Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-10-01
yat gaiiy ERR md 9atstahu
YANK1oN DAKOTA
tuesday Evening, October I, 1879
INDIAN m~AlNeEnEnI.


Pen Pictures, Not Complimentary, Of
Thrse Great Refsrmers.
Washington Correspondence Chicago Times.
GAEL scHUAz.
First of all i'd the management of Indian
adhifs ID the secretary Of the interior. This
happens to be ct present Carl Schurz, the
Representative Of tn, empire of Germany
and of the crowd Of political dilettani in
in the cabinet of Mr.. Hayes. Nj,
6ehurz is . man Of large intellectual force
In the study and on the platform of hastings.
He is an eloquent orator, Z brilliant CONVEX.
nationalist, and the best piano player among
the public men of the republic. Notwith.
sanding his great abilities he is in practical
affairs the most magnificent idiot Of the we.
He has less knowledge Of men than y
person who has ever held Office in WASH
ington. He has picked oat ~subordinates
who the laughing stock. of the community,
and has confidential friends having the en-
tree to the department at all hours with
whom respectable men would not associate.
His knowledge Of Indian affair, il altopeth-
er shadowy, cloudy, mixed, and imperfect.
His idea Of solving the Indian problem is
by the atrocious system of espionage. It il
clear That with Mr.. Schurz at the head Of
the interior department there cannot be sat-
isfactory management of Indian affairs.
Next in rank is
CoNuss1oNER HAYT.
1t is difficult to speak Of this official with
truth without appearing to be abusive. He
is unquestionably and by large odds the
worst Indian commissioner We have ever
had, and we have had several Smiths. Dole.
Mix (acting),C Cooley, diletrante Walker and
the rest. Hayt Is . New York adventurer
and q l~oud-voiced "christian statesman"
He spends more than tWo-thirds of his
time in New York, running q private bust
ness of some kind and the New York In.
dian ring. He has as little idea of Indians
and of any sensible plan Of Indian man
agement as any man OF the continent. He
has the i~nsolence Of Office In the highest
development. He is entirely without exc.
cutive ability and ever the mere routine
work in his bureau 10 largely In arrears
Notwithstanding that his clerks are kept in
their rooms longer than those of any other
Office. The reason of this is the commits.
sioner has the faculty of scatteration, but
not of concentration. he keeps his men
fearfully.at work, and they accomplish moth.
Ing but a great>deal OF fuss. Herein Mr.
Hayt is q successful lmitator of MI. Schurz
1t is plain that with the present secretar1
of the interior aud commissioner Of In
dams affairs no progress can be made to
ward a solution of the Indian problem.
Last and least among these pertinent per
sonalties l come to
LEEDs, CHIEF CLERK.
The chief clerk of the Indian bureau
happens to be at this time a pretty import.
ant person, seeing that the commissioner il
absent from the city most of the time in New
York. S. s.. Prentiss. the celebrated orator
was walking along Canal street, New Orleant
one day, when somewhat the mellower tol
wine, and meeting a chap Of a villiaous Wis
age walked up TO HIM and said: "Youns
man, you are a very great (hic!) scoundrel
or God Almighty can't write . legible
hand" The chief clerk, and much Of tn,
time acting commissioner of Indian affairs
may be q perfectly honest and honorable
man, but his face is a powerful repellant
and his manners are in full sympathy Will
his countenance. He goes upon the ide,
that every man is a scoundrel, and his sys,
tenn of managing Indian affairs is the sys
TEN Of espionage. Absolutely brutal il
manners, ignorant as a Teton Sioux, be hal
been engaged for some time in bounding
army officers and in shadowin2 Indian agent
ofSchurz' own appointment with spies undel
the name of Clerks" One of his most re
cent exploits was to have turned out q per
fectly upright and entelligent agent. to max
way for a pet of his own. The pet spell
senate cenndte. A more incomplete of1cia
and repulsive man the whole civil, military
naval, aud marine lists do not possess. Will
these men in principle charge Of Indian at:
fairs, it 10 apparent that there is no possibil
itv Of a speedy solution of this Indian ques
ton.