The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-11-22

S9ANJ41)41" OAeA1s
The report of the commissioner of Indian
affairs recently made to the Secretary of the
Interior is the most sensible document that
has ever been issued from that department.
Mr.. Price, the commissioner, appears to I'M
derstand the situation and to deal with his
subject in a practical manner. He thinks that,
in some respects, a radical change should be
made in the Indian policy. He does not be-
lleve in the present method of attempting to
clvilize Indians on the several reservations.
He holds that 'tbe system of gathering III
dams in bands or tribes on reservations and
carrying them victuals and clothes, thus re-
lieving them of the necessity Of labor will and
never can civijize thrm." And argues that
if white men were treated as the government
treats the Indians '.the result would certainly
be a race of worthless vagabonds,'' and
rjghtfully couten that sit is only non-labor-
ing tribes that : upon the war path" and
that the facts of history comp'l hin to say
that the government is largely to blame for
this condition Of things. 1t is really refresh
ing to hear such truthful, outspoken words
from an officer in the Interior department.
Mr.. Price must be a man Of more than ordi-
nary nerve to thus beard the hon in his den.
But the exigenoies of the situation demands
it aud the commissioner is too honest TO shirk
his duty. His attack upon the Indian policy
of the government should be Strengthened by
the press of the entire West.
Mr.. Price very happily takes off the child
ish policy pursued toward the Indians in the
closing words of the report. In showing how
the Indians manage 10 become the petted
wards Of the nation, he says: "They must
refuse to work, refuse to be orderly and
peaceable, and must commit some depreda-
ton or murder, and then a Com mission will
be appointed to treat with them and pay
them in goods, provisions and money to be
have themselves" That is it, exactly. TIE
Indian knows just how to shape his conduct
to get the largest rations from the govern
meHt. He knows that the "good Indinps''
must take care of themselves, and that the
government extends its aid 10 those only who
cause it trouble 1t don't take long for the
average Indian TO dis over this, and he acts
accordingly. lie murders defsnseiy settlers,
o~utrages their wives and daughters, and
brains innocent children to gain a passport to
the favor Of the government. It's is ac-
corded him. An approved Christian is ap-
pointed to feed, clothe and otherwise provide
for him at the expense of the government,
and if he can manage 10 subsist upon what
fails to cling to the hands of the aforesaid
approved Christian, peace reigns upon the
borders Of his reservation, but if he cannot
if he is halt starved by the agent, as he is il
too many instauces-he turns to his old anC
familiar haunts and resumes his depredations
only to be treated with, fed, clothed anc
cared for again by the government. TIL,
story is a familiar one to every Western pion
eer, and Mr.. Prices plainly spoken word
will meet an endorsement at their haads
The report before us does not show that tn,
Commissioner suggested anything, save tina
a radical change should be made in the In
dian policy. What change in that policy i
contemplated by the head of the departmen
may be inferred from the report of the Sec
rotary of the Interior, which has already ap
peGItu Ill TIE COlumuS oE Tie MlSER. III
that report the Secretary simply recommend
that Congress make liberal provision for tn
education of the Indian y ouths; that the mum
Der and area Of the reservations he diminisher
that indiays be taught to be herdsmeu in
stead of farmers III such localities where tn
. lands cal.nut be irrigated; that indian title
u to reservations be indiVidualized and protect
ed by law, and that the more civilized LIZ
dams he encouraged TO abandon their tribs
r%ela'ions by setting up experimental forms
local ,nvernIDent etc. These recommends
tons are in harmony with the present inefi
y Gent Indian system and contemplate an ac
? vancement along its line that, if headed b
z congress, can result in no permanent good I
: the Indian. The fact is apparent that the Ii
+ dams NUT be taken from under the contr,
: Of ths | terror department and transferred
the war department before any system, hov
: ever good in theory, will result Advantageous
. ly to them in practice. Mr.. Prices sensib.
words are eye-openers to this conclusion.
Our condition never satisfies US: the pre-
emit ia ai~aHa fhA -nrat TI1a-l Ia.;f