The New York herald., 1875-08-16
The President and the Indian Ques-
ton.

MS righteous war upon the Indian ring. lie
has written another letter to Professor
Marsh, and for snap and cogency it ranks
with its predecessors. In letter addressed
to the President, which we published re-
Gently, Mr.. Welsh makes a special refer
ence to the relations of the President to the
Indian affairs. 81 desire here" says Mr..
Welsh, addressing General Grant ''as before,
to make my public acknowledgment of your
merciful, prompt and effective aid rendered
in the Indian service when you were at the
head of the army and since you have become
President Every suggestion that ever
made to you was promptly responded to, save
only the investigation of frauds allowed by
your appointees Even this lamentable trait
1 believe springs from a distorted virtue.
Your protection of General Parker when he
was convicted of misfeasance or malfeasance
as Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and of
those who now control that office, seems
wholly unaccountable except on the hypothe-
sis that love in you is blind.
| The writer of this letter to the President is
q gentleman who was selected by General
Grant at the outset of his administration as
! Affairs He is a citizen of Philadelphia, Of
wealth, high social and business standing, and
prominent member Of Christian church.
When the President entered upon his admin
istration his experience in the army taught
him that the only way to solve the Indian
problem was to intrust its management to
honorable men. Mr. Welsh was selected as
a member of the commission because of his
high standing. We are recalling what is
familiar to the mind of every one when we
say that nothing that General Grant has done
during his administration has given the sat-
isfaction that arose out Of his appointment
: of the Indian Commissioners.
Mr.. Welsh, therefore in addressing the
President, speaks of what he knows and with
an authority which we cannot despise. He
does not accuse the President Of corruption,
but of allowing his friendships for special in
dividuals to interfere with the cold, stern
administration of justice. In General Par
ker's case it should be remembered that the
President did remove the Commissioner, al
though he had been on his staff and was
personal friend. General Grant, however, is
not as austere as Brutus. One Of the strong
traits of his character is his devotion to his
friends. But even this devotion" the Presi-
dent has never seriously permitted to interfere
with his own interests. As soon as he discov-
cred it interfered with his party interests and
his own personal advancement he has aban-
doned it. Our hope has been that he would
see in the public distrust arising out of the
management of the Indian affairs that he can
no longer sustain the Secretary of the Interior
and other subordinates without assuming
before the country the responsibility of direct
completely with the frauds on the Indian
tribes.
The case against Mr.. Delano is a very
simple one. The evidence is clear and GU
mulative. We do not sec how the President
can resist it. We have the reports Of the old
Board of Indian Commissioners, General
Grants own appointments when he was
fresh in his Office, and composed of men of
the highest responsibility and standing We
have the reports of official committees of the
House of Representatives, showing by figure
and narrative, in the most circumstantial
manner, the existence of frauds and the man
\
have the investigation of the HERALD CORE
spondents who went out into the Indian
country for the purpose of searching out
these crimes, and who have given US not
merely their own observations as students of
the question, but the reports of the Indians
themselves. We have the statement Of Pro-
fessor Marsh, of Yale College, distinguished
scholar, who visited the Indian country on
an errand of science, and, seeing the frauds
committed upon the Indians, made a report
to the President in the interest of humanity
and honesty. The only answer that is made
to these charges is that the President does
not remove his secretaries when ''under
fire., F" and that the Presidents Board of Com
missioners are Christian men, anxious to
please the Christian public sentiment
President Grant cannot allow his affection
for Mr.. Delano or any sense of stubbornness
or pride to interfere with marked public
duty. Already he has strengthened his adj
ministration by changes in his Cabinet
Bristow in place of Richardson, Pierrepont
in place of Williams and Jewell in place Of
Creswell, have been eminently gratifying to
the people, because they showed on the part
of the President desire to respect public
opinion. His best friends feel that in carry
ing Mr.. Delano he carries a heavy burden.
Mr.. Delano is charged directly, by evidence
that cannot be controverted or despised, with
so managing great and sacred trust that he
brings dishonor upon the nation. No one
believes or wants to believe that in any bust
ness like this of making money out of starv-
ing Indian squaws the President of the
United States has any part. No one believes
or wants to believe that President Grant
would not instantly remedy the corruptions
in the Indian country if he was convinced of
| their existence. Consequently his support