The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-06-24

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No OF white persons killed by Indians
The Medoc massacre, as is fully
shown by the elaborate report made
by Mr.. Meacham. chairman OF the
special commission. and by the annual
report of the Commissioner of Indian
A fairs for 1873, page II, was clearly
the result OF changing agencies and
policies too often, and the absence of
we'll defined regulations regarding the
relative duties and powers of the In
dian and military departments. the
citizens and the Indians. While the
humane policy is the correct one, it
ought to be we'll defined. and then in
. trusted TO men selected on account of
fitness for the work. No branch of
public service more imperatively de-
mands observance of this rule, and
when it shall have been fully recog
nized and adhered TO by appointing
men to the care of our Indian popula-
ton whose hearts are in the work,
who understand the duties assigned,
and whose term of Office depends on
faithfully achieved success, we may
hope TO hear of Indian wars no more.
(Meacham Report on the Modoc
war;
DECREASE OF MORTALITY.
Statistical returns show marked
decrease of mortality among the civil
lied Indians, as compared with those
not Yet under the influence of the san
itary regulations observed upon the
reservations, together with the better
supply of food and proper medical
treatment. The returns show, also,
that under these conditions, where
the marriage relation is strictly OBJ
served, the increase OF population is
equal to that of white communities.
These facts afford conclusive evidence
that mere contact with white men and
his enterprise is not a cause OF increas-
ed mortality among the Indians, only
as II offers new temptatIC ns to vice
which in his ineXperience the Indian
is not careful to resist.
COMPARATIVE COST OF THE TWO METH
OBS or INDIAN MANAGEMENT.
So far the annual appropriations for
Indian affairs have been larger since
than before the new policy was intro
duced and by jumping at conclusions
we might be led to suppose that the
actual cost of the Indians to the Gov
ernment had been increased on ac-
count OF the working of the new sys-
TEN. We must remember, however.
that the ten, twenty. and thirty mil
lions of dollars formerly paid through
the War Department for suppressing
Indian wars is not taken into account,
but which, if added, would forcibly
demonstrate the economy of the new
III h,, of
Nor should we lose sight of the
the case. that the field of operations
and necessarily more expensive than
it was few years ago When the
war commenced in 1861, there was
scarcely rail laid in the Indian coun-
try; now their hunting grounds are
covered with a network Of railways,
and the Indians are deprived of their
must, to a large extent, starve or be
fed at the Government expense.
They are being gathered upon reser-
vations as rapidly as the work can be
accomplished and they can be induced
to change their former habits OF lIfc,
and yield to the process of civilization.
As this work goes on toward compile
ton the cost of the Indians to the
nation will be diminished, and then
the expenses of indian wars will no
longer be tax upon the War Depart
ment
CONCL USION.
We have endeavored, in the limited
space allowed, to present this ques-
ton in its true aspect, as seen before
and since the change of policy adopted
by the Government In It's management
of the Indians within the national
domain. The whole thing is changed;
the Indians in their relation to the
Government, and the Government in
its duty to them They are no longer
held in the light of enemies or treaty
making powers; they are wards, chill
dren in their minority, to be cared for
as such, and fitted to become citizens,
by education, civilization, and a prac-
teal knowledge of industrial pursuits.
The former wretched system of ire
sponsible agents and superintendents,
controlled by political influence, has
been succeeded by the selection of
class of eminently qualified men. un-
Influenced by politics. responsible TO
the Societies who recommended them
and the Executive by whom they
were appointed
The President has placed at the
head of the Indian Bureau Chris
tian Commissioner of great intelli-
gence and practical experience among
the Indians. Out OF jealosy the
tongue of calumny attempted his ruin;
he demanded an Investigation: it was
granted, and he came out of the fiery
trial pure gold, and enjoys to the
fullest extent the confidence of the
President, his Cabinet, and Congress
His heart is In the work. His devo-
ted wife has been years his associate
in laboring for the Indians at the
White Earth agency In Minnesota,
where she contin ued instructing the
young, and teaching the Indian wo-
men TO read, sew, and weave, for some
time after her husband was called to
Washington to take charge of the In
dian Bureau.
A rigid economy in Congress-ex-
ceedingly necessary and eminently
proper in its place-is questioning the
propriety of making the aprropria-
tions asked for by the Indian Com
missioner for the ensuing fiscal year
No man can know better than the
Commissioner just what amount Is
needed TO enable the Bureau to do
its duty toward the national wards
upon the frontier, now rendered COM
paratively helpless by the progress of
our great prosperity westward. NeI-
ther the sterling integrity of the Com
missioner nor the correctness of his
Judgment are doubted If, then, his