Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-12-10
THE INDIAN PROBLEM.
The Views OF Ex-Congressman Bnrleigh,
of Dakota
Milwaukee Sentinel.

OF NkOtA. --s+
Milwaukee Sentinel.
While strolling through the inextricabl
windings of the Newhall house, yesterday
seeking whom he might deyour for the pnb
lie good, a Sentinel man espied the dignlfiet
form Of ext Congressman w. A. Burleigh, o.
Dakota territory, the man who has spen
eighteen years in working out the Indian
problem, and who is to day perhaps the be.l
posted man on Indian affairs in the country.
A moment afterwards and the reporter made
himself known, friendly questions followed,
and after the c contemplated road to Yankton
had been discussed, Mr.. Burleigh was switch.
ed off oA to the Indian question, when the
following talk ensued.
What is your opinion of the present man.
agement of Indian affairs?
After q careful examination into the pres.
ent management Of our Indian affairs, I am
forced to the conclusion that it is a failure,
1t is very costly to the government
and does not materially promote the
civilization Of the 1ndisps: The Indian
race, as a whole, is in my judgment little
was a quarter of a century ago. The untold
millions of treaaure which during the twenty
five years last past have been appropriated
for their support and civilization, with q few
isolated exceptions, might as we'll have been
thrown into the sea; so far as any good re-
sults are concerned.
Then you do not approve oftbe civil adj
ministration of our Indian affairs
II do not. The civil branch of the gov
eminent has shown itself utterly unable to
control the uncivilized tribes, who from
time immortal have held 10 contempt all
authority save that which Is exerted
over them by an ov%erpowering force. In
looking into this question We find that for
many years past " distinguished classes of
officers have been in the Indian country,
both by authority of the gov. rnment and
under pay. The one, officers Of the army,
and the other officers of the Indian bureau.
1t is we'll known to every discerning man
who has lived upon our fronti.r rs for any
considerable lenght of time, that the latter
could not have lived there without the pro.
tecuon of the former. II they could have
done SO, why should 90 large q portion Of the
army have been kept there and 60 many
military posts constructed at such an enor-
nous cost. The truth is, iflhe military were
removed from the Indian county tomorrow,
of all the Indian bureau, and
their employees, would be
DRIVEN u OF THE
within sixty days, or murdered, and our /:
whole western frontier would be involved
10 savage warfare. No authority avails with
Indians unless supported BY adequate mill.
!ary power to enforce it. The civil agents
IF the government are merely tolerated BY
he Indians for selfish ends. They are |
feared nor respected BY them. L. it
policy then. in view of the I'M &ciency Of
he Indian bureau, and the enormous ex.
oense attending It's operation, to maintain
at Washington or keep its power!ess off, {
in the Indian country.
To whom would you delegate this au.
e
"There are plenty Of army officers, edu. t
ated, competent and honest. who are pres. c
and ready to discharge the duties of In |
liam agents, and all other duties now per- q
ormed BY officers Of the Indian bureau, in c
Indian county, and without additional t
Expense to the government. Yet tso class q
= Of officers are kept there at q large ex. c
.ense to the government and 10 the great c
|etriment Of the Indians These civil oh !