New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-18
PLEAS FOR THE INDIAN RING
DIR. COX ON THE TREATMENT OF THE
INDIANS.


INDIANS.
THE PUBLIC CAUTIONED AGAINST ACCEPTING PROF.
MARsHs ExPOsUREs-THE INDIANS CONFIRMED
GRUMBLERs-THE WORK or TIE COMMISSIONERS
AND AGENTS DESERVING OF PRAISE INSTEAD OF
CENsURE.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Our distinguished paleontologist, Prof.
Marsh xpored tho Sioux country last Winter and re-
turned laden with curious fossils from the Marns TTes
has volunteered certain representations OF Indian affairs
which, appears to me- should be received by the general
public with some grains of caution The personal courage
and scientific ardor Of this scholarly gentleman In his
wild venture into the very Of the Indian domain
and that too opposition to the emphasized dfsap-
prevail OF the sayages attracted very properly universal
admiration The Professor however, owing TO his neces-
sarly brief sojourn among people Of whom he had little
or no previous knowledge med he certainly was by
the stercotyped pare statements OF their queinous
Chiefs with neither time nor opportunity by actual In
test the truthfuness Of their declarations
is respectfully submit biased and imperfect judge OF
affairs as they really exist little better acquaintance
with Indian character would have very materially
weakened his confidence In the numerous complaints
persstenty forced upon his attention. More resoute
chronic grumblers than these same Indians do not
breathe. There has been period since commissions
been sent out to treat with them when they have
not expressed discomfort in unmeasured terms, and
charged the emssares Of the Government with misrcpre
scntatlOn fnsinccr1ty, ana even WOulu
ncessant howl lack any portion Of its vehem,nce were
the ounes of the Government teIOld more liberal than
ut present. Dissatisfaction distrus and suspicion are
leading traits In the Indian character which crop ont
and at all times. Certainly the ay sh gcncr
osy Of the nation toward Its amiabe ward without
precedent and often seems TO have OveIreached and
even frustrated the intended good. The liberal and
stated supply OF and merchandise has rendered the
savage indifferent to the means OF pr0yidns!or MS
own wants and less inclined to exert himself in the drec
NV own recent observations Special Indian Commits
sioner do not correspond with the published statements
no objection among the Indians Themselves and no word
Of thc rD r any of the
when, for the first time discovered Inspections pro-
agencies whcnether the whitcst the finest was s0far
ms could learn sweet and rcished by the Indians ate
a short-cakc made in the Indian camp, and barring in
sufficient kneadng, absence OF yeast and certain vague
suspicion of cleanliness In the manipulation. found
no seiIo that Prof Marsh should have c6ncncd him
self with the OF the cunning chiefs Instead OF
Se acn"S y stores The fact that ali the onr
Red Cloud had been previously Inspected 81 Cheyenne
to the loose representations of the Indians to which IN
2grnae Inc prnptiSn that any bsuon Of
inferior article Tor the o thsrecd ssoppes
or en- route 70 the agency Is too absurd for serious
ton Another erroneous fnpfee on lett " tse puoig.-
ton OF Prof Marsh, Is that tie cattle drawn from the
contractors herd without weighing or even counting.
Nothing could be more opposed To the fact The cattle
ara "A III
contractor and before they are driven into the Govern
corral From the latter they are turned out ana
given over. delivered not TO the chiefs as stated TO do
with them a. they please but TO the heads OF households
or bands numerically prOp0rtl0rcd to their wants. and 10
be slaughtered in their peculiar Ia mon
The aboriginal cpcure affects those portions OF the
bovine carcass which the educated palate pr cGs to
sIh 90 o ,nG Is appropyated whe Il ay n"i be
highly cvliznS agency 10 encourage Hem TO consume
The half-ccancd cnrailS, it il certainly measure Of
economy which with many persons scenio to be the ehe'
end OF Indian management
Celen quality. IL Will hardly surprise any one THAI the
issue OF beef during snow storm III iniwinter, us de-
friend unfavOraby The best cattle under such adverse
conditions would present an unprep9sSessg aspect and
he such might DE simply roerab" to the universal sever
y OF the season the snow covered paris AMI me srat
difculty IL moi absolute impOs ,iby OF erCru- adc-
quac food for the suffering animals Tho criticism,
therefore cauot he said 30 reject much upon tina con
tractors and agents upon tno inevitable clements.
witnessed az MILESTONE Agency IN August Last large
issue Of beef in the manner portrayed by Prof Marsh,
and am frank TO say have rarely seen steers in better
condition than those cOrralcd for distribution on that o
casOn The mode ofpursuns and killing them, graph
cay pictured is such the Indians themselves elect
The cattle delivery day. may add constituted the only
period in whish observed genuine happi-
ness and cnrc ccn!An Oh tho ubolgila c0untenance.
In that brief hour satisfaction reign.i supreme and no
harsh unamiable uttrances dropped roin the lips q the
chief OF the tribe For once at least heard no
complaining At all other times, in the camps at the
agencies in councils and private conferences the staple
topic Of conversation was tho promises OF me "doat
Father thcrercacd YoIaohso l ahG the ross
Injustice uniformly inflicted upon their unOhendg race.
The eloquent portrayal OF their grievances and emphatic
ds'rus OF the Government from the President 10 the
Commissioner, usually closed by petition Tor HORSES
and guns, with which they were already more ablii-
dainty supplied than the white soer Whc a3seitins
violated promises and treaes or me par, OF We GOV
eminent the Indian never admits iluie to Keep tth on
his OWN part murder IN cola blood Is never repi..u
Of apol0zed for or regarded as in any respect crime
an injustice -,
Indian, and sincerely des rous 4or MS adFahco itli
cannot avoid the conclusion that there Is much in his
present condition that auguiS uniavorahy for b future
or al least threatens To rctard his prcgess in the nte
gent induslc and arts civ zed life No more perfect
iound than that presented by The modes life of these
savages Tcpccs curtaned with jeIed beef the ponies
squaws basking in the warm sunlight M the tent open
ings, assist in making up representation OF Arcadia d
cOyeiblc where else Scfdeense and the instincts
OF hunger alone rouse the savage from The deness which
The true objects to be attained with the importance of
which the Government is fully penetrated, but which
must be confessed envroned by extraordinary en-
l. To render the Indian 4 not productive, far as
Is tne mdmrc,"nts held ont for agpcnure are
sadly msapplcd Neither the nature of the soil nor the
nomadc habits of the Indians seems TO promise successn
this direction. Grazing and herdng, the contrary
adapted 10 both conditions, and cannot help concurrng
with Prof Marsh that the care aud cultivation OF stock
iffav0raby conducted would after time TO slim
uac degree Of industry and thus at least diminish
the necessity for the present large OF supplies
am aware, however that the cncf difficulty is not in
the policy in operation at the great Sioux agencies
as ia the unfayorabe situation or the tribes. The
soil is already minated, totally unit for farming
purposes, certainly without irrigation which Involves
only he Obtained by long and thorough disci.
plne Of intelligent labor. The best evidence OF
The usabeness ~ that region for agriculture the fact
that white settlers have no desire to live there for such
purpose Situated these tribes are the policy cannot,
II be admitted have fair trial in any Of its bear
ing and should not therefore, he tested by results there
apparent If the Indians were confined rgidy to their
rcSery atOns, and the Government bounty withdrawn or
materially diminished, the scene OF Arcadan sim.
plicity and enjoyment would give place to OF
starvation bOodshed There can be 10 doubt then
that the existing troubles in the Sioux management
due already stated. i'll large measure To their stua
ton and the results Of the most energetic and skul
agriculture would not encourage continuance OF effort
in that direction. No Improvement can, therefore, be
looked for without change Of location; which, OF course