that army |
officers, who are often made aware |
OF the injustice done the Indian
yet are powerless to prevent it,
and who trace many of our diff |
culties with the Indians to these
causes, should urge the abolish
ment OF system which has prov
en- itself so fruitful in fraud and
dishonest dealing toward those
whose interests it should be their
duty to Life on the
Plains by General G.. a. Custer
an March GALAXY.