New-York tribune., 1875-07-03
4 SOTJPWIyG DEPARTMENT.

4 SOTIRMING DEPARTMENT.
The conduct of the Department of the In
terror. and espctfally Of the Indian Bureau OF
that department., since Prof Marsh prough. 10
the attention Of ihe President and the public
the disgraceful frauds at Red Cloud Agency,
has been such as to increase the already pre-
vailing suspicion Of widespread and deep
seated corruption. The first cry from Secretary
Delano was of q hit bird. What business
had he to make il personal matter that Prof.
Marsh had gone to the President with Red
Clouds complaints, rs he had promised Red
Cloud he would? Prof. Marsh had no interest
in the matter except to fulfill his promise
to Red Cloud. Being merely scholar ana
not politician, he did not know that prom
ises to Indians were only made to be broken.
But Secretary DelanO, in his written COM
munications and in his subsequent interviews
with Prof Marsh, treated it as personal
attack upon himself. From that time forward
his whole conduct, and that of the Indian
Commissioner +. Z. Smith, has been con-
tinuous wriggle and twist. All sorts of tricks
and lodges have been resorted to to cvade
the issue and forcstall public opinion. The
first attempt in this direction was when the
Secretary sent his celebrated indefinite
article letter to the Indian Commissioners re-
questing them to appoint committee 10
investigate "the reports put in circulation by a
"Mr. Marsh" This heavy shot with an ndei-
mite article was given to the press and sent
to the country three days before ii was mailed
TO the Board to whom 1t was addressed. Inc
gentlemen of the Board were so amazed ut the
stupidity of the performance that they d0uDteu
its genuneness until a letter from them to the
department brought the document itself. 1t
did not occur to the Secretary that 1t was
necessary TO send this letter asking an lnvcstl-
cation to the Board to whom it was addressed.
He gave il to the press and it went to the
country. The members of the Board had to
send for it to get it, Does any one suppose
that the appointment of the Committee was
seriously intendcdl None was pretended to
he named until THE TRIBUNE some weeks
later reminded the department of it.
Then with q flourish of trumpetS commit
tee was appointed consisting of three excellent
gentlemen, in whose ability and integrity the
country would have the fullest confidence.
Prof. Marsh was niormcd-in an efiusive com
muncation by Commissioner +. i. smith, VINO
is implicated in the charges brought against
the department-that these gentlemen had
been appointed, and-as though they had ac-
ceptcd the appointment and had requested one
of the criminals to act i'll preparing the ease
and procuring the testimony against himself
he asks Prof. Marsh to make his charges
specific, and put them III writing. lie gives
this letter to the Associated Press, and sends IA
COPY to Prof. Marsh. The Professor reads his
letter in the morning papers, and receives IT
i'm the afternoon. Here is a department un-
der charges of the GroSscst of frauds and
a most extensive system of corruption
which appoints its own court summons the
witnesses, takes the testimony and makes up
the case There was only one redecming fca-
ture in the business, and that was in the char
acter of the gentlemen appointed on TIE com
mitee, especially of eX-Goy. Bullock, who Is
widely known and everywhere honorcd as
very able and upright gentleman. And now
it turns ont that these gentlemen have not ac-
ccpted the appointment that cx-Gov. Bullock
had on the contrary expressly declined to
serve and that all Mr.. l.. =. Smiths hurry
ine to the press with his letter fastening
Prof Marsh's statement was humbuS pure
and simple. The Committee has not organized,
has not even accepted the appointment, and
Mr.. f. p. Smith has not been asked to assist
il in procuring testimony OF in anything else.
1t is to be regretted that the gentlemen
ma ned cannot act on this committee, if any
committee is TO be appointed by the Interior
Department or under its auspices, as the pub
lie would have confidence in any report they
might make The probable course now will
he to appoint IL committee of a different sort,
TO wlitcwash the whole management OF the
department. We have heard before of people
who, when they had got into difficulty by
breaking the law, got ont OF it by entering
complaint against themselves before a friendly
Justice, who either discharged them with II
light fine or dismissed the complaint. The
Interior Department Is very liable to organize
court of that kind. But whatever 1t does,
we take leave to suggest to MIR. f.. L. Smith
that his activity in the case is, under the cir
cumstances, not entirely becoming. If the
Indian Ring is determined To try itself we
suggest that they give the trial the appearance
of thorouglness. TO have bench, bar, and
dock on winking terms at each other will make
the whole thing ridiculous.