New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-21

serveiions before they are overtaken they safe
from punishment, as the military cannot aet agaDs.
them AZ all unless they beyond the limits OF tuel
reserved lands In point or fact the troops IRE sep
the agencies practically 70 protect me cy agen
and his employees without the slightest authOf
ty to interfere In any manner with whatever uahsae-
tons may he carried on by them. . ,. 80,
IL IL most painful duty be forced TO witness sur
ferng and prvation day after day. and TO see wEoe
tribes Of Indians destitute that u makes tne ert SIZE
right to relieve the hungry ana the desue from .ng
nust remain silent and on no account interfere with
the transactions of the Indian agcn whatever ne does
is OF frequent occurrence now, that urged by specaces
OF suffering, which human nature cOuld not cohtSiI
plate without horror, the officers have exceeded
their authority aud laid themselves liable there
for. by issuing 5canty supplies OF IOOu 10 IN, ,ito
starving Indians from the pubic stores under their
charge but even this Interference is not lawful,
and il only put up with without complaint because A.
IN no manner touches the jurisdiction OF me agent III
abort If appears to DC the only junction 0l lhe army,
stationed near the Indian agencies, To Ofce the ihdn
TO submit suffering quetlyaud without dlstnfDauce'
whether e Necessity results from the deficiency OF APP
promiaiions bad management OF the agent or actuI
fraud. II the ludlan, pressed by want !caIes ms ese,
yatjon the troops are ordered attack him. and he Is
treated the common enemy OF manhlhu neeu sHS
that such position for the United states l0ices u to
most painful that could ne imposed upon cNlZeu ha
and it has nothing except tue power Occ3siohhy "
rcp the suffering to redeem 1t from utter dttest5ion
Exactly what constitutes peace and what u cOhulton
of war not clearly defined, but before any force can no
used against Indians, either 10 prevent or suppress nus
ics the Indian agent must ask it, unless, indeed the
Indian is beyond the limits OF his reservation, ~
sometimes happens that the condition OF HlIaIs Dtc9Gs
"a had and 90 dangerous the military commander Is
ordered supersede the agent and perform ms aptea
but only for the moment ana us Soou as tho I
danger Is over the pressure again replaces lhe cNl
agent vino is reasonably sure TO bring about inc same
TO the army officer a state Of peace with indians
is of all things. the most desirable, anu 10 nun
nil the country east west would 90 more 10 aver IN
indian war To the army war with Indians means long
and toilsome marches, with scaniy suples o too y
and clothing; II means exposure 10 the cIclShS ~ az
times and at all seasons; II means dIall, cGi,
tain ard cruel If wounded or lsfi It. me means t
separation from wife ana chldret anu W
syerythIpg that makes life desirable to eiylzed man.
II means more than all this; 1t means harSh ana uJs'
ccnsurC, whatever the result III succeShlI, ~ y d ~
orre nf Inaus If unsuccessful t Is wOr1lessness or
imbrciiy: aud these Judgments confront Tue army III
every newspaper. aud III pubhc spsechs III 1InElcss
aud Observation-Disclosures passed by men VINO are
absolutely ign rant OF the subject ut all or by th0se
nnrnosrs which | wall not discuss there has been
continuous aud apparently suGcesslul enoFt 10 haao
it appear that there Is conflict between lne lnda
Pure1u and its agents aud the army serving on
the frontier, the former being gently lh'lhu ii
into the attitude or protectors Oh thG hut!h'
Inc warfare which also nsnuatcd that the army IL
perpetualy seeking TO bring on Inc OBJECT OF lllS
cientIy Obvious 10 those acquainted with the facts hut
IL should be denounced as an outrage upon the truth
and ia contradcied 10y almost TNsiy page % ' ,I
history. The administration OF Indian agents ana ine
ENFORCEMENT of the whites are what geneIaly eau 10
with Indians when thG army has WIN
beginning, and which II only engages IN ia compliance
with the orders OF the Government which are usually
made demand from one or DOM OF IhV,c sOuiVoT
The army the victim and not the auhor oil wars win
IDdans. Whether the opinions express De accsP'eu vi
rejected the facts set form IN TINS paper caho D SUI
ccssfully conrOvcrted. assert this with perfect con-
hiencc, since the official records OF my own Oice VIII
abundanty justify me, ana could ana would nave nsth
embodied In this paper, but FOR the limited space WHICH,
OF necessity. can be devoted to any subject.
do not propose, In what remains 10 De said 10 lay
down any detailed plan for Improving our relations WIN
the Indian tribes so as TO avert 1 ] VI fi
anchOly history III that connection Dut upon tc iCt
set forth, intend simply to offer Few SUGGESTIONS
which appear to me TO nc 10 oo hT when
clpal evils which have become mIhleSt anu MnIcu
threaten with absolute certainty TO make our future
history as regards Indians as bad as our past
Having deprived the Indian Of all his usual means OF
subsistence without supplying Inn WIN obtr means
or teaching him other modes Of life, ana win
no purpose except our interests, 1t II, beyond
question, our duty to shield him from any
other suffering than that acuaiiy uhf 0aDe IN dnc
process We have the greater part OF tue Indians lands
we are bound 10 tnat he does not undergo physical
"cutcness" | do not suppose that any CHRISTIAN man
will contest this proposition, and relying upon It's
soundncss, proceed make one suggestion for nprov
ing our treatment OF the Indians:
TIE RESERVATION SYSTEM THE BEST.
IL Is manifest that, in the progress Of settlement OF
country occupied by barbarous tribes Of Indians, and
the gradual dspossessOn OF the savage, the time Away
arrives when Indians and white settlers are brought into
contact at 40 many points and with such conflicting in
rests that the security OF both jcOpardzs such
extent as to require the interpolation OF some power
stronger than either IL then becomes necessary Tor the
safety of both 10 restrict the Indian to certain localities
where protected and controlled FOR time by
force, partly subsisted BY the Government. lie can
neither commit violence upon the whites nor be SUI,
iected 10 il from them This necessity has created
the reservation system" TO which many OF tne
Indian tribes have been subjected already, and
which is rssuredy the future condition OF all :
suggest therefore, that whenever Indian tribe Ia III
condition to be placed gu reservation, or Is 50 placed
now be removed 10 the rear and not To the front OF
the advancing emigration; TO the vicinity OF com
muntcs where feeling against Indians exists OF Is
exercised where the law Is equally enforced against ALL
aud where provisions plenty and cheap The Indian
placed III this position, and well cared Tor as lar as us
pycal needs are involved, would he harmless and UNI
harmed, and far his tribe Is concerned wars ana
atrocities would cease one after another Oh te IiAh
tribes as necessity demanded, should be treated in IKE
manner, aud the first and most important result
would be secured completely There WOuid DC no hged
for large quantity Of land to be assigned TO any TRIBE
since II is not proposed that the Indian shall continue
to lead his Wild life, but that he snail "a Tar as pos
sbe assimate himself 10 his white neighbour. IL may
be objected that such system would involve large eX
peuse purchase OF land and Tor the transfer OF inc
Indians to it. But whatever the expense, which GER
ainly would not be so large as we now incur, Wonu
be hut a small fraction OF the value Ol the ands we Do
come possessed Of ana probably would ne actually
e'' d rRaa the great trouble in u the rst
place lies in geNinG r tribe together zinc TO
the Iudan 10 IL. under proper management Is trng III
comparison with the expense OF keeping hun at remote
ponswhere articles of actual necessity become through
cost OF transportation expensive Injuries. With the
removal Of every tribe comes also the removal OF CON
would be greatly decreased. In this manner tribe
OF Indians after would disappear from from
tier and tue expensive military establishment OF neces-
sity kept up near them would also cease 10 exist.
The second suggestion 1 shall make relates to the
tanity. However the capacity OF the Indian IN this
direction be determined from the scientific standpoint.
IL IL certain and 1t is right that this people should deal
with from the sentimental point oil view, aud should
make the and honest effort 10 cyiize him, what
NAV hold concerning the fitness the unftness OF
so distinct partake and become part Of the cylzl
ton the white II remains To be said that the In
had the chance To test II practically. No
man possessed of ordinary common sense would imagine
IL reasonable 10 expect that his chill
dren should become worthy men and women
were he 10 place them In the surroundings 10
which We have forced the Indian and subject them
TO such influences alict him. every day OF his life.
The condition which j have described essential to
his security from want and Violence and 10 that
of the whites also, appears To mo precisely the most IA
vorabe 10 civilze the Indian, and where may, ut
Ina ale 4 bon Ht fem la
Having good and careful business man To regulate
his business affairs that he shall not suffer suggest
that through agency OF teachers both religious
secular earnest aud consistent effort be made to
struct the Indian in all matters conducive 10 his
moral advancement and TO his acquisition OF
the methods and industries which character
the civilized among whom he Is placed.
India runnhln of Incoming a Of nl