Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-02-21
THE INDIANS,
DR.. SteeVnrt's Speech IN Opposition to the
Transfer to the Var Department.

In. SteaU0ft's Speech IN Opposition to the
Transfer to the Var Department.
Dr.. ]. H. Stewart, Representative from this
district, made speech in the House on the Sth
INST, strongly protesting against the transfer
OF the Indian bureau to the war department..
We make the following brief extracts:
The so-called Indian ring' came as legacy
from the war Department.; and if the influence
OF that mysterious and yet wonderfully poten-
tlal body has been exerted to keep the Indian
service under the control of the department. of
the interior, am not aware of it. That it has
received and is receiving less favor than ever
before, am confident. That its power is bro
ken, hardly dare to hope, for its history is
That while 1T disappears in one form it reappears
IN another. am opposed to all violent expe-
rlments in national affairs Even in the direc-
ton that we know to be right, it is safest and
best to proceed with moderation and caution,
for the progress of nations is marked by long
periods only, and l appeal to the understand
| ing OF all whether at the very best the change
OF the Indian control to the war department., In
view of what have shown, can be truthfully
raised to the dignity of a hopeful experiment.
On the contrary, do we not generally feel that
the proposed transfer is question of more
than doubtful expediency? l am sorry to be-
lleve that there are those who look to this re-
| suit as the quickest way of disposing of the
Indian question and the Indians at the same
tlme. And there are very many who appear to
think that no possible condition of the Indian
service can be any worse than it is at present
am no apolog ist for the frauds, the crimes
the outrages hat may have been perpetrated by
| some of the agents and officers of the depart
ment OF the interior in times past. They are
known, as are those who did the wrong, and the
lnfamy attached to them is no pleasing induce
ment for Others to pattern after. They must
stand as black record against them that can
not be wiped out.
would for the good name of humanity for
pleasing compliment to my countrymen. as
| tribute to that branch Of the government con-
| tanning great numbers of gallant and honest
men, would gladly declare, were it true, that
the Indians were better treated while thew were
| under the war department.. But alas the record
Will not permit it. It is not true, but on the
contrary the record shows that the greatest
most destructive and costly wars have been
caused not by the civil agents but by the mill
taIy agents OF the government, and the great
est frauds ever perpetrated against the Indians
have been carried through while they were an
i der the war depafta ent.
have stated that the Indians know what
they wish. Nor can they be induced to state
their wishes as being different from what they
really desire In the examination Of this ques-
| ton of transfer, while nearly 10000 Indians
| opposed the transfer to the war department.
less than 5000 favored it. Do you think it
wise or prudent to act upon the idea that it is
indeed altogether safe policy to totally disre-
gard the wishes and desires of the Indians !?
You can hardly make greater mistake. An
Indian was president of Mexico, and his wife
and daughters were for long time distin-
gulshed residents of this capital. An Indian
was once chief of the Office of Indian affairs.
| There are thousands of Indians who are nov
citizens and voters in this republic, and many
other thousands who are anxiously desiring to
become citizens at an early day. And now, be-
cause there are few thousand turbule mt In
dams, and because there have been thievino
agents who have stolen their money and their
goods, and because the Indian ring desires it.
will you place the hundreds of thousands Of
peaceable Indians who have natural hatred of
the soldier. who has been made the instrument
OF their subjugation, under the military con-
troll exclusively, in utter and total disregard
OF the almost unanimous protest of these In
dams? l cannot and will not believe that
this Congress will add this outrage to the al
ready extended catalogue of crimes against
this defenseless people. In their name and in
the name of outraged humanity I protest
against it. Their blood is already upon our
hands and upon the hands of our children. In
Gods name let us consider what we are doing
and add no more to our nations guilt either
by careless or Ignorant legislation.