Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-01-03
Gen. Miles Views on the Indian Trans
fer.
Interview at st. PAUL.

eseuiuS en- ROUTE LOT W Ashlngton, Waer
he has been summoned as a member 0
the board of officers to adopt equip
ments for the army.
On being asked his opinion relative
to the transfer of the Indian bureau t.
the war department the General replied
II don't think it will be transferred
from the simple fact that great influence
will be brought to bear to retain it in
the interior department. The army
don't want it, at least are making 40
effort to secure the transfer. In the
first place, the army feel that they are
not interested to such an extent as to
seek a transfer. Then again it is with
out the province Of the army to NEEDLE
in the matter. Whatever is done the
army will acquiesce in.
but your opinion az to the advisa-
bility Of it2'
s'There can be no question that tho
army should have exclusive control of
the Indians. Such q policy would be
for their benefit az we'll as for the ua.
ton at large. Ia this matter the only
interest that the army has is that. hay
ing control, they could and would pre-
vent the recurrence 1f Indian wars.
believe army control would be bene-
fetal both to the Government and the
Indians. The advantages enjoyed By
the army to fulfill these requirements
are, first, the system of accountability
which it obtains in the war department.
1t is system which has been perfected
through hundred years Of experience
and IN the management of Indian sup
plies aud annuities this system would
be applied to the advantage Of the he
dians and the Government Again.
army officers Of experience, standing
and rank would be given charge. The
indian agents at present in office world
not compare favorably with such officers
furnished from the army"
The General enlarged upon this point
at some length, and continued:
"Again, If the army had control the
Indians would be kept at peace. Now
they foment war. aud the disturbance
leading to an outbreak is never known
to the army. The first intimaton comes
in the outbreak itself. Then war IL
declared against all men. women and
children. 1t the army had charge, on
the first intlmation of disturbance it
could be quelled, the malcontents sub
jected to restraint, and the expense and
bloodshed attending war wholly OBJ
waited. The military are called in at
the the last hour, when tho trouble,
which has been temporized, could have
been suppressed in its incipiency.'
"You entertain no hopes, then, that
the transfer will be NADER"
Il have no hopes about it, smilingly
remarked the General; II don't believe
it will be done. The Indian burean Is
political machine and adds too much
strength and Importance to the depart
ment OF the interior to be abandoned
without struggle, and there is no body
struggling to get il. The army isn't
To tho suggestion that the Indian
problem was a vexed question. the Gems
eral entered an emphatic dissent. The
trouble, he said, all rose from mis-
taken policy, or, rather want Of policy.
The sayages must be subjected TO some
system Of control. Man In no state
was governed by moral suasion, even in
our cities. Among civilized commune
ties we require police. The unruly aud
untamed spirits Of the Indians needed
the wholesome menace of such force
constantly before them until they arc al
vanced in civilization.
"Civilisation, General Can an In.
dian be civilizedl"
.tWhy not? The trouble has been
that our people want to smother him
with il, and will not permit him to
come At it gradually. Not taking it as
we prescribe it, we have carried on a
cruel, relentless war Of determination
against the Indian. Since the days of
King Philip, two hundred years ago,
we have followed the same plan and
have learned nothing"
The General explained that his
scheme for the accomplishment of this
result was the pastoral plan. The In
dian, he said. was savage. The first
step was to make him herdsman.
From that he could be indicted into
agriculture and other progressive arts.
The pastoral plan has been with emf.
nent and UNMARRIED success in several
instances. The Navajos, in New Mex
leo, are pastoral and even manutactu-
ring people. Among some of the
Cheyennes their ponies have been sold
and the proceeds Invested in cattle, and
they take great interest in their stock.
Gen. Miles has adopted the same plan
with his captive Nee Peroes, Bannocks,
Cheyennes and Sioux a. Fort Keogh.
They are eontented. II is no degrada-
ton for an Indian to tend stock, but
his soul revolts at the handling of the
hoe.
On being asked about the Sherman
Sheridan Sehurz controversy and the
demand IF the latter upou Sheridan