Arizona citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Pima County, A.T. [i.e. Ariz.]) 1870-1880, 1876-04-29

S0Oulu not DC dOdIet VIII u III III, oAiOhS .
hand, rather than increase them by
other policies? Reprobating all the
frauds so long continued in this serv-
ice under every system conscious that
it is not an exceptional Bureau, and
that purifcation and accountability
are indispensable; yet how can one,
overlooking the whole field, turn over
the service to that destructive and ex-
pensive management which IN the
past forty years has cost five hundred
millions, while the civil policy has
cost but little more than one-tenth of
this sum. including annuities, presents,
purchase-money for lands, and all!
We have no reason to distrust safe
and humane policies toward the In
dian, if pursued by agents, without
menace, force, or fraud. What we
want is not the transfer of the Indian
Bureau from one Department to an
other, but honest agents; not a par
tisan Bureau, bat honest agents, even
if under an independent Department.
We have never yet seen in this service
what the policy of peace can do when
properly managed; for it has been so
closely connected always with the
military. We need not go to Canada,
or to Algiers, or to William Penn for
lessons. Is there not civil ingenuity
and wisdom enough to devise remedies
for Bureau mismanagement, purge
our system of its putrescence, punish
crime, and compel accountability with
out transfer of the functions of civil
government to the military:
At intervals for more than twenty
years the military arm has made
efforts to capture the Indian Bureau.
During all that time it has thwarted
the work of the civil department in its
management of Indian affairs. In
stead of acting in harmony with and
properly aiding the officers in the
civil service in charge of the Indians
it has placed obstacles in the way. 1t
has thus retarded the work Ct civilizs-
ton, encouraged trespasses upon the
Indians, resulting in hostilities and
the sacrifice of the lives of the lndisns
and of the contiguous frontier settlers
as well.
In all these years Congress has sig
nally failed to do its duty. Appeal
after appeal has been made to it to
legislate so as to protect the Indians
in his rights and at the same time
shield the honest frontier settler from
the horrors of Indian wars. Occasion
ally spssmodic effort has been made
in Congress looking for some future
action on this important subject, but
before anything was accomplished,
the subject was dismissed from con-
sideration. Hence the years have
passed and the interests of this race
of men have been neglected. To-day
it is the ssddest sight on our continent
to contemplate the condition of these
helpless people.
In my Judgment two elements have
combined, and their influence has
been potent in negativing every pro-
per impulse that has heretofore shown
itself in the halls of Congress. These
elements are the Army, which has
desired to wrest Indian management
from the civil service, and the heart
less, avsricious, and corrupt men who
make plumber snd gain from all the
and distur Dances that
grow out of the unsettled condition
in which our Indian affairs are kept.
The true way to deal with the Ind
ian question is to make the peace
policy" more and more perfect. The
Indian Office should have at its head
q man of clear head and honest heart.
He should have sufficient power and
means conferred on him to do those
things which in q wise discretion
should be done. The duties of the
office are to some extent anomalous.
In every other Department our officers
have to deal exclusively with civilized
men. The Indian service is among
savages and those who are just rising
from the savage state. As have al
ready said, the service is remote. In
the purchase of supplies and in the
aid generally to the Indians very
large discretion has to be conferred.
No other officer in the Government
must necessarily have so large dis
cretion. The soundest judgment
should be exercised, and doubtless
even the soundest judgment will some
times fail. The Commissioner of
Indian Affairs should make himself
familiar with all the cir
which surround each Ind
ian tribe. and deliberately and intel
decide what can be done to
aid them most effectuslly without too
much cost.
If you have an able man or can get
one for this work, few years will
solve the problem. l believe that,
if you will faithfully fulfill your
agreements with the Indian if you
will keep white men from trespass-
ing upon and abusing him; if you
will give him sure guarantee that
he shall be protected in a suitable
home; if you will keep whisky away
from him, and give him for few
years intelligent aid that he can be
civilized.
BILL LIMITING ACREAGE OF Town
SITEs.-WAsHINGToN, April 14.-The,