The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-10-16
The Indian Question.
From the Il Paso sentinel.l

n natural consequence Oh the lneluclcnI
and discreditable 1--WE might truthfully add
corrupt manner in which Indian affairs are
administered ON this frontier, is the fight
Of the Apache tribes of Indians from the
reservations at Fort Stanton, Tulerosa and
McIlae. The grief of our people over the
fight and the consequent breaking up of
the reservations, will not be inconsolable,
for long and dearly bought experience
has taught them that the reservations benefit
none but the Indians and the Indian Ring,
at the expense of the settler
Our experience has long since forced us
TO the conclusion, chat the Indian reserva-
tion system is fraught with evil conse-
quences to the frontiersman, and an abso-
lutte curse to the people for whose protec-
ton it is intended. 1t costs the nation mil
lions of money annually, and affords a
means by which amultitude of cormorants,
in the guise Of Indian Agents, fatten upon
the blood and substance of the struggling
settler. The hostile Indians having been
whipped into subsection, is placed upon the
reservation with his women and chill
dren, he is not only permitted to- re-
tain his horses and arms, but is af-
forded the opportunity he cannot meet
in his native wild, of purchasing from the
government agents the most improved
class of breech-loading arms and an
abundant supply Of ammunition. In a short
time they find themselves better armed,
mounted and rationed that the white set
tier can hope to be, and having no better
occupation, they seek and obtain permits
sion from the agent to leave the reservation
in small parties, ostensibly for the purpose
of hunting, then they sweep down upon the
unprotected settlements and rob and plum
der at will, and when they return to the
reservation they find ready market. Oc-
casionally the Federal troops, or armed par
ties Of settlers pursue and punish the rob-
bers and murderers, then howl is set up
by the entire Indian ring, and the country
is led to believe that the 'brutal whites"
have, without provocation, massacred inof-
fensiye Indians. The agent, with an air of
injured innocence, asserts that if the soldiers
and settlers lciU persist in attacking his peace
loving wards, that he cannot be held answer
able for the consequence We know of more
than one iIS.ance where stolen property has
been traced to a reservation and identified in
the possession of reserve Indians, and the
owners could not recover it, but were adj
vised to make claim against the govern
ment.
Not many years ago we were one of
party who pursued u predatory band of
Apache Indians, that had made bloody
raid upon the people of this valley. We
came upon them in camp in the grey of the
morning, and five of the gentle wards of
the nation were made permanent good In
dians fer they were sent to their happy
hunting grounds and upon the body of one
of them was found the still fresh and
bloody scalp of one of our citizens and
a pass from an Indian Agent, stating
that these wefe good and peace
able Indians, and had been permitted to
absent themselves from the reservation for
the purpose of hunting. Will it be pre-
tended that the agent, who gave this pass,
did not know that these Indians would rob
and murder il they found an opportunity
And it can be proven that Indian agents
have purchased stolen property from Indians,
knowing il 10 be stolen, and have paid for
it with breech loading rifles.
When government reservations become
depots Of supply aud places of refuge for
hostile Indians, and fence shops for the dis
pOsal of the proceeds OF their robberies
committed ON peaceable settlers. it is to the
interest and benefit Of the people of the
frontier that they be altogether abolished.
Give us an equal chance with the Indian
and We will protect ourselves.
But so long as the Indians are supplied By
government agents with tho most improved
implements of warfare, which the settler
cannot obtain, furnished with food, for
which the settler is eompclledto labor, their
women and children protected and fed on a
government reservation, while they are
waging predatory warfare on the settlers.
themselves aifo. ded a safe refuge, protected
By the strong arm Of the government when
flying fsom rctribUtive justice, just so long
viii osr citizens remain the victims Of an
ubiquitous policy, the evil consequences of
which certainly cannot be apparent to the
government at Washington, or it would not
be continued.
We will. hereafter, give our views as to
the proper remedy for this unfortunate con-
dition OF affairs.