The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-28
Our Indian Poliey-sitting Bulls Pa
thetic Appeal.

ING Dioouy anu appalilnS occurrehoee VI
the last three years-the Modoc war, the
Nez Perces war, the horrible Custer massa-
ere, the recent shocking affair with the
Cheyennes--it would be evident to all
thinking men that the time has come for
new, forecasting and comprehensive sys-
tenn of dealing with the Indian tribes.
The herds of buffalo and other
wild game are getting thinned out;
our mining and agricultural settlements are
penetrating into every part OF that vast re-
gion; hunger and vengeance on the part OF
the savages expose these rising settlements
to greater and greater perils, and it has be-
come an urgent necessity to provide for the
security of the settlers by removing the
danger of collisions between them and the
Indians. This necessity should have been
apparent even without the ever recurring
carnage and slaughter of the last few years.
ing to every humane sentiment, nothing but
the leaden influence of routine and the
preoccupation Of Congress with questions
which are merely partisan could have
postponed the Indian question SO long. 1t
is question of great difficulty and ex-
IRENE urgency; but, unfortunately, none of
our statesmen who has sufficient grasp of
mind to solve it has taken any pains to
understand it. The ablest men in public
life are so engrossed with schemes OF per-
sonal or party ambition that no statesman
of sufficient force to awaken general inter-
est in this question has been willing to
grapple with it in good earnest. If Mr.
Conkling or Mr.. Thurman or Mr.. Blaine
or Mr.. Bayard, or, what would be infinitely
better, if all Of them conformity would take
up this great and difficult Indian problem
with vigorous purpose to solve it they
could easily carry the country with them.
Immediate advantage ought to be taken
Of the feeling of depression and despond-
ency which is just now overspreading the
hearts of the Indians. We should be care
full not to drive the tribes to such resistance
born of utter despair as has recently been
exhibited by small band of Cheyennes.
The tribes can cause infinite trouble if re-
duced to similar desperation, and it is bet
ter not to push them to the last extremity
of resistance. A submissive dependency
is beginning to take possession of them and
the government will fall scandnlously short
of it's duty if it fails to make the most of
this feeling while it lasts.
We call the attention of Congress to the
significant despatch from Bismarck, d. T.,
which we print to-day. The once formid-
able Sitting Bull sends message which
shows that his spirit is broken and that he
is willing to make an unconditional sur
render if permitted to rejoin his tribe on
their reservation. "Oncc," says he. II was
strong and brave, and my people had
hearts Of iron, but now l am a coward
and will fight no more" There is
no reason for regarding this as q
ruse, for he assigns, with that touching
eloquence sometimes exhibited by Indian
chiefs, such weighty reasons for his pro-
posed submission that it is not difficult to
believe him sincere. Sitting Bulls implor-
ing message is really very pathetic. "For-
ever my people are cold and hungry my
women are sick and my children are freez-
ing. will do as the Great Father wishes.
I will give my guns and my ponies into his
hands. My arrows are broken and my war
paint thrown to the winds" If this re-
nowned chief is really as broken and SUBJ
missive as this message indicates it would
be wise to accept his proffer for the sake
of it's influence on other tribes.
Still, the inherent cunning and treachery
of the Indian character make it necessary
that Sitting Bull should be kept under
strong military surveillance if permitted to
return. We must trust the Indians only SO
far as we have power to coerce them if they
prove deceitful, and this creates an obvious
necessity for committing them to the con-
troll Of the military department of the gov
eminent.
Things have reached such pass that
moral suasion will not do in the treatment
but command, and command only when we
have power to compel. Offers of submission
should, of course, be accepted, but not with
foolish faith in their sincerity. We must
assume that their voluntary engagements
will be kept only on compulsion, and must
of whose sincerity we can judge only by
the event. But this implies military SUPER
intendence, since civil methods have no APP
plicatioa to cases requiring prompt and ir-
resstible coercion. This is SO obvious that
it is astonishing that anybody can be found
to dispute it.
The vain expectation that the Indians
can be controlled by civilians is founded on
q total misconception Of the Indian char
acter. The Indians are warriors, and
have no real respect for anything
but the warlike character. They regard
unwarlike occupations as fit only for
squaws, and they hold the civilian agents
with whom they are brought into contact as
little better than so many white women.
Thew would make this contem ptuous esti-