The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-11
CHANGE OUR INDIAN POLICY
SENA TOR MCREERT POINTING OFT THE
SYSTEMS HORST DETECTS.
The Failure of Grants PLAN aud the Tnehi-
cheney of the Present Manner of Dealing
with the Red Mnn--IseIess Indian A gents.

W ANHlNtlhNt Itli. w. llt -Iltttli Oh ~ IL
ator McCrocry Of Kentucky to-day. like all bis
efforts. wns finished production. carefully
elaborated. mcmorizrd and delivered impress
sivey. 1t will be his final speech in tho Senate
MS he is to hr succeeded after the 9TH OF March
by Gen. Williams. Mr.. McCrcery is n man OF
property. IN accomplished scholar. With "a keen
sense OF the ridiculous lie is amost delightful
companion. extremely witty. and unexcelod IA
n story teller. He loves his ease and his books
and takes but little part in the conduct Of
business in the Senate save 20 be al
ways in his scat. and never miss an
important roll call. In this respect he is
model Senator. He rarely rciircs to the cloak
rooms. hut remains at his desk reading. writing,
| or doing. His appearance when in reposc is
rather comcal. lie is massive from the waist
up-a great trunk borne upon slender shaky
legs. His head is finely set upon broad shout
dcrs. and is pear shaped. The crown is bald
and shining. but tho rest Of the head is covered
with jet black Indlan-likc hair. without a stray
white one 10 relieve its raven hue. Tho face Is
| strong. massive. with lines Of humor about the
eyes and mouth. He speaks distinctly; cnun-
cates his words clearly. His manner Is very
good and when no wishes TO suit 1t TO the grave
| or gay parts 81 his speech he does 50 with adj
mirablo taste.
There were many good points in hs speech
to-day. but it was not so irrcsistihly funny us
was his speech ON Louisiana affairs several
years ago. His description in that speech Of
the voyage Of the revenue cutter Wilderness.
with n number Of the state Senators on board.
who were ovadng warmoths Scrgcant-at-
| Arms 10 prevent a quorum. was the best bit Of
| humor and the best piece of netting ever saw.
His satire and humor to-day ut the expense
| OF the Indian Agents and their sponsors. tho
religious denominations who are responsible
| for their selection. was pointed and art. aud
! provoked much laughter. The close OF the
speech was n short recital Of the wrongs Of
Nez Perez Joseph. and the trials to which his
! people had been subjected in the Indian Ter
| rtory. II was MS fine bi iof pathetic rhetoric
| as the Senate has ever heard
Mr.. McCrcery Dem, KY addressed the Senate
at length upon the bill % transfer tho Indian Blu
! rcau 20 the War Department. He said IL WIS not
worth while 10 tell the Senate that this question
| was entitled to grave consideration. IL was not
worth while 60 urge the fact that the time had
come when action should be taken Causes
| man have given 20 the Indian question a vastly
| increased importance. He mentioned the favor
! lie pursuits of Misunderstanding and FISHING
| and said II the world could have been made
! about twice as large rs i was. and SO much q
| It's surface could have been spared for such
| PURPOSES II would have been pity % disturb
! them In tho sports Of fishing and hunting with
| an o,cas nnal internecine war g. purify their
| cleared tho air II Us impurity. He referred 10
| the discovery Of precious metals In the Western
| States and Territories, and the rapid increase
! OF population OF those States. AMI SAID thirty
| years ago there We're large bands living in Cali
| fornia. Where worc thoy now ? Perhaps
! couple ot agencies held nearly all, with iew
Migrants wandering. while charity hesltated
| whether i was more merciful to feed them or
lie next referred 70 attempts to Christlanize
| the Indians and said some men seemed TO be-
! convinced that tho cause Of Christianity could
| be advanced by driving out heathen and sub
shutting u Christian in his place. We had failed
| 20 convert tho Indian 10 our faith but had con
would have little weight in the determination %
this Indian question. Right or wrong. the In
| believed that honesty and strength were neces-
| sary elements for the successful administration
ndsn Sts a@d ny Gssgsad 'H MIN hS MI
| their duties poriorme. as perfectly by men al
| ready IN the service 81 the Government;
| He then spoke 81 the love IN mankind Tor
| patronage and power. and said the proposition
| to add another amendment 20 our Constitution
| showed that woman had liked upon her rights.
| and showed that she was anxious 20 WELD her
| share ot power md ENJOY the patronage of Gov
| eminent H. had heard ladies declare that
they would not vote even II the privilege WIS Nc
| exertt in rase 81 emergency and he Thought
| tho emergency would arise at every election.
ministers as Indian agents and said
dictum Which declared one could not
! serve two masters a. the same tm".
| nr. Tamage. who had recently made n rrcOn-
| npissance could be believed tho adversary WIS
HON. STtG en Grant unaded and a"nc e% apptci
| 20 the seven evangelical orthodox deuuminu-
tons. and actually persuaded then. T. take con
tro! ~ our whole Indian frontier. Inc elders
and deacun- OF these orthodox denominailons
may be eminent M theology. but Their" was
doubt whether they have been or ever VIII be.
very successful ia the administration ~ Indian
affairs For the last ten years, Gen. Grant had
rarely met with an obstacle he could not sur
mount Let him persuade the churches 10 give
Hans and II he Succeeded I'M Lnyin. them do
lsaf.f is n a a.
WAS man Of wonderful Influence. Il was a
great mistake and q great misfortune that ever
Prior 10 their being called into that service.
many 81 them led useful lives in visiting sick
service. many had fallcn who might have gone
20 houorei graves had they remained in charge
OF their LITTLE congregations. instead OF going
lie next referred 10 the testimony before the
select committee OF which he was member TO
Indian Bureau from the Interior 10 the War
Department. and said il WAS . sublime specta-
Gle to ses the GOODNESS and composure Of the
Indian agents in giving their testimony; Tho
| religious element in charge OF the conduct OF
our Indian affairs may have been little less
| prudent and more aggressive than they should
| have been. They were tho sclt-cunsiltuted
guardians q female virtue. and It filled them
| with anguish 10 contemplate the Righteousness
| which would follow their Withdrawal. All such
horrors were TO follow the transfer q the Indian
Bureau from the Interior TO ths War Depart
ment II had been argued that officers ~ tho
army were unsuted 10 tho government Of the
! Indians, MS ttey were euufNru Tor war. lie
argued that the officers and men Of the army
were opposed 10 war except n a last resort.
| They were not In favor OF marching over desc
late pnins In pursuit 81 an enemy. when that
enemy might have been made friend hY loaf
OF bread or cup Of c0Tee. II was an astonishing
thing that an army oflter. educated ~ West
/, | Point could plan bridges and construct rail-
roads Int WIS charged L. De deficient as a book
keeper ut an Indian agency. What possible al
Vnntngos had an Indian agent over an army
officer for the government Of lndiansf Within
the last year and half fifteen Indian agents
hul been discharged Tor fraudulent practices
ton for incniciency, and ten had, Tor some rea-
son, voluntarily res sned.
lie arEued that many officers oi tho army had
been on the frontier for quarter of a century
AMI had acquired u knowledge Of savage life
which enabled them 10 deal with tho Indian
| An Indian agent WAS powrrlesS Tor good. lie
could not close a Whiskey shop without calling
ubuu the military. The organization OF an la
diam regiment and their enrolment in the nrmy
Of the United States might be- the basis Ot last
ing peace with them. This was the first time III
| our history when religious bodies Ind under
| taken To- control the Offices eft with the Prcsi-
dent. lie argued that this religious quallllrl
70 ton required for filing an onl'" WAS unr0usti-
| tutionul. II tho new departure had not the
, sanction Of law It should be abolished. Tn,
, ! management OF our Indian affairs under IN,
triple head Of civil military. and rcclcsiastieA
/, | power hal loft doubt rs % whether any plan