Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-04-22
TIE INDIAN QUESTION.

Statement presented in the article are of par |
ticnlar interest now, in view of the recent |
treachery and consequent war against the
Modocs.
The whole number of Indians within the
United States Exclusive Of Alaska) is about
800, 900 or nearly the same as the number of
emigrants who annually come to our shores.
1t will surprise many to be told that there are
only "a 900 of these with whom the govern !
ment is obliged to contemplate the possibility
of war The actually depredating bands dur
ing the past year have not exceeded seven |
thousand. The great body of the Indians are
either rendered powerless for armed resis-
ed by the progress of population, or they are
not fighting Indians, having neither the individ
ual courage nor the instinct Of confederation
emitting them to be reckoned among the hos.
tile tribes. Then there are other powerful
bodies which by reason of traditional friend |
ship and their frequent alliance with our
troops are sure to remain the friends of the
government under any tolerable treatment
Certain tribes are kept at peace by being fur
nished with subsistence. The expense Of this
one seventh the total cost of poor support in
the United States. 1t seems shameful
thing that great country like ours, burdened
with taxation, should pay black mail to this
amount, feeding fifty thousand insolent and
idle sayages, who think they are comforting a
distinguished honor upon the country by con-
senting to accept their living from it. But
this temporizing policy is altogether the most
economical course, whether reckoning life or
money saved. Thousands of exposed pio-
necrs are thus saved from the most dreadful
forms of death.
Then as to the pccuniary side of the qucs-
| ton, few have an adequate idea of what an In
dian war costs. We talk glibly about exter.
minating Immediately the bands of savages,
but the thing is not so easily done.
The Cheyenne war of 1864 waged against
less than thousand warriors, cost the gov
ernment thirty million dollars. Fifteen or
twenty Indians were killed at an expense of
more than a million dollars apiece. 1t is so
much more costly to spill their blood than to
fill their bellies. 1t is estimated that gener-
al Indian war which should seek the complete
subjugation of the hostile tribes, small as they
are in numbers, would involve an expense
during the year Of largest preparations and
largest operations. Tax payers will appreci-
ate the strength Of this argument for main
tanning peace, especially since the progress Of
settlement is continually bringing nearer to
close the necessity of pensioning the saw
ages. As to the future of the abor.gines
Mr.. Walker does not believe them to be in
capable of civivilization. Indeed ninety seven
THOUSAND are already accounted as civilized,
and one hundred and twenty Ave thousand are
emi-civilized. The condition of the Chero-
KEGS is far better than that of the agricultu-
raj classes of England. They have their
churches and academies, their judges and
courts, and all orphans of the tribe are main
tanned at the public expense. The Pawnees
are laying aside their ferocious animosities
and progressing in the arts OF peace. There
are examples enough to chow that Indian civ
ilization is not impossible.
| With reference to the course of the govern
ment, the writer holds that the reservation
system should be made the general and per-
manent policy. The good of both races re-
quires that the Indians should be secluded
from the whites. The various tribes should
all be consolidated into one or two great bod.
les, leaving all the remaining territory open
to settlement without molestation or obstruc.
ton. The intrusion of whites upon lands re.
served to Indians should be effectualy pre-
vented. The eagerness of the average Amer
can citizen of the territories for getting upon
Indian lands amounts to passion. The rug
gedest flint hill Of the Cherokees or Sioux is
sweeter to him to him than the groenest
pasture which lies open to him under the
homestead laws of the United States. Usurp-
alton has been carried so far in some locali-
ties that an Indian reservation might be de-
fined as that portion of the soil to which the
Indians have no right whatever. On the
other hand the red man must be compelled to
stay on his reservation and liberal provision
be made for his partial subsistence through the
painful transition from the hunter life to the
agricultural state.
The Indians are not of necessity a doomed
race. They may not be destined to die out
so soon as most persons suppose. Some of
the tribes are increasing, especially those that
have come to a degree under the conditions
OF civilized life. The Indian may bear re-
striction as well as the negro has borne eman-
clpation, and after an inevitable loss conse-
quent upon the great change. adapt himself
with increased vitality to new form of life |
G. G. M.
The Boston Herald says: 1t is intimated |
that the New York and New England Rail |
read Company, which succeeds to all the |
rights and franchises of the Roston Har,G,rd