The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-16

With the Indian adroitness of following trail the
settlers and their families over wide stretch of
country would be doomed. IL would be q tragedy
without any parallel-of that am satisfied. The Ind
ians have acquired great confidence in themselves.
remain in the United States now that
the game has largely disappeared. they must
be fed by the government still the success of the
little body OF Cheyennes in their march and Of
Sitting Bull has had demoralizing effect on them
II they are not fairly treated and truthfully dealt
knows much more than he gets credit for When
deal with him MS we would deal with the barbarous
and ignorant black tribes of Africa We make great
mistake. He is shrewd subtle. and often tar-sghted
In his own country he have no equals in strata
gem; Inc only way TO ,oiow ana capture an ESCAPED
Otherwise 1t is under ordinary circumstances an I'M
possibility
cIvIIzINa
CoRREsPoNDENT-What is your idea OF the capacity
OF the Sioux Indian for civilization?
DIR. Mc(iILIIcUDDY-I don't think there is much
hope OF making good farmers of them until they
have reached much more advanced stage than
at, present. If we study the history OF savage
tribes find that they pass from the blanket
state drst into the pastoral and then 10 the agri.
cultural state which demands hard manual
shou d be transformed into laborng farmer. He
may for ayear or two plough and reap and do con
siderable work from the mere novelty OF 1t, but let
his crops De once destroyed by drought grass
hoppers and he will never till the soil again. 1t viii
be easier to accustom the sioux Tor other blanket
Indiansl to pastoral life, where they can own herds
and docks and have the pride OF ownership which
attaches to their ponies than to attempt to edu
them at once into an agricultural life Eren If
that possible there is another thing in the way
which would be almost certain under present circum
stances TO render it impossible to make them self
supporting farmers In the first place the whites
have taken from the Indians all the land in localities
where they will consent to live that is capable of
cultivation and at this late day the whites think
ing of making nation of 5000 Indians self support
ing in a country that 5000 first class American farm
ers would starve in if forced TO support themselves
by agriculture. The Red Cloud Indians have given
UP the only portion OF their reservation that was
ever tit tor agriculture. few Indian farmers the
rich bottoms of the Missouri have made fair prog
ress in agriculture but they exceptional. The
Indians take to herding naturally. and it will be my
get the government to issue large quantities
OF stock to them and keep on subsistlng them
until the natural increase shall make them
at least partially self-supporting. Many of the
Red Cloud Indians willing to trade off half
their ponies for beef cattle. In the manner l have
indicated think that in time any of these Indians
could be made good farmers on the Missouri River
with Its rich SOIL or on any good land but they have
natural prejudice for the Missouri Valley which it
is impossible to overcome Another practical STEP
the necessity of which al will acknowledge who have
been for any length of time among these Indians,
the gradual introduction of better breed OF horses
for the purpose OF improving the Indian ponies
which small for draft horses, fact any
erly handled with all promises kept and the inter
ference of outside parties in the shape of "squaw
men, and halfbreeds prevented it is not possible to
get along with these Indians without trouble of any
kind. But you cannot expect more forbearance
less retaliation from Indian than white man. and
yet the settlers in the West and many of the people
in the East do not seem to think an Indian should
resent anything.
THE STOCK STEALING.
want to say word more about this stock steal
ing, which has come so near to driving the Indians
to the warpath The stealing of stock by the Indians
from the Nebraska ranches was only measure OF
retaliation for the innumerable thefts from the
Indians, which have reduced their strong herd
to a remnant. The buying OF stolen Indian
ponies in open market by leading stockmen has been
habtual, and it was perfectly natural in return for
the Indian to steal the first white mans horses he
In 1876, when was at Red Cloud the
notorious Dunk" Blackburn and his crowd stole
and OFF herds Of Indian ponies, to the number of
from fifty to hundred, and took them by night
up to the city of Deadwood. where they openly
auctoned off to the Black Killers who bought Them
knowing that they We're e., stolen ne It is not to
have not always been in friendly mood
In February. 1877. when Deadwood was threatened
were ordered there for its protection. accompanied
them. We had not beer there more than week
twenty three head of our mules. knowing that they
were government mules and that we had been
dered there for their protection.
SHOULD THE ARMY HAVE CHARGE
CoRREspoNDENT-When do you assume charge?
DR.. McGinLIcUppY-I shall arrive at the agency
and assume control of it about March /, perhaps
little before that time.
CORRESPONDENT suppose. of course. You do not
think the Indian Bureau should be transferred to the
War Department.?
DIR. McGILLIcUpDY-I think with the treatment
which the Indian has received under some admins
trations he would have been better of il the hands
of the army. With the views which know Secretary
Schurz to entertain and his desire to put in
charge VINO nave hau experience with the Indians,
but who have connection with the army whatever,
believe the Indian better off with the Secretary of
the Interior and his appointees
Commemorative do you think the military
would do for the Sitting Bull Agency, which it
will be established by and by?
DIR. McCiuLIcUDDY-I don't think there is word
of truth the report that Sitting Bull has crossed
the line. and don't believe he will find it necessary
TO cross for several years to come. When L was
through the country where Sitting Bull has taken up
his abode that northern herd of buffalo seemed in
exhaustible. The country was full of buffalo, and
these herds were boundless. stretching away to the
horizon edge. Sitting Bull has occasion to come
south for game. and certainly he would come for
nfhi