The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-02-27
THE INDIANS,

DR.. Stecart's Speech in Opposition to the
1r0nsfer to the Var Department.
The so-called Indian ring came as legacy
from the war department; and if the influence
Ut that mysterious and yet wonderfully poten-
tial body has been exerted to keep the Indian
service under the control of the department of
the interior, l am not aware of it. That it has
received aud 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 it disappears in one form it reappears
in another. I am opposed to all violent expe-
riments 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 appeal to the understand
ing of all whether at the very best the change
OF the Indian control to the war department., i
view OF what | have shown, can be truthfully
raised to the dignity of hopeful experiment.
On the contrary, do We not generally feel that
the proposed transfer is a question of more
than doubtful expediency? am sorry to be-
lieve that there are those who look to this re-
suit ss the quickest way Of disposing Of the
Indian question and the Indians at the same
time. And there are very many who appear to
think that no possible condition Of the Indian
service can be any worse than it ia at present.
am no apologist for the frands, the crimes,
the outrages that may have been perpetrated by
some of the agents aud officers of the DEPART
menu oI Inc lnte11OT IN times p0st. They are
known, as are those who did the wrong. and the
infamy attached to them is no pleasing induce
ment for others to pattern after. They must
stand az black record against them that cam
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, we,e it true, that
the Indians were better treated while they 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
tary agents of the government, and the great
est frauds ever perpetrated against the In!ians
! have been carried through while they were un-
der the war department..
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 uues-
tion of transfer, while nearly $1,000 Indians
| opposed the transfer to the war department,
ess than 5000 favored it. Do you think
| 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
and daughters were for long time distin-
guished residents of this capital. An Indian
was once chief of the Office of Indian affairs.
There are thousands of Indians who are now
citizens and voters in this republic, and many
other thousands who are anxiously desiring to
become citizens ut an early day. And now, be-
cause there are few thousand turbulent In
dians and because there have been thievinQ
| agents who have stolen their money and their