New-York tribune., 1873-09-15
INDIAN PROBLEMS.

A REPLY TO MRS. swIsSHELM-TIIE INDIAN FRAUDS A
JUSTIFICATION FOR THE INDIAN RIsINGs-POsI-
IIoN or TIE INDIAN AID ASSOCIATION.
To the EditOr OF The Tribune.
SIR: In THE TRIBUNE of Aug. 2, 1S73 there
is letter from Mrs Jane Swisshem, containing such
mixture Of truth and error that IL cannot but deepen
the prejudice which is already deep against
tona wards the Indians. 1t seems 10 be written in
spirit akin to that which Mrs. swisshem expressed in
public address at Washington. d. o. in 1852, during the
excitement OF the Minnesota Indian raid when she said
"If l were man would hunt and shoot, and entrap
and poison, and means TO kill Indians, as
would to kill wildcats and wolves" But fortunately,
this murderous proposition, is Offset not only by the
uniform testimony of all impartial history which afirms
that Indians have been first to break treaty
or to begin war; and that they have been hostile
to the whites without having sufficient cause, but by
Mrs Swisshem herself She says OF these very Indians
that "their affairs managed by Presbyterian and
Baptist missionaries, who served the Government as
right eye and right hand until the outbreak of 1861 made
their frauds palpable that President Lincoln changed
his Indian dvisers and the management TO Bishop
Whipple" And she further says that she has the full
est proof under his regime the stealing far exceeds
any former achievement in that line and that the
future viii prove that the stealing going on in the
Indian Department surpasses everything In the past
and that after while shall have another nvestiga
ton. on that approved plan of piety and politeness
which speaks disapproyingy OF theft but leaves the
thieves in quiet possession OF the punder"
1t seems strange that Mrs Swisshelm, whose percep
tiOns are generally clear, does not that such
robbery and consequent starvation would justify any
people in lighting for redress and that under the cir
cumstances the "savages," she calls them, could
hardly have done less than they have done Why, them
does she speak vengefully against them have good
reason to believe that her statements in regard to the
frauds are literally 1t is not from Mrs swisshems
~
Minnesota Indians robbed In 1861 at the urgent
quest of the subscriber President Lincoln three
secret agents to investigate and report the treatment
of the ndians Judge Day Of Iowa for the Northern dis
rct Augustus whates Of Florida for the Central and
Dr. White OF California for the Western, each Of whom
returned with reports OF such astounding frauds that it
deemed impOlitic If not impossible either to pre-
vent or punish the thefs during the Rebellion. But
President Lincoln assured the subscriber that
the war was over the Indians should have his first
attention, and that he should not rest until justice was
that the Indians whom Mrs. swisshem would kill as
"wld cats and wolves were robbed OF s50O00 by false
for the OF which they destitute and starving
Mrs. swisshelm is mistaken about the condition Of
sents And instead Of the sicky, complaining creatures
which seen so frequently in American houses the
strong. AS to the crueties which she charges them
WITH safe 10 that In all cases when perpetrated
upon whites IL is only retributve pay in kind for
what they have received, and as whole bears
parison barbary either in extent or intensity with
.H-''"NiS
OF peaceabe Indians including women and children,
the butcheries in the Rebellion.
her this subject show that she is rather
fused she says that from first 70 last national
policy has been peace peace peace with the Indians al
any price" II had said "our national profession"
il might true but the fact that under the adminstra
on of VIM Penn and his followers 'Or so years, and Of
The French in illinois, and OF the English in Canada for
100 years. there was no war between them and the
Indians is prosf that il we had indeed Peace policy,
we, TOO, should have peace as well as they.
Mrs swisshelm is not correct when she says that the
A,l AQcnn afin ia
which demands that the Government shall recede from
every sep which it has taken toward breaking up the
Indian centers OF horrd crueties and heather dark
ness" Now the subscriber had the honor 70
originate this association, and has been active in its be-
half ne can affirm truly that IL has made such
demand. and that its operations as society ceased with
beginning Of the rebellion II was beeyediwhen the
that the sOcIetys services wonld never be required
again. and it Is only since tne moaoc war ana Tue unjust
reviewing that 1t has been reorganzed Tor benen
what rs best TO be donea Mrs swisshelm says: "Let
Government pay the Indians all which IL owes them,
then leave them to the people and OF the states ana
same chance which others have" Yes, they should
have all which belongs TO them, freedom on their own
domains but this plan would not secure II for the fol-
lowing First The Indians have prior right TO
independent sovereignty greater than any Other race
white from recent choice, or ike the black man.
from the cOmpusion OF others, but by the VIII OF God
and by heritage from time immemorlal There is no
law under heaven 70 compel their compliance with our
laws aud customs, any more than there would have
been for them ~ compel our fathers when they were as
the Indians are and feeble. comply with the
Indian laws ana customs; and inasmueh as their
objections to many OF forms OF life are
just, pVtling but lack Of magnaninity and national
honor will allow might 10 dominate their right
SecoDd Ihey as race, are distinct family among the
family OF nations which, under the plan proposed
would prematurey fade away. Third Insead thereof,
they should be encouraged 10 select suitable domains
with ample facilities for seisasanment and progress
IN arts science. and commerce with pankipd at
large and unt prepared for American citizenship they
should have full protection friendly allies
IncOncluson, the subscriber respectfully asks that Mrs.
Swsshem aud a good Chrisuans with the Indians and
everybody ese, win consider proper answer 70 the fol-
lowing IL the last plan proposed In
ance with tie teachings Of CHRISTI Would Ito adoption
promote the best interests OF the various racest What
are the chief obstacles in the way s adopton Hew
can the obstacles DO removed with the most certainty
and speed JOHN BREsON