New-York tribune., 1878-12-25
THE Army AND THE INDIAN.

A TALK WITH GENERAL MILEs-wHf IHE INDIANS
SHOULD BE PUT UNDER THE WAR DEPART
MENT.
General Nelson 4. Miles, who has oisiih-
guished himself in many encounters WIN 'no iuu'"
during the last years, was at tue bre'oo'
recently. In conversation with "a TRIBUNE ftY'i'o' "
gave his views n regard the proposed transfer o tue
indians TO the War Department. General Nles IN poi
soual appear france would In himself goou e'Iueuo'
against the theory put fOrwardby COMMISSIONS
the "uncivzing tendencies Of the Army lor al.noS"
he has seen service si1ce the rebellion IN AL tue
res and has taken active part in she various inui'h
wars during the last years, he looks ike an aaDe
man and n nrovided with white necktle might be mis-
taken for Methodist minister. He is apparently ABOUT
forty wears OF age, AMI rather tall; WIN a wei
proportioned frame, small brown sde-WhsAers asi"
mustache His face DrOnzed from long exposure i"o
General was accompanied By his wife, ana was on MS way
from Fort KeOgh Washington. where he VIII a''e"u
the sessions of the Board Of Equipment ana supplies oi
the Army.
my opinions on the proposed transfer ne sap "'
doubtless I'm accord with those of all the other
who have taken part in the late Indian wars' anu ANU"
the way in which the Indians are now mahageu 'n'h
the transfer should be made by all means Inc present
81 stem is constantly causing trouble, whoh tno AS
called I'm 70 suppress though IL has power to
the trouble IL system that has had tral ,h
Modocs Apachos ChoyenDes Kiowas. .Conanehes SIOUX
NeZ PerceS, BanuOcks, ana Otlef
%%4.a Sna !! continued there viii oou0'.''' 70 NV, M
there any Improvement in the character OF the In
have doubt that MrschuIzis trying TO Improve the
service, and that Mr. Coondler folio wed v1,J,
hut that they have succeeded entirely II maze evil
dent by the constant revelation OF new frauds several
having to iE1t within snor, tn an the frauds
prsctised them have found contractors ana agents
The , pasns 6r S %h T6% Tcs GT
to the Indians, would to ANYBODY else ana tronGle
follows and then the Army Is called In Frauds wouIa
no MI mOOSaibg under the Army hystetn %
msapproprarOn Of funds or frauds oil any knu are CON
Sood shoWihg as the Army The system OF accounta
bty Just what Is needed in the Indian seryieo oh
Gut are Army supplies and transportation Hucn
%eas 1nsniiS expensive 'D'n 'n''' ., 'n' mum p
"For the quality of supplies furnished and prompt
meas in transporting them tho Indian Department c0uld
not do the work any cheaper. Delay In furnishing sup
plies Indians, caused by letting out contracts al
insufficient rates md which carried out at tue con
of tie contractor Is one cause OF freql6nt d
satisfaction with the Indians Uhuer tne wa" depart
ment system that would be remedien.' 49,
/" Do the white settlers cause trouble T. ...,...
YES great dealand the Indian AGENTS are powefless
TO prevent IL. A white considers II no offence To
steal from Indian and II s almost impossDe TO oI
jury in that country 10 convict man i9f sucn a @ V
fence. There is practically no frontier ne nov as ;la
territory and the lines of civilization from the
East TO the West are overlapping, as ~ Weie;;
The settlers There il no u.e talking of Iermlnation
the only remedy lies IN civilzlng the INDIANS Inc
present policy Of keeping large numbers OF lnu'dhs
idlng about the agencies Ia destructive Of order IL
tney scattered about as they might be under te
lead 10 their civilization. They are good herders and
may be taught 10 follow Other pursuits, which wouId
cause them sclf-Sustainlng."
"what do you think OF the unclylzng tendencies OF
the ArTnyl
think it is nonsense. The Army taken from the
people. The officers ami connected with
some OF the best families In the country Re
lgious denominations would have just "a much
ami even more, liberty To convert the Indians
than they have now, because they would nnd
better protection Tao Army officers conducted the
government OF the South following the war; when they
bad laws TO guide thom, and they preserved the
peace and brought those states safely back the
constitutional forms OG government. II they were able
tBat thea, they ought 10 be able 20 take care
Of the Indians now"
"wnat do you think OF the proposed reduction OF the
ArmyW
II the Government thinks 10 wise 20 reduce its police
force have nothing say They tried IL previous
to 1861. IL had been large Army then
Is s now, much trouble would have been pre-
vented. IL must remembered that while there were
officers who deserted the flag, there prvaies
The latter remained true New-YOrk could well
afford reduGe police force the Nation its
Army"