New-York tribune., 1874-04-27
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE BRIGHT SIDE OF THE PEACE POLICY.

THE BRIGHT SIDE OF THE PEACE POLICY.
QUAKER TEACHER AMONG TIE INDIANS NARRATEs
THE RESULTS OF HIS OBsERvATIoNs-THE
SCHOOLS FILLING UP AND THE FARMS GROWING
IN NUMBER-A DECREASE IN LAwLEssNEss.
TO tho EdtIor Of The Tribune.
SIR: From time to time there appear in
public Journals articles able writer's discussing the
policy pursued In the management OF Indian affairs,
generally characterlzlng 1t "a complete failure, re
qung vast expenditure for which there are no visible
The real status OF the indian af hrs OF the
country understood cared for by comparatively feW
the residents Eastern States and In default OF
knowledge derived from actual observation the people
Of almost wholly dependent on the press, the
prevailing of OF DOUBT If not OF actual
condemnation Of the "peace policy" have long
wished for able pen make known the good that
has done under that policy, the actual progress
made toward the end In view-not as matter or gratu-
atiOn of defense merely but that it s due TO people
spending millions annually for certain purpose to be
informed OF what is being done for tho furterance OF
that purpose write Quaker, one who beliyes in
the policy, far any rate actual experience OF
three years worker with and resident among the
widest tribes Of the southWe has given oppor-
tunity Of observation aud Judgment Of ta merits What
/ now write viii be confined TO facts Of personal
knowledge.
Will speak first OF the state OF the country three
years ago and now. To travel the public roads alone
was kept constant state Of excitement for fear OF
the Indians and not without There grounds
for these apprehensions Depredaons on the part OF
the Indians were frequent and had to guarded against
What s the condition now Speaking comparatively,
the roads safe lone travellers pass and reDass un-
armed and unrnolested. Within the past three weeks
nearly all the Comanche camps have been visited by au-
orzed persons for the purpose Of examining their herds
for stolen stock This service was performed in safety
and those sent were successful IN bringing In many stolen
animals. Ask any who knows the Comanehes II such
q thing possible two years ago. he would say, No,
n mans life would not be worth cent out there and
they were fools who went" Be that as 1t may. there
been within the year past 100 head OF horses and
mules stolen by Indians, turned to the agents and
by them to their this not force but vol
unfairly For the past four months, United States sur
veyors have been employed in surveying the country
lying between the 93th and Tooth merdians the home OF
the Comanche, Kowa and Apache. This was measure
to which the aforesaid Indians were opposed.
having the impression that each stake
set I'D was white mans name who
after while would along to take possession; yet
this survey has been carried almost TO Its conclusion
and in no case have the surveyors met wlth serious
mOestation and in they have been met
with acts OF positive friendship These are facts patent
to every in the country What is the causel Is
afraid they are acknowledged to be brave they
do say, We believe the white people have good hearts
and are our friends and we want THIS 10 be country oi
With regard to actual progress OF Indians in agrcu
ture and the of peace, let me say something IL
here becomes in order not to give wrong I'M
preston to distinguish between the wild Nimrods OF
the praires and those Indians who were somewhat III
clined TO civilization. viii speak OF the Iatter class
first who in in this country are d manly r eens On Nv NV
acquaintance with these Indians in ISL when
all their reservations there were not dozen houses
now there nearly 100 But few had fields, or caret
for agriculture now upward OF lOOo acres are eul,
are often e "VaS we'll fep TS5 dress
s.n Of iha uhn n
orally to appear in state of semnudy, are
now seldom seen in any but decent costume: ,I
at national expense those manifesting disposition 10
help themselves have been helped aud IN all things
aged by those employed for the purpose. With regard
education, 100 children OF the tribes am familiar
with are school, and have been so for two years,
many now having good solid foundation Tor the educa-
ton necessary for their station La these Schools,
mere literary education is not the am the girls are
taught housework In its various branches the boys are
employed in T9s IN w s0s sn ss
dening. lselect number have also arrived at eood
pont to oi tangible evidence Of the
and yo %%In % there's become eonce chat WHAT
ever may become OF OF the adult Indian ne OF the coming
But what of the other class, the wild Indians OF the
pralrie In former part OF my letter have alluded
change which could only arise from transformation of
the people who inhabit the country That this
change has taken and Is taking place, that depreda-
tions in Texas and general maraudlne are be-
coming less and less frequent that the Indians of this
OF success In this direction an firmly convinced that
thechies and head opposed 10 all awless acts,
and that they sincere in their desire TO have cOun
try peace. In few instances the attempt has been
made to settle down and farm and the disposition TO do
apparent in others. think that unless something
should happen interfering with the usual cyTent OF
school and Comanches and Kiowas making more de-
clded advances in the way OF sefmalntenaDce Expe-
rlence with Indians deers from being too sanguine,
but the general appearances are decidedly encouraging,
and the frequent remark Of citizens is "We II this
passes all right, shall quit thinking about In
dian outbreaks"
Few words now with respect 10 the proposed trans
fer OF Indian affairs to the war Department IL Is not
to be supposed but that the officers of the army
would faithfully discharge duties connected with the
Indian Department but, inasmuch as we wish to IN
struct in the arts Of peace and not or war, ask
those arts would be probably best taught most
discreetly Osered and most encouraged, under military
orciyil ADMINISTRATION AS to tue honesty ana
service think there honest and capable men
outside Of the United states Army as IN H. no dsparage
ment the notwithstanding. IL is self-eyident
fact is difficult to procure combining all the
qualities necessary for successful Indian agent for tho
pittanee OF $500 annum, to reside and support
themselves In frontier country where almost al tine
Of life sold double the ordinary prices
The wish Of nation is that the Indian, at present
heavy expense, shall be made 10 maintain himself and
become a lawabding citizen In the common logic or
events, will this be soonest accomplished by placing
him under the tutelage OF the sword or the plow
find that, on point, have not done justice to
the Indians While 1t is true that the Indians do steal
since OF the council liberatnR Satanta and Big
Tree horses have been stolen from Indians OF
these reservations, Kowa and Washta, by Texans,
marauders with their punder nave ned 10 that
State; but few OF these have ever been recovered
am also prepared state that Satana has conducted
himself WE'LL all reports TO the contrary notwithstanding
Fort SiA, Ind Ter, Sd mo-, 9th day. 1874 A. j. s.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GRIEVANCES.
INTOLERANCE TOWARD CITIZENS WHO FAVOR THE