The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-03
enM. snnRMAN CIV INDIAN AFrIIRs.
why the Bureau should he Transferred 90
the War Department.

WASHINGTON, Dec. "A communication
from Gen. W. T. sherman. addressed TO Chair-
man Saunders Of the Joint Commission having
under consideration the question Of transfer
ring the Indian Bureau to the War Depart
ment was to-day laid before tho Committee.
The General. after stating his readiness to re-
spond promptly to any summons Of tho Com
mittee. says: Il am sure. from Official and
personal intercourse. that Secretary Schurz and
Commissioner OF Indian Affairs Hayt have been
extremely anxious and have labOred hard
Tor an honest administration OF the AFFAIRS OF
the Indian Bureau. as organized by law. per-
sonally know that Mr.. Hayt went as far Ms he
could properly 90 TO prevent the recent re-
moval Of Red Cloud and Spotted Tails band OF
Indians from the Missouri River to their pres
ent locations" (which must. he thinks. ccrtniny
result in the next war), and tina; their removal
resulted principally from the Presidents
promise. based upon the advice Of Gen. Crook
And further believe that both Mr.. Schurz and
Mr.. Hayt have done all that men could do from
their quarter 10 remove wcak and dishonest
ngents and to replace them by honest agents.
| wish you and. II proper. the public. TO con-
strue tho present conflict or antagonism to be
not personal. not question OF honesty. but "a
natural and necessary conflict OF antagonstio
systems"
After commenting at length upon previous
1ndinn wars the General says; " Ii requires no
prophet TO iOrcsce moro Indian wars nOnr ut
hand. especially with the Sioux recently To-
Gated on the upper Niohrnra." He asserts that
the present Indian Agents with these two
hnnds, as also with the other tribes Of Sioux on
tbs Missouri River nt Lower Brule. at the
Cheyenne Standing Rock. and Fort Peck
Agencies are utterly and ridiculOusly powcrlcss
to keep their Indians peacenble as required by
the interests OF the national Government with
out the aid Of the army. Tho same IL equally
true as TO the Cheyenncs. Arapahoes. kiowas.
and COmanches Of the Indian Territory. nor
can the civic agents protect their Indians
against the unjust encrOachmOnts II the whites
in the cases OF the Kiowas and Maricogees OF
Arizona or the Umatillas and Spoknnes OF WASH
ington and Idaho Territories. Con. sherman
continues;
name these instances simply hccauso the Indian Bu
partmcnt Tor troops 70 .nablc It to iulh as once Now
70 me ~ Is matter 81 us, ~ we pr. en-
and without the help Of the army cannot maintain IN
ual to enable white emisran to MI w tho surplus coun
w gRt 70 usere az aee psou. tribes % on ha S
alo&d r. erauons, and TO control the issues Of money
u I |.s can s''e S my & tg f9
our army to civilian nanasemSnt We Would ra,6cr do
The work ourselves with the army. The Indian bureau
called on In season and out o scason-ncary Away too
lac 20 prevent trouble or oven understand the cau.c
whole labor AMI drud.ery Of e offices Of Indian agent,
and surcrintndents, without one cent Of additional
Many people fear tina, the biooihrsty army will Nil
on the poor Indians This is moro than nonsense. The
army i made np of the same men who form people
Kind The danger on the other side that the army vi
protect tc Indian against the white for VIII. rover have
been. and have seVn good dt vi of these Indians they
haze legged me ~ put army Ger Ia charge % their
interests
In conclusion. Gen. sherman says:
The War Department can employ civilian agents FOR
iht peaceful tribes aud military agents for thc NHrkc
tribes Christian and cisihAng influences hc well
used 10y the military as 10y the civtl authouups There
wi Doe less ypocri.v AMI cant with the military agents
than with The civil. The military will Keep the peace,
prucct reservations AGAINST unlawful intrusion by the
whites and allow and encourage different Christian
APPROXIMATIONS 20 compete ~ the matter OF churches and
schools Tile economy viii be- iu using 81 ui ma
chinory for both army and indians instead o.
two Ia case of uansivr one head ~ department would
have control an the agencies and OF al the troop
~ 90 apply the remedy on the spot instead ct by the
system OF cifCuulteutuu now ia prac'cc. Ihese
few of the reasons which suggest themselves daily II
ought 90 be question col national economy and efficiency
instead ct one ut mere patronage.