Arizona citizen., 1875-07-24
The Public and Indian Mind On the
 Indian Question.


 It is safe to say that no people on earth have been so coaxed, petted and excused as have the Indians with ref erence to the commission of crimes, and unnecessarily so, Early in the history of our nation, they were pet ted but little, called savages and fought accordingly. Itis true novel, ists have written them up just |" a lit tie lower than the angels" but the people up till very recently had only one policy with those who were steal ing from and murdering the settlers of the frontier. But within a dozen years, 8 class of people who know nothing of the hardships and priva- tions and earnest desires of the from tlersman ln opening up new portions of tho country, have been treating the savage as an injured innocent and the frontier settler as 8 ruffian, pro moter of war and hence an enemy of peace. Gen. Howard and others came to Arizona fully in this state of mind, and while he acknowledged to us that he was in error, he said it was still very hard to rid his mind of the impression he brought with him. So far as handling the Indians Is con- cerned, the General, Colyer, and the original peace commission have been laid away as of no use. The author ities at Washington found them hin drance3 in the cause-dealers ill false sentiment instead of plain fact, and have as fully accepted the frontier doctrines as need be, and are also practicing them. While government and all fair people want the Indian treated justly, taking his peculiar po- sition into account, they still have de- termined to have no more of the sen timental, and to hold the Indian re- sponsible for bad conduct and use the severest measures necessary to com pei him to behave himself reasona- bly, we'll The recent visit of the Sioux from the Black Hills to Wash ington shows this. The President, Secretary of the Interior and Com missioner of Indian affairs very plain ly told the Sioux chiefs of this deter imitation, and the press of the nation with almost one accord approved what these high officials said. The Sioux were given to understand that the American people would go into the Black Hills if they wanted to do 1t, and that sooner or later the coun- try would have to be given up for set clement, and also that the Sioux would not be permitted to dictate the terms. And the recent reports from the Sioux country show that tEe Ind ians there recognize these facts and were acting upon them.
 Therefore, save the wrangling over details in the management, the Amer ican people may now be regarded as thinking about alike on the vexed Indian question, and that hereafter Indians will be held responsible for theft and murder, and punished with as much certainty and promptness as citizen criminals. Indian and settler will have as fair treatment as can be given by government. It seems to be now 8 matter of little account with the public whether the Indian race is wiped out or not unless 1t shows itself worthy of saving. The proper basis of dealing with the Indian has been ascertained and practically adopted. The frontier settler is en- tirely willing to have him fed and as sisted into ways of self-support in 8 civilized manner; and neither the gov ernment nor sentimental philanthro- pists will longer insist that this course shall be pursued or attempted with him, until after his behavior entities him to 1t.