Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1876-05-27
THE INDIAN


We have never entered at large intn
a consideration of the proposed trans
fer OF the control of the red skins, the
"Nation's wards" from the Interior
Department to the Department of War.
We have never done so because the
advisability, indeed the necessity of
such tranfer, is with every man who
lives west of the Missouri an axiom at
the foundation Of a solution of the In
dian problem. 1t Is, however, refresh
ing to meet with an article in a period
ical OF repute, published in the East,
wherein a proper view of this ques-
ton is taken. The "Quaker policy"
with its attendant evils of Sioux and
Apache outbreaks, OF Vincent Colly-
ers, and unlimited steals, has been
weighed in the balance and found
wanting. The House has passed a bill
transferring these gentle "wards" to
the control of the army; the President
is known to favor it, and the Senate
will prove %recreant to its trust ii il
permit miserable considerations of
personal patronage to interfere with
the accomplishment of so b%eneficent a
purpose.
Speaking of the proposed transfer,
the GALAXY, for June. says:
ut seems to he, assumed that II such
an arrangement should be made, there
would be a rush of generals, colonies,
majors, captains, lieutenants, and high
privates, to the plains, for the purpose
of indiscriminate robbery, rape, and
slaughter-the victims being Squat
ting Bear and his squaws and 1.-THE
likes of them" In their own tribe and
In others. If these wise legislators and
Journalists would only make them
selves acquainted with the wishes and
feelings of our army officers upon this
subject. they would, perhaps, appear
Il better advantage when they speak
and write upon it. They would dis
cover that of all places where he may
be ordered the army officer most dis
likes the Indian posts. 1t is to him q
Punishment almost like that OF a Rus
sian to Siberia. He goes there when
ordered because IL is his duty TO do 80;
and he makes the best of 1t
because he is a man. But the
best he can make of It is to
"grin and bear it," As to plumber, it
Is he who suffers that at the hands of
the post trader. AS to the squaws-
we'll, we wish that the Legislators and
journalists aforesaid were compelled to
fiirt with a few of those copper-skinned
females, being deprived during the
process of cologne, camphor, harts-
horn, or handkerchiefs; and there we
drop that part of the subject. AS to
cruelty or severity in the management
of Indians, they could not be put in
more merciful hands than those of
soldiers. Military men as a rule arc
the most reluctant to use violence ; al
though when forced to do so they use it
thoroughly a. we'll as with discrimina-
ton. No n so unwilling to fire upon
a mob as a soldier; although when he
does fire he uses ball cartridge and
fires low. And the officers of our
army are men of education, and most
of them II of character. They would
feel their responsibility If the manage
ment Of the Indians were placed in
their hands, and they would, We are
sure, perform this arduous, p~erplexing,
and responsible duty with q discretion,
and above all with an honesty to
which we fear Indian affairs are at
present strangers"
MuSrANnS AnAIN -Our III snofcboo