Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-12-02
THE WAR sEoRErARY's REPORT

THE WAX nv ~
The annual report of the secretary Of war
is mainly devoted to a discussion of the In.
dian question, to the disadvantages Of the
law prohibiting the use of the army as q
posse comitatus, to the part the army took
in tie general effort to relieve distress dur.
ing the yellow fever epidemic and to the
expenses of the present fiscal year and the
necessities for the future.
The secretary of war is Of the opinion
that no permanent peace can be secured in
the Indian country without a show OF mill
tary force sufficient to compel
obedience to law and to treaty regula.
lions and that such force is necessary to the
success of the scheme for the civilization OF
the red man. Nowhere in the country will
this suggestion meet with a more hearty
second than here upon the border Of the In.
dian country. While we have q reasonable
amount of confidence in the expressed de-
sire Of the Indians to become. peaceful and
industrious, we fully recognize the fact that
their desires In this direction are largely
measured bY the extent of the compelling
force which exists in their midst. They
are willing enough to eat the bread OF .
charitable government, but this stomachic
appeal to their better natures is ten fold
more effective when supplemented by a
strong show Of bayonet force. A weak
military occupation of the Sioux country
during the year past has been productive Of
results much more expensive to the govern
ment than the employment of an adequate
standing army would have been. The Red
Cloud and Spotted Tail Indians have re-
cognized the inability of the army to en-.
force obedience to orders and have ignored
the will Of the government and dictated
their own terms while the military skeleton
stood by and accepted their decision be-
cause it had not the strength to resist the
Indian will. These same Indians express
desire TO become peaceful and Industrious
and are doubtless sincere, but they want to
do it 10 their own peculiar way, and so long
as there is no force present to prevent, their
immature and cratic judgment will prevail
againstthe better judgment Of q paternal
government. The secretary Of war makes
no reference 70 the proposed transfer of the
Indian bureau to the department under his
control, though 1t is SUBJECT which might
very properly have been discussed In his re-
port. 1t is a subject in which the frontier
possesses q vital interest, and the hope that
it may be consummatsd, and the evils of
past lndias manag sment avertcd for the fu.
tnre, is uppe,most in the minds of all who
comprehend the situation.
The secretary urges tire repeal Of the
posse comitatus act and a return to the old
condition of things, wherein the
army could be employed as
a protection against outlawry
in all its forms. Under the present law the
army has no authority to assist in the arrest
Of malefactors and this condition Of affairs
renders crime a safe vocation all along the
western frontier. Robbers engage in their
calling and murderers bring down their vic
Tins with perfect impunity. There is abso-
lutely no protection outside the national
police, and the assistance OF that organiza.
tion is prohibited by unwise legislation.
In the paragraph referring to the action
of the war department during the yellow fe-
yer emergency the secretary recommends
the passage Of a law authorizing the pr,esi-
dent to act within the statutes for the relief
of the people in all such cases. This section
of the report closes with a tribute to the
memory Of Lieutenant Benner, the young
officer who gave his life to the cause of hu.
manly while in command of th. govern.
ment relief expedition, and a recommends
ton that congress bestow a pension upon his
The expenses Of the department were four
a quarter million less during the last
han during the present fiscal year. The
'ecretary's estimates for the coming year are
$40, Ss7, 600. OF this 500, 1885, 900 are for
establishments proper 1879 900
o rpublic works; $1,000, 600 for Notifications
nd other defensive works; 81 5000, 900 for
rmy operations in river and harbor i'm.
royements. .