The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-06-03

that their acceptance would be used as evil
dence Of its ineficiency and as an argument |
in favor of transferring the management Of he |
Indians to the War Department, where, in my
opinion, it properly belongs.
THE AVERAGE INDIAN AGBK1.
Reporter. Do you think the Indian Depart
ment corrupt?
General Custer. i would not like to say 80 OF
the whole department. It is not fair to Judge
it by some OF its agents
Reporter What is the general character of
the average Indian agent
IL General CUSTER can probably answer
best by quoting an Indian Chief He asked
me to see the Great Father and make state
ment of their wrongs. / said would do all
in his favor possible, and perhaps tn govern
ment would sefd new agent. "N' ;" said
the Chief, tive don't want a new agent. Agents
come here poor and get rich in few years.
This man has everything he wants. If new
one comes we will have to make him rich
also" explained, saying that the Great
Father tried to select good men. He replied
warmly, "They may be good men v hen they
leave Washington, but when they get here
they are all dam rascals" / do not believe
that the indian derives anything like the full
benefit of the supplies sent out by the govern
ment
INDIAN LOVE OF COUNTRY.
One reason why the British and Mormons
|
do not encroach on their territories as rapidly
as we do. They do not require them to be
constantly moving. They buy, aud are slow
to extend their boundaries The Indians have
strong attachment for the land containing
the bones of their ancestors, and dislike to
leave it. Love of country is almost q religion
with them 1t is not the value OF land that
they consider; but there is strong local at
tac6ment that the white man does not feel, and
consequently does not respect.
HOW TO INACCURATE CIVILIZATION.
The mistake of the Indians is this--they
take the act of an individual tor the sentiment
of the government The President has done
everything in his power to better their condi'
ton. am one Of those who believe that the
only way to manage the Indians is to ust
free and observe strict justice9n all dealings
They are naturally e5pel to eacn other as vel
as to the whites. It Is their nature. / do no
think that when we encounter hostile tribe!
on tue plains for the first time that they Cal
be induced 70 live on terms of peace with thu
frontier whites, even surprising that the latte
offered no resistance. To become great in eacl
others eyes they must commit acts of barbar
ity It is this idea that is instilled into the In
, dams mind from his birth to his death TIL
> only way is to make him respe0fthe whites ant
! comprehend the power of the government
and then to place him where he can be laugh
: the arts of agriculture. Still there is no dOut
s'SN
5 done him, and being of proud, naughty ma
ture, he resents it.
ARMY CONTROL RECOMMENDED.
l am satisfied that the Indian can never b
e successfully governed by two department:
v The Department of he Interior Feeds him an
:, clothes him while at peace, but in war hi
: management is transferred to the War Depart
u ment 1t is impossible to discriminate at q
: times between the two conditions. 1t Is har
;. to tell at times whether the Indian belongs t
y this or that department. In saying that
v should be under the control of the War DE
e partment do not mean to attack or assail Il
Of Indian Agent, but the system which permi
IS abuses and fraud. In the arr
e the system of responsibility among of
r GERS is so perfect and thorough in the manag
4. ment OF military matters, particularly in Il
he distribution OF provisions that it is impossib
1t for the supplies to be misappropriated. Und
the present Indian system there is no respol
= sibility, because the Indians are showed abo1
= from one agent to another, and with eat
:, :. transfer all knowledge and responsible
oe ceases. At the same time this change is not
- duty that army officers seek. ltwould not
:, congenial except for the reason that they fe
y, thai better results to the country and the
a dams would follow reform, and if it we
!, made they would labor willingly and chez
fully to refader the measure successful.