Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-11-30
The Indian Service.

frankly, and have to repeat now, that in pursuing
a policy ever so wise, and with machinery ever so
efficient, gradual Improvement can be effected
only nv patient, energetic and well directed work
in detail. An entirely satisfactory state of thing,
can be brought about only under circumstances
which are not and cannot be under the control of
the Indian service alone. If a recurrence of the
trouble and disturbance Is to be avoided, the sp
preparations made by Congress for the support of
Indians who are not self. supporting must be lib
eral enough to be sufficient for that purpose, and
they must be made early enough 10 the year to
render the purchase and delivery of new supplies
possible before the old supplies are exhausted
second, the Indian service should have at its dis
posal sufficient funds, TO be used with proper sc
countability, at its discretion, in unforeseen emer
gencies third, the citizens of the western States
aud Territories must be made to understand that,
if the Indians are to cease being troublesome
psupers and vsgsbonds aud become orderly aud
self-supporting. they must have lands fiji for agr-
culture and pasture; that on such lands they must
be permitted to reign and establish permanent
homes and that such a result cannot be attained
II the white people insist upon taking from them,
by force or trfckery, every of ground that is
good for anything. The first two things can be
accomplished by appropriate action on the part Of
Congress. The difficulties growing out of contn-
ually repeated encroachments by the white people
the rights of the Indians may be lessened BY
the concentration Of Indians on a smaller number Of
reservations; but they cannot be entirely avoided.
even then, by the most energetic enforcement of
the law on the part Of tue general and local gov
ernments. To this end, it seems desirable thst
the Southwestern tribes, whose present reserva-
tons appear insecure or otherwise unsuitable for
their pei manent settlement, should be gradually
removed to the Indian Territory. The climate of
the Indian Territory is congenial to them, while
IL has proved uDwholesome to the northern In
dams who were located there. The north western
tribes will in conrse of time. have to he corcen-
trated, in similar manner, on a few reservations
east of the Rocky mountains and on the Pacific
slope.
10 keep the Indians on their reservations, and
prevent disturbance and conflicts, the commits
sioner of Indian affairs recommends the organiza-
ton of mounted body of "IBdisn aux iiaries," to
be drawn from the young men of various tribes,
and to be under the command Of the military au-
thorities. heartily concur in this recon mends-
ton. The young men enlisted In such an organi-
cation, and paid by the government, will be with
drawn from the fighting element OF the Indian
tribes, and be disciplined in the service of peace
and order. 1t 10 q matter of general experience
that Indians so employed be depended upon
as to loyal fidelity to the duties assigned them;
but the principal end OF our Indian policy cannot
be promoted by police measures alone. The end
consists in gradually introducing among the In
disns the habits and occupations Of civilized life,
by inducing them to work for their own support,
by encouraging pride of individual ownership of
property, and by educating the young generation,
and no effJits should be spared TO pring 10 bear
upon them, properly, more influences in that di-
TeClOu. Su-u tU suoul not De sneeftu AZ as
mere sentimental iancies, should they be dis
couraged by the assertion that success Is impos-
sib.e. The advance made by some Of the Indian
tribes is sltiicent proof that "A similar advance
may be made by hers. Whatever may he ac-
complished by the employ ment of force it is GER
tain that only as the Indians progress in the way
Of civilization they will cease to be Troublesome
and disturbing element. ~
The Secretary next submits some remarks con-
corning several tribes, whose conduct and coud
IN nj Nnftn ERaf ttA
Sioux, he describes the negotiations and crcum
stances which led to the removal of Red Cloud
and Spotted Tail to their present reservations and
reports that the Sioux have so far given evidence
OF loyal spirit, and that the rumors current for
some time of disposition on their part to break
out in hosilities proved entirely unfounded. He
also says that great difficulty was encountered in
sending supplies from the Missouri liver to new
agencies. In consequence of the combination of
transportation contractors to force the government
to pay exorbtant prices, their bids rejected,
and the organization of wagon trains, to be man
ned by Indians with their ponies, WAS proceeded
with, the same experiment having been tried on
. large scale at another agency at an earlier Pc
rod this year, and having proved successful. The
task to be performed by these wagon trains, be.
tween the Missouri river and the Sioux agencies,
was much larger and a more difficult one, owing
to the character Of the country and circuIastan.
ces that grass had been burnt of the plains be-
tween the Missouri river and new agencies,
Is rumor has it by evil disposed persons to bring
about failure of this experiment; but it is 90 far
successfully accomplished, and it is believed that
the new Sioux agencies will be sufhciently sup
piled during the winter season in that way. The
peaceful conduct of the Sioux during this year
seems to justify the best hopes for the future. In
regard to the Bannocks last spring, Secretary
Schurz says; at must be admitted that they were
insuficienty supplied with food, which, however,
was owing to the appropriation of money by Con- |
gress utterly inadequate to their wants. Former
ly these Indians had supplied themselves in part
by hunting, but in consequence of the Nee Perces
war they were kept on their reservation to avoid
greater disorders. Thus they were deprived Of
that resource, and the money available for feeding
them amounted only to less than four and one half
cents head per day. This created discomfort
among them. Then the murder of white man
was committed by an Indian, and the Indian was
arrested, tried and hung. The discomfort grew
into excitement. military detachment attempt
ed to disarm them, but with only partial success,
and finally events took place which appear in
Commissioner Hoyts report in q series Of des-
patches and letters giving q full and circumstan-
tlal account OF the causes, progress and incidents
of the trouble. To this account | would respect
fully call your attention" As regards the out.
break of the 300 northern Cheyennes, the Secre-
tary corrobOrates the statements heretofore made
by the commissioner OF Indian affairs in q special
report on this subject, showing that it was not
caused by hunger nor any neglect on the part of
the government officials to furnish them supplies
according to the treaty, but that on the contrary
they received ample supplies, and more than they
were entitled to. Secretary Schurz adds: "While
in many other instances the Indian outbreaks are
traceabe to the treatment they receive at the
hands of the whites it appears from the informa.
ton gathered that in this case the outbreak was
owing TO the mschevous spirit of bad men among
the Indians themselves, and their determination to
return northward TO their old hunting grounds
Neatly all these runaway Cheyennes have been
captured or surrendered, and are held prisoners
by the military authorities in the interest of gen.
eral discipline and in order to show the indians
that nothing can be gained by such disorderly con-
duct. 1t thought best to return them to their
reservation in the Indian territory after having
given the civil authorities of the State of Kansas
an opportunity to identify those who committed
murders and other crimes, while passing through
that State, so that they may be dealt with accord
ing to law The Secretary states that final &C.
ton concerning the purchase of part of the reser-
walton of the Utes in Colorado and their settle.
ment upon the White river, is deferred to await
the report OF the commission appointed to uego-
tlate with them. He recommends the removal of
the Pimas and Maricopa Indians of Arizona to the
Indian Territory in consequence of the diversion,
for mining purposes, Of the water of the ella
river, without which they cannot cultivate the
lands.