The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-04-07
Our Indian Policy

QuA 1nuloh 4ohOy
Is discussed by an officer Of the army on
the first page. We have long been of the
opinion that the existing order of things
on our western frontier is an anomalous
one, and that 1t ought to be radically
changed. The policy of treating the In-
dams as independent nations and making
treaties with them ought to be abandoned.
If the territory they occupy belongs to
the United States, then they are citizens,
and should be treated as all other citizens
Territorial governments ought to be estab-
lished for them, and their officers appointed
from amongt the best men oftheir own tribes
The annuity given them by the govern
ment ought to be discontinued. The pro-
vision annually made of beef, bacon, -four,
coffee, sugar, implements, arms, ammuni-
ton, blankets, medical supplies, &c. and
conveyed to them through agents, is not
only a vast annual expense to the govern
ment, but the source Of much corruption
and an opportunity for continual peeula-
ton. The Indians fail to receive large
amount of the goods provided for them,
and this is a source Of perpetual exaspera-
ton Millions Of the public money have
been spent in this way, and the Indians
have been but little benefited. The whole
system is one upon which rogues have
fattened for a long series Of years at the
expense of the public treasury. ItshOuld
be abandoned. Abolish the agencies and
let the Indians shift for themselves as
other men have to do. Take away the
army aud let the frontiersman who ven
lures among the sayages act fairly towards
them, or take the consequences. If the
Indians choose to abandon the chase and
practice the arts Of civilized life, as many
have done, and set themselves down to till
the soil and earn an honest living, they
have large scope Of fertile land which will
yield them abundance. They would fare
much better than they now do, in their
rowing vagrant condition. If they viii
not, let them shift for themselves, and let
the white frontier settlers shift for them
selves. The latter might band together
for protection against the incursions of the
savages Mutual wrongs have been in-
ficted upon each other by the frontier
settlers and the savages. Let each party
respect the rights of the other aud there
will be peace between them. The policy
Of the government tends to encourage
idleness and rapacity on the frontier, and
sustains a swarm of worthless men, among
the whites as well as among the Indians.
1t is one of the most fruitful sources Of
corruption, and perpetual drain upon the
treasury. History proves that as the In
dams have decreased the expenses of their
maintenance have increased. Their cost,
fifty years ago, was nothing to compare to
what it now is. Our Indian policy has
become great ulcer upon the body polite,
which ought to be cut out root and branch
Few are aware of the great cost of our
Indian tribes. A few items will give the
reader some ideas upon this subject. The
Commissioner Of Indian Affairs last week
invited proposals for Indian supplies for
the next fiscal year, amounting to between
two and three millions of dollars. Among
the items specified are $4,000, 900 pounds
of beef on the hoof, nearly 5000, 900
pounds of -four, 900, 900 pounds Of sugar,
about 100000 pounds of coffee, $50, 900
pounds Of bacon and some go 900 pounds
of tobacco, besides large quantities of
blankets, clothing, dry goods, hardware,
notions and medical supplies Proposals
are also invited for about $500, 900 of
transportation for such supplies as may not
be contracted to be delivered at the several
Indian agencies. Congress ought to take
the subject into consideration, and see
whether corrective cannot be applied to
the evils of the present policy. It has
become an evil of the first magnitude
which calls loudly for correction, notwith-
standing the rosewater reports Of the In
dian Agents.