The Jasper weekly courier., 1875-07-16
Starve the Indian Ring.



The Secretary of the Interior, the Com
missioner OF Indian Affairs. and their con-
federaies OF the Indian Ring, appear 10
have taken alarm at the recent exposures.
and are now striving 10 arrest further in-
vestigation by temporary expedicnt.
The Indian Commissioners whom DelanO
selected after the old board resigned In a
body on account Of the mOnstrous frauds
which he protected. have asked the War
Department % detail officers 10 inspect
the supplies for certain tribes al Kansas
City. Cneyene, and Sioux City. But
this does not meet the eNigency at all
Nothing short OF an examination of the
supplies when delivered 10 the Indians
and en- inspection OF the cattle which they
actually receive. will satisfy the public.
The tricks and knayery OF agents. con-
contractors, and officials. all acting to-
gether IN collusion, have become well un-
derstoOd.
A large portion of the plunder from
this source is obtained by the substitution
Of inferior and short supplies for those
which have passed inspection. between
the points OF final shipment and the dely-
cry To the Indians. Sometimes the sub
stltution takes place at the very agency
where the goods are gathered for the
tribe. soas to divert suspicion and thwart
inquiry.
All confidence in an honest administra-
ton Of Indian affairs has been Withdrawn
from the Interior Department. About
three millions year are estimated TO have
been stolen and squandered since Delano
and his associates have run the cogcern.
In five years they have drawn from the
Treasury thirty-two millions for service
which. for the same length OF time under
Lincoln. cost only sixteen millions, with
one-fourth more Indians TO feed than now
exist IN the United States.
This thieying system Is made moro obi
Gus. because IL has been carried on under
the hypocritical pretence of Outstanding
the Indians. and in the abused name OF a
peace policy. The practical effect Of this
scandalous treatment has been TO confirm
the red men in distrust Of the white. to
make him look with disfavor upon pro.
fessions OF religion. and instead Of max
Ing him friend, 10 provoke his bitter
enmity.
No complete remedy for this state Of
things can be expected while Gran j.
President. The Ring rules az the White
House. That was plainly visible when
Red Cloud, Spotted Tail, aud other chiefs.
asked to present their grievance. To the
President. after having been invited 10
Wash ngton by his suggestion. They
were forbidden TO speak on the subject.
and were even threatened with harsh pen.
alties unless they consented 10 abandon
their homes 10 an organic "a gang Of
spectators.
Ii is practicable, however. for Con-
gress to control the amount and
the manner of these expenditures
The House of Representatives in thi.
respect holds the key OF the situation
An amendment 10 the Indian Appr,-
priation bill, requiring all sums voted
for supplies 10 be expended by olli-
GERS Of the regular army. aud contracts to
be made as they are for the troops. will
not only stop these disgraceiul abuses. but
break up the lndi an Ring.
Other reforms can only come with a
change of Administration in 1877, but this
one may be achieved next winter in spite
Of the poAer represented in Congress by
these plunderers. The Senate will of
course resist any change like that sug-
gested But If the House will insist upon
upright dealing with the Indians. public
opinion will soon set the matter right and
make the Senate recede from false po-
sition.