New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-16
to check this enormous waste. As a Nation
we cannot afford it.
TIE PONCA INDLANs.

Ii If, perhaps, almost useless TO talk OF JUS
tice or injustice to the Indians as most readers
have had their minds made up long ago on the
matter. This man looks upon the red-skin as
the prey of the whites who have robbed him.
taught him 10 drink, and are now driving him
to utter ruin by constant removals. The next
regards him and his claims as n gigantic
swindle ne is the prince of tramps, drunken,
idle, hopeless incubus on the country. We
are not going to talk of justice but really
there ought to be ordinary common sense
shown in the management Of these people.
The country ia tired of Indian wars, the
eternal jangling about Indian agents, the
quarterly visits of chiefs in their paint and
feathers, and palavers about the Great Father,
and their ancient wrongs and their desire for
OyercOats. II may be picturesque, it is trag-
zeal in its pathOs, but it undoubtedly is bore.
Tho more sympathy we feel for these men,
the more impatient we grow with the repetition
of this miserable farce. If the Indians were
at work, like the whites, if they had their
farms, their trade, their schools and churches,
if they came to Washington to protest against
injustice dressed in coats and trowsers and
talking good, shrewd, practical English, in
stead Of the language of Uncas, there can he
no doubt that they would easily obtain their
rights, as other citizens, and that the Indian
problem would be, in effect, solved
Nov. almost the only case IN which this
state of things was actually reached, was in
that of these Poncas. They never had been
hostile to the whites; they were civilized in
their habits and beliefs; they have been living
in houses which they built and on farms which
they titled with industry and skill; they had
their schools, their churches-in short lived as
any Christian, handwriting, intelligent colony
of whites would do. They have been espe-
caly under the care of the Episcopal Church,
and thousands of men and women in that de-
nomination have contributed to help them
reach their present prosperity.
Now we are told that the exigencies Of the
Indian Department require the whole tribe to
be removed to new and unbroken ground,
and they are accordingly removed. II is true
the President assures them that they shall be
paid for their farms, agricultural implements,
etc. This may be done or it may not. The
Presidents intentions are good. But we all
know what an Indians claim is when it trickles
through agencies and bureaus. But even sup
posing them to be paid, the moral wrong is
no less great. These people have n love for
their homes, the schools they have built, the
churches in which they have worshpped with
a humble devotion which might shame their
paIcr brethren. 1t is this settled sense of citi-
zenship which we wish to give them. We
have no more moral right to sweep this COM
munity out Of its homes and land into the will
dcrness, than we have to thrust the popula-
ton of Yonkers down upon the Jersey beaches.
Our protest comes too late, perhaps, to
help the Poncas But this system of treat
ment of the Indians, If pursued, Is not only
unjust but unwise in the last degree. No race
can persist in the effort to cIyilize themselves
against such hopeless Encouragement.