The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-31


mtted to SO long. They will force this nation Of
10000 600 Of people to give them justice or they will
die. Talk to them now about fear of soldiers
The Indian sees that there is fu-
ture for him unless he is fairly dealt
with. that he is being swept of the face Of the
earth. They understand the situation great deal
better than they get credit for. They do not act
ington and to Eastern cities and have idea of
the magnitude OF the nation and the hopeessness OF
any contest against it on their part But they VIII
not long submit. then. to have their rights Ia
ken from them. The Nez Perces and the Modocs are
instances of the same feeling. The time when It
to several Indians has gone by. The reverse is now
more nearly the truth. They fight with the utmost
from that Of the whites. II is more of the defensive
than the aggressive kind. They viii not charge on
OF the white soldier. but when an atfmpt is made to
drive them from position which they have them
selves taken 10 body of men could make better de-
fence.
CoRREsPoSDENr-You speak of the necessity of
lieve in the law of force with them. thenl
General CnooK-Only when we are right ana they
wrong. 1t is grave question in the management
of barbarous tribes as to what degree of allowance
should be made for their superstitons. These are
Sp hsr vss they will
The Sepoy war was caused because the Brit
sh used grease on their cartridges. Inc
ignoring this superstition. and by so doing in
augurated long and bloody war The question in
Is it necessary for dignity q nation that we
should rule the Indian entirely from our own stand
point shall have consideration for his strange
nature and to some extent manage him would
child which has not learned to reason.
ANOTHER REPORT FROM THE JOINT COMMITTEE
ON THE TRANSFER OF THE INDIAN BUREAU
OPPOSITION TO THE CHANGE--TRMPoRARY
MILITARY CONTROL OF WILD TRIBES RECON-
MINDED.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 80 1879.
The report embodying the views Of Senators Saun.
ders and Oglesby and Representatives Stewart and
Van vorhes-four of the eight members of the joint
committee on the Indian transfer question-has been
completed, and will be presented to the Senate by
Mr. Saunders tomorrow. After recitng the law I'M
der which the INQUIRY ordered into 1.-THE expe-
diency Of transferring the Indian Bureau to the War
Department" and stating that the committee. to
fully inform themselves, visited various sections Of
the country and heard voluminous testimony
both sides of the question, the report proceeds TO
review the history of the Indian service while it
under the control of the War Department from the
formation of our government up to 1S49. 1t shows
that various evils and abuses grew up under the adj
ministration Of Indian affairs by military officers.
and this branch Of the report concludes follows:-
The Secretary of War James Barbcur). in his re-
port of February 3, 1896 SAID that in the manage
ment Of Indian affairs 1.-THE history of the past
presents but little which the recollection fingers
with satisfaction. He said further:-"The future is
not more cheering, unless resort be speedily had to
other counsels than those by which have hereto
fore been governed" The almonitions of the Sec
rotary we're UNDECIDED and abuses grew from that
time forward; aud notwithstanding the reformatory
legislation of March g. 1s4 they continued to grow
up to the last hour in which the War Department had
control of the Indian population and little had
been done toward Indian civilization under the War
Department management that public opinion had
acquiesced in the assumption that the Indians
not susceptible OF civilization and progress.
REVIEW THE QUESTION.
The report continues
Since October 49, 1889, the day on which De Soto
battled with the Indians at Marilia NOV Mobile Ala.)
the Indian problem has been a vexed question To
review further the advancement of civilization Oh
the American Continent. and the consequent decline
OF the savage. is not deemed within the province Of
your committee. To take the matter as it now pre-
itself seems to be the practicable way Of
arriving at . solution. We find quarter Of million
of aborigines ALASKA Indians excepted scattered
more than one half Of these are semi-civilixed
while not more than $1,000 (scattered they are)
can be classed US the genuine savage more prone 10
hostility than inclined to peaceful pursuits 1t is
estimated that if ali the fighting Indians Of the
try could be got together they would not muster
concentrating for warlike purposes is simply pre-
posterous. because it is impossible The Indian
q large scale are over, and we may reasonably
hope that that portion of national history is in
the past.
FEELING INDIANS AND OFFICERS.
The testimony taken by the committee in Wash
ington. st. Louis. Omaha Salt Lake City and San
Francisco in the Indian Territory and at various
Indian agencies In the Northwest is quoted extern
sively and described in general terms follows:-
Your committee find that the general expressions
of the Indians and the civilians, with few excep
tions of the latter. opposition the change of
control, while the officers of the army give many
why the transfer should be made yet invariably
express . personal disapproval OF the transfer be-
onereus and hsnssss dmtes Thronshon p the e
timony given by the army officers their disapproba
ton stated. This leads the COMMITTEES to
rously consider the question whether, if the transfer
made, the army would not be much injured
thereby and without any corresponding good result
TO the Indians. The sentiment of the Indians who
were visited by the committee. their test-
mony will show, was unanimously against the
transfer except in the case OF Young Joseph.
chief of the Nez Pcrces who found prisoner in
the Indian Territory. He would make no choice but
said
that we should have one law to govern us all, and
we should all live together
In reference to the sentiment of the Indians the
subject the Secretary of the Interior made to the
committee o statement giving the views and votes
sixteen to against the transfer nearly all the
tribes being unanimously opposed to the PROPOSE
ton.
The report next sets forth what it terms the Chris
tan of the subject and discusses various other
topics at some length. as followe-
The Christian world Is watching with intense in
tercst the results OF the humane treatment of our
Indians under the present peace policy while all the
religious denominations In this country are abso
luiely opposed TO the proposed change OF manage
mept. Are not to hope thnt these dcnomina atoms
comprise at least large majority of the citizens of
the United States? Their opinions and behests de-
and should receive respectful consideration.
'What we going to do with the IndianY' Is tho
everyday question. "Exterminste him." say the
thoughtless; ''Civiize Christiapize and put him 20
work." exclaim the larger number. In these lust
sentiments your committee heartily join, with
the opinion. that 1t is the bounden duty OF the gov
eminent to teach the Indian that labor morality and
honesty the three chief tencts of civilization and
also to show him that there is something better to
live the dance, the tawdry paint and
the murderous tomahawk That the Indian has
pcatedly advanced in civilization whenever he has
lad far chance is shown by actual facts and igures
Out the 2s2VO ind that 16. 0O0 attend
ing school. Say that there 5000 children this
shown that about one third of them atteud-
ing school, should not the blanket. the scalping
knife aud the whoop be novel and
rspulsve to these children to the children of tho
whites The force OF educational training promises
10 insure this result. When blanket Indians enter