The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-12-12

s~The first two things can be accomplished BY
appropriate action on the part Of Congress The
cfOachments by white people on the rights of the
Indians may be lessened by the concentration Of
the Indians on . smaller number Of reservations,
but they can be entirely avoided even then only by
tie most energetic enforcement of the law ON the
phrt Of the General and Local Governments. To
this end It seems desirable that Southwestern
tribes, whose present reservation appears insecure
Or otherwise unsuitable for their permanent settle
ment. should be gradually removed to the Indian
Territory. The Northwestern tribes will. In the
course Of time have to be concentrated in similar
manner on few reservations east Of the Rocky
Mountains and on the Pacific slope.
4 To keep the Indians ON their reservations and
prevent disturbance and Conflicts the Commits
eioner Of Indian Affairs recommends the organiZa-
ton Of mounted body of Indian auxtarics. to be
drawn from young men Of the various tribes. and
D. be under the command Of the military authOrt
ties. l heartily concur In this recommendation.
It is a matter Of general experience that the In.
dams employed can BE- depended upon as to loyal
fidelity to the duties assigned them. But the prin-
eipa end of our Indian policy cannot be promoted
by police measures alone That end consists In
gradually introducing among the Indians the hab
Its and occupations Of civilized life by inducing
them to work for their own support. by cncOurag
ing pride Of individual ownership Of property. and
by educating the young generation, and no cftYrts
should be spared 60 bring to bear upon them the
proper moral influence In that direction. Such ef
forts should not be sncered ut as mere sentimental
fanccs. for. should they be discouraged by The as
sertion that success il impossible. the advance
made by some Indian tribes Is sufficient proof thd
n similar advance may be made by others. What
sever may be accomplished by the employment Of
force. ii il certain that only rs the Indians pro-
grcss in the way Of civilization they will cease to
B bc troublesome and disturbing element The
Sioux; so far. have given evidence Of loyal spir
it, and r,lmors current OF disposition on their
part to become hostile proved unfounded.''
He also says that great difficulty was encOnn
tered in sending supplies from the Missouri River
to the new agencies In consequence Of u combi:
nation of transportation contractors to force the
Government 7" pay exorbtant prices, their bids
trains. to be manned by Indians with their ponies,
proceeded with. The task was difficult one. ow-
ing to the character of the country and the circum
plains between the Missouri River and the new
agencies. as rumor has it, by evidisp0sed persons
to bring about the failure Of this experiment, but
it has so far been successful.
In regard to the outbreak Of the BannOcks last
spring. Sec'y Schurz says:
:" Ii must be admitted that they were insult
fcienty suppliedwith food. which, however. was
owing to the appropriation Of money by Congress
being utterly inadequate to their wants. The
money available for feeding them amounted only
to less than four and One-hulf cents head pei
day. This created discomfort among them When
the murder of white man was committed by an
Indian. the Indian was arrested. tried and hung.
The discomfort grew into excitement. military
detachment tried to dsarm them, but only with
partial success, and finally the outbreak took
place"
ennes, the Secretary corroborates the statements
heretofore made by the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs in special report upon this subject, show
ing that 1t was not caused by hunger. nor by any
neglect on the part Of the Government officials to
furnish them supplies according to the treaty;
but that. the contrary, they received ample sup
Schurz adds:
while in many other instances Indian ont.
breaks are traceable to the treatment they receive
at the hands of the whites it appears from inform
alton quoted that in this case the outbreak was
owing to the mischievous spirit of bad men among
the Indians themselves. and their determination