, 1876-09-01

FRIDAY. SEl 1 th p'.lN L l''''
10 A Plan PRoPosED.-Among late
contributions to current miscellany
is a letter from II. B. Whipple, of
Minnesota, addressed to the Presi-
dent of the United States, on our
Indian difficulties. His name ap-
pears on the list of Commissioners
recently appointed by Secretary
Chandler, to treat with the Sioux,
and as he has had large experience
in Indian life on the border, his opin-
ions are entitled to consideration.
The Bishops one Of those who be-
lieve Congress was right in refusing
to transfer the management Of the
Indians to the War Department. He
approves of what has been termed
the Quaker policy, and thinks there
is line of treatment which might be
pursued toward the savages that
would not only secure their friend
ship but reclaim them from their no.
madic life to Christianity and civili-
zation. He fortifes himself in this
branch of his argument by reference
to the management of the Indians by
the Canadian Government. That
country has never recognized the
right of the tribes to set up forms of
government for themselves, but has
held them amenable to the same law
which protects and Furnishes the
whites. 1t exercises a fostering care
over them, by making presents to
the chiefs Of articles suitable for ag-
ricultural purposes, with which they
can break up the soil and bring COM
fort into their families. In this man
ner Indian depredations are avoided.
Canada has no Indian wars, while
this country is rarely at peace with
all the tribes, and counts its massa-
eres by the score. The cost by the
Canadian method of keeping the In.
diansin subjection is merely nominal
while it has been to this country
over FIVE hundred millions of dohars.
Bishop Whipple has a plan for
ameliorating the condition of the alb
origines. The Government owns
forty reservations. All the Indians
in Minnesota should be placed on the
White Earth reservation; those Of
New Mexico, Colorado and the Sioux
in the Indian Territory; and those
Of the Pacific coast upon two other
reservations. He further proposes
to give to each Indian l60 acres of
land, and make it inalienable so that
he cannot be swindIedl out of it by
spectators and traders. Give to
every tribe the benefit Of a govern
ment, and let the Indian agents be
ex,ofieio United STATES Commission.
ers, to adjust differences aud see that
the laws are strictly enforced.
Some such policy as the above the
Bishop thinks would secure a COM
plete revelation in the Indian char.
acter. There are those who will
consider him somewhat sanguine.
The Indians have been so long ac-
eustomed to drawing their supplies
from Government that it is doubtful
whether they would be willing to re-
lInquish them and conform to the ex.
acting laws of an Industrial civiIiza-
tion. They are naturally indolent.
and, as a general rule, would rather
suffer than work-looking, as they
do, upon all useful employment with
contempt They have had missiona.
ries and peace agents among them for
year, and what have they accomplish :
ed? Comparatively nothing. The plan
suggested by the Bishop might be
trled-always supposing that the
frontier military posts are well gar
rlsoned-until the result of the ex-
pertinent has been aseertained.
The State election in Maine will