New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-13
yTrr INDIIyIy COyGPySS

II Sc, MS 20 he aS hard m1ttcr to keep the
Indian out Of Congress now as It WIS to put the
everlasting Niger" out OF sight there before
the war, and Tor the same reason. The cen.
science OF the people is Ious,d To the wrong
don" t. The weaker lace, and tn" very men who
persist in the wrong uneasy drag the subject
M acan and again. Richard, apparently, can
neither sleep nor Gg!n6 nor bctakc himself to his
business, t3l these ghosts of his victims that
stalk past Indians. robbed, starved, punched
null of Il, anly holes" ~ sooner had tie
Poncas been temporarily dismissed than the
U,c, were summoned up aglln; and a .oon aS
the murder OF b., Sn:ac 10y Government orders
WI, hustled out Of sglt ny men WHO think Il
dead lnliln is me best lAdInn, thry themselves
h,ou.ht forward the question w'cthcI he ecu
oa.cd, civilized Indian soldiers who had fought
hravclv thr"ugh the wlr tor tn" Union should
be naId pension tie >l'y" q, Clhrr >ui lcrS, or
receive II At such times and In sl,h amounts a.
snit the plea urc Of certain suh-UirillS Ol the
Government. 1t was utccd that the Indian was
not III 70 i.~c wisely the money be- h1d c'rncd ~
Uc ,i-t ot his liz. AID therefore II would he
better TO leave il in lnr poctriS -! white Com q.
m;:,ipnr!s. Tine MA ter va, dr'licd IN favor
ut the lrd.in-hy one vote. Ten veal. ago the
C.m,.,..ioacIs could hayc qd.c'ly rut TIE
money IA t'i'iI poc..,is. ard nohoiy wouid have
Il l.od Il question. The woi,d moves, If only ~
one VOC
i.l- present status ol IT," Indian is in thief
Ills: Ills friends al wicm i'r IN =. c'.:rirut IN
CnrHr., ac SruaG:s u tI&H AID D.Wcs,
n.ldc oN ~ lOaS - possible thc PCT p ,.Iry ot
Secretary Srhurz, by with land in srYc.ai'y
Wa to br accorded to him %, son a. two-inIds
Of thc m lie mrmDcrs OF Il tri'r consented. Fiat
is, an Indian dcsnous OF settling down TO farm
ing, of living like tho waite, on his own land,
Of educating his chdIcn, in brief % acccptl:I.
civilization, cannot do il unlr,, his tribe con
sent to dissolve their tribal relation and to fol-
low his example. here a;c two parties III
cyrry tribe, the pIogrcssyrs (who are usually
vourg mem, who WISH 10 become citizens of
tho United States, and the rulers of tie tribe
and Il cir followers, who want to keep Their
power. The bill, IA presented, placed the III
tur0 chance Of civilization for the individual IN
dian in the hands of this latter party, who are
most interested in drprivlng him of it, The bill
Tor the relief of the Indian. which will hit the
nail on the head and settle this whole question,
the bill which ought to pass, and which we be-
licye will pass, will give to any Indian who
chooses TO resign his tribal relation and to ac-
ccpt civilization, n body of land sufficient for the
support of himself and his family, will admit
him to civil rights protect HIM rs every other
citizen is protected in life, liberty, and prop
erty. In short, he will b. placed on his feet
and LETT to take care of himself. No Indians
would accept this chance who did not desire
civilization; their success would bc contagious.
Heads of tribes, Indian agents, traders. and at
last Indian Bureaus at Washingto would gIad-
ually find themselves stranded their occupa-
ton gone, and the Nation would have Ieason to
rejoice.
This is the only practicable solution of tho
difficulty. No barbarOus people were ever legis-
lated Wholesale into civilization but among
these people there is large minority already
educated and civilized. BY our present law we
keep them fettered prisoners or sayages. BY
the proposed measure the door wOuld be opened
for all who chose to escape to freedom and o
higher level