New-York tribune., 1881-09-11
HOW TO DEAL WITH INDIANS
THE OPINIONS OF GENERAL. opn

TOM OF THE TRoUBLE-GoOD POINTS OF YHr
APACHEs-wHY NOT GIyh THE INDIANS r,g
RIGHT TO VoTEi
General Ord, of the United States Aynv
whose daughter was recently married the Mexlc,n
Minister of War arrived day ago at the stur,o
want House. A reporter OF THE TRIBUNE called unon
him there. He looks every inch soldier that has See.
service. being tail and wellbuilt with broad shondsr
and military carriage He has short grizzly hair ane
close cut gray mustache.
General Ord has landed at different times the ~,
military departments bordering Mexico, aud for =
number of years good deal OF the Indians taking
active part in many Indian Al the request ~
the Government he selected the White Mountain Reser
walton for the Apaches and is familiar with the scens
where the recent outbreaks have taken place. When
asked n the revolt surprise he said IL NOR
of modification, because it was who the Apaches
on the reservation, and when left them they were
seemingly peaccably inclined"
Hesiiating moment. he continued: " The Apaches
for ATTY generations have been nation Of marauders
They plundered the Pueblo Indians before the days OF
Cortez, and il is difficult 10 teach them that the most
successful marauder is not the best man. You can
scarcely teach an Apache who has grown up in this be
lief the ways OF the white have been told By one
of their great chiefs adults could never adop
the ways Of the white man. but that their children
might"
"What do you think caused the hpaches TO revoltRv
My belief is that their agent has trying to force
mis- doctrines on uhem and has encountered in their
persttous respect for their high priest or medicine man
serious obstacle. md therefore resolved
with troops at all hazards"
"Do you think that food is what they wanti,
II do not think their supplies adapted their
wants and habits Judging from the beef and -four have
known TO be issned 10 neighboug tribes Then again
the vegetable food to which they have accustomed
the maguey, sort Of sweetpotato-is not found in
abundance in the reservation and believe they are
not allowed to go of the reservation 10 get IT,
But the attempt to arrest their high priest
was the last straw The proprety as well
expedency OF this attempt questionable he
had committed some crime than trying 10 keen
his tribe faithful to their ancient religion"
do think there other influences at work to
cause the Apaches TO break Outf,
1t is daicnlt for at great distance TO say
Good land is very and in demand in the
Jila Basin. The Apache Reservation is greedily coveted
as one OF the best regions OF land in al Arizona by
thousands OF Arzonians aud the temptation to start
war and drive them to Mexico kin them of is NOR.
than the average Arzonian could be expected TO resist
Beside this the Apache has been what they woula
call "A good Indian know that the MOdoc war vas
caused by a number OF stoclmen who had for a
long time looked with envious eyes on the
Modoc pastures In this way the Indians are driven
from bad TO until they have nothing left to do
but to sally and plunder from the rocks aud desets
10 which they removed.
"From recent publication cut the followineiter,
which is an intelligent review Of the situation and r
fers 10 the propagandist policy at the bayouets mint
applied to the Apaches, and the attempt arrest their
M
in religious war; which seems to involve the great
principle Of allowing every to worship God IN his
own way The writer, after speaking OF General Hatch
refers 10 the reservations and says:
"These reservations are: The JicarlIo in Colfav
.ounty win l,eOO JlcaTilo Apaches the MescalenO
Agency, containing an unknown quantity as il l. fou
Navajo Reservation near Fort Wingate The Indians on
y 900 Warriors Tas ~ fSse S @ Tbe Io00o and can pa.
for long me and is is only the counses oi the oder
men of the tribe that have up the present preverd
an outbreak. The old men have acquired after lie
pastoral idea, wealth IN herds and noczs and, Ike al
OLD men. are conservative. The young men ON tie
TtHnti3;Iy thi3 dream 9f nothing but the warpath and
much against the hated whites what might not the
chIdren OF Montechuma, the descendants OF the GOD
the whites is largely due TO the conduct OF lie
sS, , az lie reseryatlos the Rev Mr. Eastman
saNages IN a thoroughly dogmatic manner The Indian
may be led but he cannot be forced, the traditions
OF a2es cannot be wiped by ipse ix OF sny
asent; Exen the excuse, He means wen bat he knows
no no letter, cahhoi aN an tns gentleman he has
warned ume and again by Captain Bennett, the military
OF he Indians that tie young bucks would certainly 10
ON the Mar3th II he did not cease his religious persc
et and told hm that they would not be Responsible Tor
tLis man e II lac dad lot leave the Indians 10 theI
selves. He has not left them 10 Themselves and 60
nnnes to force upon them religious ideas almost
he be continued agent, a Navajo Outbreak may
De expected at any moment, and the greatest lI-
dan war o the present quarter Of a century vii e1rs
" In 1870 visited Arizona aud the White Mountain
Apache Nation, then part Of my command. fo.ud
the post Commander had arrested their Medicine man
] sol many
eaperngs and incantations must mean some deviltry
The Medicine the adviser OF the Ipdansn
the time of trouble, and the military commander thought
it necessary sQuelch him IN order tast
his own authority should prevail thought differ
emily, and by my orders the Indian hich-pTirt Vss
Recessed. ne reSu was general peace and the miners
went where they pleased in the Apache country
. Did yon have much faith IN themf"
" was much impressed with the desire that Indians
and Thought they could be relied upon if treated fr
The principle OF allowing men Worship in fbeir crn
way without resortng to force Of to make teen
o'sip ouI way, rs one We Apply To jews. GeDtcs aud
te Chnese Now, why not apply II the Apache hicb.
priest ana his nations" 'ieN
AgentsP AA~i"A
" Many of the Indian agents are worthy rnen-eooa
Christians. But they 10 ont among the fndisps f,S
az propagaDdsts of their faith than peaeeabs
the Indians, who have votes from the White nan
hope TO call the attention OF the Secretary OF the Ipte
powder applied To Christiauizing WaTifSe
people like the Apaches Navaioes. who arr i:st
Qaakers areand probably more ready To H. ght for trm
Doubtless To enable Agent nany govern the Indians
nah but the question Is, do the people the Uned
STATES approve oi giving him his way al the expense
Oi "A principle and OF So many lives Besides are
not the Apache Indians entitled have their side
m Ie story hearu through some other than Agent
Tiffany or the Arizona politician. who if he echoes tie
popular Dehef o that country viii the idea that
AaShe & nSs any right TO i've oL land that wnite man
!" What doyou think the future of the Apaches viii
1T looks if the White Mountain ApacAe
nlaI 10 40 where good many OF the tribe
as We have dohe the African and then the decstcs In
congress will-nay De-thtnk Aparhes have some
sAre are the Apaches Intelligent enough 10 be allowed
" Yes indeed they very intelligent more 50
What do you think viii be the result Of this out
Well, influence in Congress and the troops are az one
hdlulaiy might suppose, all on The siue the whIe
men, ana the oStlle Apaclics viii probable etke them
selves 70 Mexico 10 carry on hOsucs other indians
nave done Tor similar reasons The agent has a hard