Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-05-05
THE INDIANS.

tAoy cVuiu Hos poesioly sAuWpio
upon a source more likely to pro,
duce such result than the manner
in which they have treated the In
dian appropriation bill. Estimates
were sent out from the Indian Office
which were as low as they could
prudently be made. In the hands
Of the house appropriation commit
tee, they were reduced to still a
lower figure by the demagogues of
that body who desire, above all
things, that the expenses Of the
government shall seemingly appear
/ lessened, in order that benefits may
accrue to their party in the next
campaign. The appropriations,
when decreased, passed the house
and were forwarded to the senate,
which, by the most earnest efforts
of the Indian department, was in
duced TO increase them to the form.
,er figures. From present indca-
tions, the house will not concur in
the amendments, and, in the end, it
will have its way, This penny
wise, pound foolish policy can have
no other ending that general out
break, in which the Utes, Sioux and
other desperate tribes of the far
west will join the Apaches, who are
ALREADY on the war-path, killing and
being killed.
! But on account of a mistaken
idea in regard to the Indian prob>
lem, this policy will find many
apologists. The impression pre-
walls to a great extent that the
supplies given to the Indians is a
free gift on the part of the United
States. This is far from the truth.
= 1t is only the fulfllment Of sol,
emn compact, in which the honor 0
> the nation is inextricably involved
1t is the payment Of purchase
= money for lands formerly occupied
5 by the aborigines. It is an obliga'
. ton no less sacred than that which
the United States owes for the sup.
port of the widows and orphans OIL
her sons who have lost their lives il
her defense. In as few words a
possible this is the situation. TIL
Indians occupied lands which wer
occupied by their forefathcrs, an
thus was as dear to them as is tn
: homes of the white man. Tie ad
vance of the civilized white wav
- reached the boundaries Of thes,
lands. They were needed 70
mining, farming or the othe
= needs Of civilized life. All princi
= pies of justice demanded that som
recompense be given for then
True they were used by their pos
le SCISSORS only as fishing and huntin
e grounds, but fishing and hunting
'e the staff Of barbarian life. Th
to government then by treaty boun
Q, itself, on condition that the Indiar
V move to other and less desirabl
is reservations, to provide, in par
1t supplies for their support.
If That no real respect has bee
: given these treaties by the whit
y man, is a matter Of universa
h knowledge. Our whole dealing
i with the red man has been on
n unbroken line of disregarde
r promises. 1t has been but on
3. great steal, Is it any wonde
d that at last he becomes de;
e perate, and appeals to the onI
court which he knows-the trial O
1t combat? Is it any wonder that h
n fails to give credence to those VIII
IS for generations have been lying t
le him and plundering him? We ar
1T accustomed to think of England
NJ policy as most diabolical one
rs when she conquers CetyEayo, 0
n makes groundless war upon tn
of Afghans or East Indians; bu
il wherein does her course dife
70 from that of the United States i
e. her dealings with the Indians
At Formerly the injustice has bee
d done by the peculating India
If agent or the grasping settler, br
lie now the policy Of niggardliness
IN transferred to the halls of tn
\ American congress. For the littl
~ advantage to be be derived from a