Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1874-12-03

Grated. We may reasonably expec
occssional disturbances In the futur,
|caused By individuals, or by disorder
ly bodies Of Indians, but with . judic,
fous and efficient execution of the pres.
ent mode of treatment, II IL not belisv.
ed that we shall SEQ another general
or even serious, Indian war. In. nv
last annual report . brief but distinct
statement Of the nature and scope Of
the Indian policy was attempted. /
deem II best to refer to this subject
again, in order to avoid either mfsap.
prehension or misrepresentation.
INDIAN POLICY.
The present method Of dealing with
the Indian race aims to induce, and,
when necessary, to compel the roam!
Ing tribes TO accept reservations as rap
idly ~ possible. On suck reservations
they are instructed In agriculturs ana
In other pursuits xs,--a-lsssa
don, end. niib MA elt6ctual, moral,
and religious culture Il advanced -
ss practicable when Stribe
refuses 10 accept 5 reservation, and
continues 10 violate the laws Of civili.
zation, Il 10 treated with all needfnl
severity, and thus made 70 appreciate
the advantages oefseospting the kind
and hamane treatment which the Cow
ernmsnt surely extends to such q are
disposed to peace. X those Who have
accepted reservations leave their homes
and commit depredatiens, they. also,
are treated q Offenders, aud taught the
necessity, % well q the advantage to
themselves, Of obedience and GOOD b.
hAsior. By the judislons sxsrciss o.
Epewsrand psrsnasion, - thus indi-
Gated, tits the aim of she Government
to aid kindly and justly with this un-J
fortunate raos, and to make them ap-
prsoiates ~ speedily % Ipossible, the
real motives and purposes Of the G0v-
ernment. The exection ofthis policy
10 necessarily attended with dimculties
which cannot Il once be entirely over,
some.- To distribute the supplies an
nuaIly authorized BY Coagress among
the indians (scattered a they are over
. vast extent OF territory In such man-
uer Al 70 be entirely just, and most
useful, T. . very difficult undertaking.
Agents employed to do this work
must surrender without adequate con-
sideratlon the advantages and comforts
Of civilized life, and endure hardships
and privations which are not often ap-
preciated. Nothing bnt : high senae
of duty is sufficient to induce men Of
proper capacity and right motives 10
undertake this task. Ifsel II . duty to
repeat here what Ihavs said On this
subjectih former reports, that The wsl-
fare Of THE service would be greatly
promoted BY Increasing the salaries Of
those agents, d'inny Judgsment, It
would Be . rneasure Of economy, 10
well a. Of jnstice. 10 make snch ihsi
crease immediately. am happy In be-
Ing able to say that the earnest, active,
and cordial cooperation of the sew
eral Christian organizations, to whith
tho right Of nominating agents has
been assigned, and upon whose nomi-
nations alono such agents are appoint-
ed, i constantly improving this class
Of employee, and thus We are, each
year. to some extent, advancing the
service by obtaining agents more cx-
perienced and intelligent, and of great
er capacity for their secular, a. we'll ~
their moral and religious work. The
Indian population Of the United States,
since the frst occupation Of our terri
tory by white men, has been compelled
to recede ~ the white population hss
advanced. The natural result has been
the creation Of feeling among Indians
that they have suffered great injustice
at our hands. They have strong local
attachments, and adhere with tenacity
to the home Of their fathers. They
once occupied without dispute yast
regions OF country which have been
wrcsted from them. Under no cir
cumstances can It. DO supposed that
they viii accept the complete change
in their modes Of life, and IN their
management by the Government.
which ls now being effected. without
complaint and raaistance. which may
occasionally require the employment
Of force, nor can It be supposed that
time 10 not required for the aecompliah.
ment Of such ! changci The complete
success OF this policy reqnirss The cor.
dial cooperation Of the Wsr Depart
mens. which has slways been unquAli-
hsdiy given. It also, needs the sup
port and sympathy Of the leading Of.
hcers Of the army, who ere necessafi.
ly charged oecasionally with executind
military esdsfs for the purpose Of com
Ipclling, on the part Of the Indiana
Compliance With tho wisAss OF thu
Government I Am happy 10 ssy
that such support and sympAshy have
% ) rule, been freely given. But thil
policy cannot be carried on suoosssfHl