The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-10-09
THE INDIAN COMMISSION.

Continuation of the Inquiry at st. Louis---
Reasons HhY ste Soldiers Should and
Shoatld Not HaUe Charge Of the Redskins.
lst: Louis Special (sept. 9O) Chicago Tribune.
& The Indian commission, which has been in
session here for several days, continued its
work to-day by the examination of number
OF witnesses. Daniel j.. Kelly, formerly
agent at Standing Rock agency, stated tina e
there we're about 1000 Indians at the Stand
ing Rock agency. He Thought the Indians
could learn how to govern themselves.
When he was there they were under mob
law, and were not allowed to make any pro-
gress. The first year he was there there
were no soldiers at the agency.
The agency was established by Gen
eral Harvey. Some of the Indians
would work. Some were too proud.
Several of the agents were military men, and
the Indians did not like them. There was
sometimes fear Of an attack on this account.
There were troops at the agency most of the
time. There was no trouble with the Indian
women till the soldiers came. The place
was moral under civilian rule. He thought
it would be better for the Indians to remain
under civil contract. The Indians hate the
soldiers, and do not want them in their
sight. The Indians want to be independent
N their tribal relations, and he thought the
laws ought to extend to them as to other
citizens of the county. They know
something of holding property in
severalty. poor Indian is not
respected, but a rich one is ga big man. in
camp. The property consists mostly of
horses. 1t seemed to be necessary for the
soldiers to remain at the agency after they
had come there. The Indians were very
troublesome, and learned to hate all white
people SO intensely that the soldiers were
necessary for protection. Supplies were
transported mostly through the agents of
the Indian bureau. The methods of trans-
portation in the war department. are much
superior. Maj. j. A. Hearn had charge of
the agency for two years. There were two
good agents-one military, the other civil
both satisfactory to the Indians. The In
dams were not materially inclined to work,
and were demoralized by SO many changes
In the management.
Maj. A. W. Allyn, Of the United States
army, who is stationed at Fort Sill, testified
that the Comanches are camped near by.
There are more than 5000 in the three tribes
in the neighborhood of Fort Sill. There is
some conflict of authority down there be,
tween the army and the agents of the in
terror departments The officers of the army
A-es'S 1Ao ok0Sioh AA1CoIcSt Ill tu6 contemplated
change, He was sure there would, however,
be a great saving in having the Indians
under military control. The army can
manage them without much additional ex-
pense or trouble. The Indians he had seen
did not like to work, and would
not work unless closely watched land made
to do so. He had seen Indians
who owned farms hire white men to do
their work. He thought the present system
bad one, and that change ought to be
made. He thought tho Indians would sue
coed better at stock-raising than at any other
occupation, and that they ought to be en-
couraged in this speciality. The Indian is
naturally very sharp and shrewd man, and
is superior to what he has been thought to
be. They are not naturally moral. In every
tribe there are a recognized class of prosti-
tutes. The soldiers are no more demoraliz-
ing than other white men. The officers of
the army do not generally desire the transfer
OF the Indian Bureau, but, if it is made, they
will undertake the work imposed upon them
willingly They would be patient and en-
deavor to pacify the Indians, for there is
great dread among the soldiers of an Indi-
an campaign, and there is a strong desire to
see frontier hostilities come to an end.
Many Of the outbreaks arise from bad treat
ment of the Indians by the agents He
Thought it might be finally good thing to
extend OWL law over the Indians, but at first
they would know nothing about law. It
would take some time to educate them nj, To
the duties of citizenship. 55. 4 q.
Thus far it does not appear that The Indian
commission has ELECTED anything Of verv
great value to the country. 1t is about q
stand-off between the experts who believe
the Indians ought to be placed under con
troll OF the war department and those Who
think they should remain under civil guardi.
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