The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-10
Transfer Not the Remedy.

Transfer Not the Remedy.
The House on Saturday voted down the
proposal TO turn over the Indian service to
the army. This wise act We are not to
ascribe either to good sense or statesman
ship, for the passage, at the same time, Of
the HEWITT WHITE BANNING BURNSIDE
Army bill shows the House to have been
devoid Of both One side WAS evidently
intent on making places in the Indian SER
vice for surplus army officers whom it had
not got rid OF outright while the other side
was simply bolstcring up the placcholders
of that eminent practitioner of civil service
reform, Mr.. CARL SCnURz.
But the result was sound. For on what
principle Of government can the transfer Of
Indian control to the army be defended
Is it on the ground Of economy The
lavishness or rccklessness OF the new custo-
dans might be IA costly as the stealing 81
the old ones. Is it on the ground, then, Of
compassion TO the red men? The coun-
try has not yet sunk 50 low rs TO think
the most merciful government that Of
soldiery. Is il on the ground OF the superior
fitness of the army for civilizing the Indians
Much Of this work is the peaceful drudgcry
Of digging, fencing. farming, teaching IN
schools, and substituting for the warrior
spirit, which the Indian already has In
abundance. the desire FOR life Of peace.
Is it, finally, on the ground Of simplifying
the system OF Indian control The Indian
Office was taken away from the War De-
partment many years ago, because IT did
not belong there.
Now, it is most suggestive that when the
arguments for Indian Office transfer are
scrutinizcd, they are all found TO turn on
the cOrruptions and rascality Of civilian
management. Strong so far, they are for
that reason all the more deceptive. When
was it ever reckonod wise legislation, be-
cause fraud il rampant in any department
Of Government, to turn its legitimate work
over TO another, where the work docs not
belong? Bishop WHIpTLE once said Of the
proposed Indian Onlcc transfer. Counter
felt coin does not become legal currency 10y
changing pockets 1t is we'll understood
that some cunning members Of the Indian
Ring have lately been quite eager 10 have
the transfer made. The willy fellows know
that there il never "A better chance for fresh
operations than when the public attention
has been hcguilod by some makcshift change
which takes the place ~ reform.
Until now there have been IN the Indian
region two sets of jealous placeholders and
placcseckers, one civilian and the other mil
itary, who, il they have not checked each
others rapacity, have yet at least exposed,
sooner or later each others misdccds Even
this advantage would be- lost were either in
the full swing OF unmatched power. Under
| the army, in any case, there must Ice large
percentage OF strictly civilian work, per-
formed by civilian underings. The old In
! dian Ring, well ntIcnchcd in "A new posi-
| tion, with no one 10 expose its workings,
would be anything but a remedy for exist
ing evils.
The proper management OF the Indians can
not consist in ponung the red men like pris-
oncrs under the cannon Of the army. 1t must
be based on helping them forward to self
governing civilization, and must begin by
treating them with honesty. Even We're the
transfer of the Indians TO army contro
desirable in itself, the present would not be
the time for it. What Congress needs chiefly
now to do Is to legislatc for economy, Will,
fcrreting out and Furnishing existing frauds
Changes in the governmental system, If any
are needed, should bo reserved for tn,
swiftly coming days when the HAYES Adj
mnistratlon shall give place to better men
But then there will be no call for the trans
fer Of the Indian Olicc; since, the momcn
that civilian rule becomes At once honest an'
capable the evil will cease for which mill
tary rule has been despairingly urged as
remedy.