The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-08
The Indian Problem.

When we come to the second centennial
anniversary of our national independence it
will probably be written that the Indian race,
with the exception, perhaps, of few rem
nants in some outlying frontier section, has
passed away. When we compare the condi-
ton and number of the Indian tribes to-day
with what they we're hundred years ago, and
see their terrible diminution in character and
capacity and honesty, we can well conceive
how the process of destruction cannot last
more than one or two generations When
this chapter of our national history is written
it will always be said that in no respect has
America failed so signally to yindicate her
claim to have humane and civilized peo-
pie as in her dealings with the Indians.
The whole story of the relation of the
white man to the Indian on this Con-
tinent is q consistent record of baseness,
perfdy and inhumanity. We can readily
see now that what we call manifest destiny
will in time drive the Indian from the posses
sion of the vast empire now under our
dominion. 1t was not in the nature of things
that there should even. be contest as to
which of the races should live in America
the white man or the red man; nor do we
think for moment that civilization has not
been largely benefited in every aspect by the
triumph of the white man over the red in the
struggle for the possession of our soil.
We came to the Indian armed with sure
rior civilization, with cunning, with wider
range of knowledge, and 1t was within our
power to lift him out of his condition of bar
barism and instruct him in an approximate
form of civilization. This, certainly, was our
duty, and if we had performed it patiently,
instead of destroying one of the most interest
ing races of the world, we should have rescued
it, elevated strengthened it, and, conquering
America to the uses Of civilization, have given
to the world an enlightened people.
1t is impossible for us to give here the
whole story, and nothing could be more I'M
pleasant and ungracious. When President
Grant entered the Presidency one Of his first
declarations was that he would administer
the Indian affairs with justice and humanity.
He was peculiarly fitted for this work In
his earlier days he had lived with the Indians.
He knew their peculiarities, and he especially
knew oil the trials they had suffered. We do
the President justice, and feel that he has
striven all the time to reform our Indian sys-
tenn. The influences that have fattened upon
the misfortune Of the Indians have been too
strong for him, and from what we can gather
now it would seem that we are threatened
with another war on our frontiers, arising
from the bad conduct of federal officers in
dealing with the Indian tribes. One OF the
OF the Indian Ring is to foster these
''wars." The government is compelled to find
supplies and troops and arms and money. 1t
is hard to feel that in enlightened America we
make wars as a matter Of gain and specula-
\ ton, but this is the truth, and this underlies
the difficulty of dealing with the whole Indian
I question.
4 If the President will only be firm in the
conviction with which he entered his Office
and will insist upon justice TO the Indian no
has it in his power to do a great good. We
fear it is too late for us a nation to reform
our Indian policy. The shame and scandal of
1 it have passed 1t is almost impossible for
us as a people ever to expect the Indian to
regard our word, and when faith no longer
remains any negotiation is impossible The
/ President may, nevertheless, arrest evils that
if not checked may involve our frontier lines
in more devastating war than We have bad
since the time Of Tecumseh.