, 1874-02-15

| aad other Indian tribes should concentrate the
public opinion OF tho country upon the vicious
policy to which these murders must DO justly
! charged May people contend-and With some
| show of xeason-that Indian wars are always
caused by the cruelty and treachery Of the white
man. But lit should TO known that in most, perhaps
| nearly al1 cases these white men are members
! of the Indian ring at Washington md the agenls
Of the Government. From information in our
possession We are satisfied that the present raid
is due to the starvation OF the Indians, brought
about by the direct and indirect agency Of Gov
ernment contractors and traders.
Last season contracts we're made to supply the
Sioux, Arrapahoes, and Cheyennes with 4 large
amount Of beef, flour, and other provisions.
deemed amply sufficient to last them till spring.
The contractors and agents, by encouraging
waste Oh the part Of the Indians, hnve rendered
it necessary, in order to keep them from starry
ing, to make another appropriation before the
middle OF March, when the eupply will be en-
tirely exhausted. For several weeks they have
been On sholt allowance, and hence the raid.
They had been led to believe that there was a
great abundance OF provisions for them, and
hence, il M Indian wanted an empty sack for
any purpose, he threw his -four On the ground
aud went to the agency for another supply. By
such means the agents and contractors have
wasted the bounty Of the country, thut they and
the Indihn ring at Washington might divide the
profits Of another appropriation BY Congress
and another contract.
Three measures Of Indian reform arc needed.
First let Indians who leave their reservations
bo severely punished. The theory is that they
can SO away only when the Agent permits, but
the fact is that they leave when they wish, and
are punished, il at all, only by being driven
back. This is wrong. They should be driven
back, and should then pay the penalty for their
crime. II war-party were clappcd into jail
with nnfailing regularity as soon as caught, d
war-party would soon be a rarity. Second,
hold the wards Of the nation individually
responsible for their crimes. Wherever aud
whenever white man is killed, hang his mur-
derers. As matters are now there il no chance
that the sayages who bntclered aud then mutt
lated Lieut.. Robinson, almost in sight OF his
young wife, will ever suffer therefor. Third,
put the Indians under tho care OF the War De-
partment. The army standard Of honor is high
er than the civilian; there will, therefore, he
less risk Of peculation. Again, the governing
power nil then be strong. The Indian, like all
barbariaas, reveronces nothing but phys
ical strength. What are the commands
Of an Agent compared with. those OF
man who has but to speak to bring
1nusketry and artillery into play? And.
again, tho army, which has to suppress upris-
ings, would then know when to expect them,
and would not bo taken unawares, as it evidently
has been now. Until ne make the Indian in
di7idualy accountable for his crimes, and until
enough to give him his dues and strong enough
to ave and subdua him, We may expect to read,
year after year, the sickeDing story Of men
burned al1vc or slowly hacked to pieces, Of
children dashed against rocks or roasted on
spits, and OF women outraged and murdered.
The army-oficers dislike Indian wars the In
dian Agents care nothing about them, their
precious skins not being exposed. Let thosewho
have to deal with the Indian in war deal with him
in peace as well, and ne shall hare less fight
ing, less marauding, and far less expense here
after. The moral strength Of the Indian ring
at Washington is said to be about $4,000, 900.
This is the power which keeps the 1ndinn Bu-
reau in the Interior Department, and which has
dcfeated crerv bill for transferring it to the War
Office during the past tan years.