New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-09
TIKI PRESIDENTS indian POLICY.

THE PRESIDENTS INDIAN POLICY.
There il something pathetic in the constant
iteration of the refrain of the Indian Peace
Commissioners. Whatever else may be wrong,
they arc confirmed in their opinion that the
Presidents Indian Policy is truly admirable.
They have been houted, jeered. and
contumeiousIy treated; but their con-
fidence in the Policy remains unimpaired.
We agree with tho Commissioners that
this Policy has not had fair trial.
The Commissioners have done their
best SO far as carrying out that somewhat
famous scheme, in spite OF miscellaneous
thieving, could accomplish anything, they
have accomplished it, But it would be difficult
to cultivate amicable relations with people
who were regularly and intelligenty robbed
Even il the Commissioners exercised only
purely moral functions, it would be impossible
for them to test fairly the Policy
of Peace with Indians who knew they were
daily cheated by those who would seem to
be more influential and numerous representa-
tives of the Christian religion. The much
Wanted Policy chiefly consists in winning
the aborigincs to civilization and the arts OF
peace by gentle means and influences But
sistencies of prayer books and shOddy blank
cts, of a civilization that gives seed wheat with
bad beef
The Commission carried fatal canker
in its own bosom. Ii was not only endowed
with moral powers, but with the supervision
of contracts and the auditing of accounts. 1t
was because the Commission came in the way
OF the thieves that it was necessary that 1t
should be destroyed. So long as the
| Commissioners confined themselves to moral
suasiOn and the cardinal principles of the
| Christian religion, they were supercilOusly
| let alone. They attempted to enforce the
| law in regard to the letting of contracts and
there was worse than Indian howl, There is
a Ring outside OF the Interior Department, and
what is known as The Wigwam inside OF 1t.
| These two organizations divide from three to
four millions a year; whoever fights them
goes down into defeat. The Peace
| Commissioners have found this out; they
might have found it out years ago.
The House Committee on Indian Affairs have
already given notice that they propose to
| break down the testimony of the Indian Peace
| Commission. The Commissioners are men OF
high social and moral standing they are men
of substance. and they served without pay
But the House Committee, the Chairman OF
which is citizen of st. Paul, Mimi, the CEN
ter of the North Western Indian Ring, pro-
claim that the citizen Commissioners are to be
convicted of fasehOOd! There are people
who believe the Indian Ring has no ramitca-
| tons in Congress-
Nevertheless, the Commissioners think highly
of the Presidents Policy. 1t has not had a
fair trial but they hasten to say that they
think it as complete panacea as ever for all
the ills the poor Indian suffers THE TRIBUNE
has always contended that the Government
lin which phrase we include the PRESIDENT
have not given this Policy fair show. II
has been no-policy Policy. Variable
fckIc and uncertain, it has been steadily
maintained almost nowhere. Shot and
shell have alternated with faith and garden
seeds. Vincent COlyer and COL Chivington
come and go. The unconscionable dawdling
with a lighted firebrand that preciptated the
MOdoc massacre cannot deserve the name OF
Policy. Yet, there were not few excellent
persons who, in the midst of that awful car
mage, said: Nevertheless, brethren, we are
persuaded that the Presidents Policy is a
"mOst excellent thing" We repeat: The
Presidents theory has not had fair trial
| But how far is he responsible for this latest
| failuref