National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-10-21
THE INDIAN MUDDLE.

Through the manifest incompetency-w
will not here allege intended and outright
dishonesty on the part Of the managers of
our Indian policy, but there is much that
wears the semblance of duplicity on the
part Of the guardians of the IndiOns-they
have been prompted to take the war-path,
thus involving deplorable loss orlife. We
have insisted, and we still insist, that the
Government has been the aggrcssor in the
pending troubles, inasmuch rs 1T has
failed to keep implicit faith with its own
treaties. BY treaty it ceded and dedicated
TO the Indian tribes certain clearly defined
tracts or territories of land, which was to
be their own for exclusive occupancy, and
the Government is pledged in truth and in
honor to stand watch and ward over that
territory and all the rights guaranteed to
them in their occupancy, under the terms
of the existing treaties. If it has kept
faith in this regard, and has lived up
to the terms of the compact entered into
with the Indians then it should be exempt
50 far from censure. Then again, the Gov
ernment agreed to pay the Indians certain
annuities in money and supplies for their
support. fit has kept faith in this behalf,
then it is not its fault that there are dissatis-
faction and war. The Indians claim that
their reservations are not preserved in sa-
credness from the invasion Of the whites.
Their domain is overrun by prospecting
parties Of miners and spectators who have
planted their covetous eyes thercupon, and
are only waiting some favorable opportunity
or excuse for despoiing them of their homes
and hunting-grounds. In this way they
are constantly reminded that their rights
are in jeopardy, aud that the Government
is Indifferent us to their preservation. Is it
strange under such circumstances that the
Indians should become dissatisfied, restive
and even belligerent? Let the tables be
turned Put the white man in his place,
and how long could trust and peace be pre-
served? Not day beyond the time when
the whites could prepare to meet their in
vaders and trespassers upon the territory
dedicated to them by treaty. War would
be inevitable until faith could be kept and
right should prevail. II the whites occupied
these reservations under cesson by treaty
we should count them as towards if they
were deserted to themselves by their gov
ernment, if they did not contend for the
right even to determination.
Then, again, history corroborates the ale
CATION that annuities are withheld and sup
plies fail. And it is not denied by those
who are best posted on such matters that
when supplies are provided there is n glar-
ing cheat in both quantity and quality
| The Indians are defrauded aud maltreated
at all points, and hence have become restive
and warlike-Nnd they would show theiI
want of manhood and independence were il
otherwise They are intelligent beings, and
though comparative savages, they have an
instructive and keen sense of right and
wrong relating to their own affairs, and can.
not always be safely trincd with. Anc
here is where the great responsibility ant
the grievous wrong comes in on the part o
the Government. 1t fails to keep its iatl
and protect and preserve the rights and in
terests of race over whom it has assumed
the duties and obligations of guardianship
The fight of TnoRNBURGH and PAINI
against the Indians has passed into his
tory, and the gallant defense made by oui
troops reflects great credit upon thei
courage and fighting qualities; but the mex
question is, why We're our troops invading
the territory of the Utes against their warn
ing and protest? Let the guardian of th
Indians make answer for it was its troop
who made the invasion and suffered TIL
consequences. On this point let the Gov
ernment explain. However, now that tn
Indians have dispersed, and the War Dc
partment was proceeding to punish them q
guard against further outbreak, why ha
the Indian Bureau interlered with the man
agement of the campaign, aud cmbHrrasse,
the movements OF the army to an exten
that has disturbed the equanimity of Gene
raj SHERIDAN and led to warm dispatc
from him TO General SHERMAN on the sub
iect ? Why are General MERRITT and hi
troops left, as General SHERIDAN points out
in the heart of the mountains, with limite
supplies and but poor chance of securin
, more, at a time when winter threatens t
, drop down upon them with its protracte
SHOWS? This is the dilemma into whic
the Indian Bureau, by its untimely inte
, ference, has brought our isolated remnal
, of an army, and under such circumstanc,
y the Indians are turned over to the care
, the Interior Department, the troops are o
f dered TO their respective stations, and IL
e defenseless settlers are left to the tend,
!. mercy of the incensed sayages. This ~
e pears to be the present status Of affairs
u Colorado and that section, and if it reAec
It fayorably upon the wisdom aud sagacity
. our Indian policy we fail to discover
: from the present outlook .
REGULARITY OF TALENT.
= Talent when of u creditable stamp, is O
y ornament to human character, but taleI