The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-08-10
Some "Faets" Touching the Indian
Problem.
lChicag0 Times.

A very meager percentage Of the In
dian population is hostile-not enough
of them to warrant the clamor about
Indian hostility, treachery, and the de.
mand for Indian determination.
Four-fifths of the Indian population
are now on reservations, and of some
thing like hundred reservations there
is no trouble save with one.
The results in Indian Territory dem
onstrate the practicability of gradually
civilizing the Indians.
While the Anglo-Saxons have been in
cessantly at war with the Indians, the
Latin races, on this continent, have just
as constantly been at peace.
A large percentage of Indian difficult
ties arises from bad faith On the part of
the whites in the observance of treaties
and in the payment of debts.
The religious element of the policy of
the government is an advantage in keep
ing the Indian pacific.
Wherever possible, tribes should be
removed to Indian Territory.
The supplying of hostile Indians with
superior arms is the work of private par
ties, and of traders who violate their
agreement.
There are no valid objections to the
so-called peace policy of the government.
The objections to it are found in the
rapacity, scoundrelism, and bad faith of
its agents.
The present campaign against the
Sioux is logical one in it's design, and
whose temporary failure, thus far, is
wholly owing to the direct disObedience
of subordinate.
That call Indians are not hostile" is
shown by the fact that several hundred
are now operating with our troops against
the hostile Sioux.
The entire number of Arickaree, Gros
Ventre, Mandan, Yanctonnais, Uncpapa,
Black Feet, Two Kettle, Minnecongou,
Sans-Arc, Ogallalla. Brule, Cheyenne,
and Arapahoe Indians on the Sioux
reservations, and including Indians of all
kinds in the Sioux country, being only
about sixty thousand, there would not
be more than ten thousand were every
warrior on the war path. AS not more
than one-quarter of those Sioux Indians
are in revolt, it follows that Sitting Bull
can not have force exceeding three
thousand men.
1t is safe to conclude that, as a general
thing, save in the fraudulent practices of
the Indian agents, the relations of the
United States and the Indians are salts
factory. With majority of the tribes
we have treaties whereby railroads can
be built or other Improvements carried
through any of the reservations. Of
course the handling of two hundred and
fifty thousand people distributed through
all the country west of the Missouri
River, and occupying an area equal to a
half-dozen large States, is no small mat
ter. 1t perhaps speaks well for the In
dian character that all these numerous
| tribes, scattered over so much territory,
are held in check with so little difficulty.
The true policy Of the government
seems to be, for the present, to adhere to
its present policy. A publication of the
civil service will give us better class OF
men to deal with the Indians, and then
the most fruitful cause of difficulty will
be removed. Whenever possible, a
tribe should be removed to Indian Terri
tory, where its handling will be matter
Of no difficulty.
1t is more than likely that there will
always be more or less trouble with those
ptOplc, JuSI ds Iucic 10 always hioio vi
less trouble with the vicious elements
among the whites. AS police force is
necessar to repress disorder in Chicago,
SO will a police force be necessary to re-
press disorder among the Indians. We
must always sustain a certain armed
force, if for no other purpose than to
form the nucleus of an army in case of a
foreign or other war. The police duty
on the plains is the finest school in the
world. 1t will keep our regulars from
rusting, and will make them daring
riders and men of iron endurance. 1t
will have the effect to make them alert,
vigilant, prompt in decision, and forcible
in execution. Hence the policing of
the Indian sections should be regarded
as benefit rather than needless and
expensive labor.