, 1876-08-28

THE INDIAN POLICY,


CHICAGO, Aug. 3.-ln the columns OF Thurs
days TRIBUNE there appeared letter on tlio
Indian policy on which take the liberty to COM
ment a little, as there arc points in 1t wh!cf,
do not entirely approve; and, In fact, Its whole
tenor 10 not what my feelings On tic subject
would prompt me to express. The writer starts
out with queries which takc the form OF philo-
sophical argument, but In which entirely lose
sight Of his philosophy In contemplation Of tho
naked truths contained. In tho first pface. In
speaking Of the 1ndans relations to tls, he asks,
Are those Indians an independent nation
within the United States, and exercising soyer-
eighty over the soil they occnpyp Ofcoursc,
T aq IL s wa nssysy sen Fssea0mhE m .v msn can
pendix to his logical conclusion, that the ne-
ceas!tics Of civilization hive compelled the say-
aagcs to give, way and yield to the Inevitable.
This Is not the place to discusa the question Of
ward march, but think my friend OF tho pen
Will admit that this "1neyttable ~ has been Tie
white ulnn'B sword.
!, Al to hta second query, Is he United
states ttzen tho rghts Of eittxenspl
have II answcrel a. tho former, but Will ask
tho writer to reflect 1!ttle on the answer to
this question, and perhaps he will sec thnt
Justice to this native tnstincts Of the sayagc race
reply of "eertainly not Son1d bs % Calculated 1 lied
to excite. ! ask him to remember that the soil
Of the United States was once virgin soil; that
tts wild. uncultured plains wcrr then the In
dian's home, In which he knew no coercive law
taught him. Now, the Indian Of to<laY goes
onco or twice year to appeal for juattce at tho
Capital: On his way thlther, he looks IN broad
and smiling gardens where once grew the wild
was drawn. What thun, usk, are the Indians
scnsibllitics3 Or is their nature human as well
as o1lrBa
Nov why should not thered mans sensthllittes,
however rude, awaken isl his intellectual facul.
tiee, however dull, certain kuowlodgo Of bis
right 70, and deep ycarnlue. to possess ngain,
tlicse broad plaihs over which l,ts fathers
roa1ned in freedom; but this Indians Claims to
sympathy arc light when weighed in the hall
anes a.; WITH the statesman's logic. ile y not
man, II hc has got soul capable OF receiving an
impress beyond that which charge ot trnpc-
shot would be calculated to imparti no reed to
inquire what arc lis claims to sympathy beyond
those Of tho buffalo with which he shares tho
pla!ns,. The writer admits him to bc warl Of
tho nation.
But the auestton comes, How is II that tho
United States Government hua beenso blind in
Of to .oa H slap, UT b.enso esso
there was NO one to enlghtcn Il as to The policy
to bc pursued; or was II not ablB to whip them
Into subjectton like spoiled chtld3 Now, do
nut Imagine that | an, tn favor Of allowing tho
,aavagcs to commit depredations With tnplntty.
Neither am ln favor Of exciting them to dec'ls
81 blood In order to punisl, them for tho sau,c.
Let the wFlter cxaInlnu how often within tho
past centennial cru has the Indian tol,al,awk
been raised aboy0 the white mans hcal without
provocatEon sufficient to arouae the worst feel
Jugs Of savage nature, No one feels tho dlsas-
tcfs of tho present Indian war more than 10,
and, wien rejecting Oh the fortune Of the gal
liant Custer and hls faithful band, my hand
seems ready to Rrasp the sword, yet, III calmer
which think sufficient TO braug the IMdiai,
nearer to the white mans level, aud certainly to
q ltvclier knowledge OF Ills Goti. FAIR RLAY.