The Benton weekly record., 1881-09-15
TIE IyDIANs IND THE MIL
IA RI.


THE INDIANS md THE NIL1-
I,AR1.
The policy Of cur Government in It's
management OF the Indians Is eagerly
watched BY the citizenso OF Montana, and a
free discussion rs TO It's failure IN the past,
is INDUCED ia to a greater extent by the
pioneers Of the Northwestern Territories
than these in authority IN the department!
seem to be aware Of. Wcof Moutana, who
with our shoulders to the wheel OF prog
ress. arecndeayoring to develop this Ter
gitory into grand State III the near future,
are perhaps more able to speak uderstaf1d-
1ng1y upon this subject than those whose
;nterests are located in communities where
the Indian is only known through the VIII
tings OF Lougfelion aud Cooper. For
this reason we do not hesitate 10 sub'nit TO
those in authority our ideas as to the tnail-
agenlcnt OF indians hereafter, and we feel
assured that Ue coincide III our views with
those OF tIle people Of Moutana. aud those
of army officers Of large experience i'll this
particular Our ability 60 crush the ln-
dian is an ullQuestioned, as much so is Is
] the fact, that the Indian is q human being
entitled to existence and development.
But, the Indian in his present state is a
/ t1inderance to development OF our Terri
/ tory. he is a break Co the wheel Of progress
and a terror to the pioneers who own prop
/ e4rty and have families in the frontier set
/ dement's; neither haye-We the right or
even the inclination to wipe him out from
the face Of the earth as we would q wild
beast, the latter being less 'largerous. to
our interests than the former.
Under these circumstances we fEink that
the time has come fora radical change in
the policy of governing our Indians. They
should be turned over tor management
from the civil 70 the military aethori-
ties. They should be informed, that
upon a certain day, say year hence, they
will be deprived Of their horses and arms.
This will give them ample time to dispose
OF SUCH property ut their own inclination.
! When the day agreed upon arrives, lettte
/ Government with it's strong arm dismount
aud disarm every indian in the country,
/ whether he be hostile ol. peaceable. II the
amount Of Subsistence, at present issued to
the Indian, is insufficient, double his ra-
ton, and this will keep him III camp fn-
stead OF his roaming at large over the
country in search Of game to keep his
napooses from starving. Give the Indian
the necessary implements, seedsand work.
inc animals to enable him to ii tie soil
and initiate his white neighbor. That the
results OF such treatment are satisfactory
and practical and not simply imaginary on
our part, is amply proven by the result OF
the experiment Of General Miles on the
500 Cheyennes Mt Fort Keogh. These In
tlians were hostile and were captured i'll
1877 after a severe fight, They were taken
to Fort Keogb, after being disafmed and
) llismounted Their horses were sold al
auction, the proceeds Of which: We're IN
vested in stock cattle. To-day they are
Z engaged In farming, furnishing the ulal-
ket at or near Miles City with vegetables
Of every description. They own ploughs
wagons, harness. and large herds Of cattle
They harm no one and their great amhi-
ton is to initiate the white man III his way
of snbsieting and accumulation of proper
. ty. Elevate the Indian from his present
status of irnbeeility and helplessness and
J bestow upon him the rights and response
!: E,ilities Of civilization. OF course this can
not be accomplished at once, but under
the guidance Of experienced and humane
:. srmy officers the desired results will moi
{ be wanting in the near future.
We submit the foregoing remarks fol
the consideration ot the citizens OF this
Territory and trust that the future policy
Of our Government In its management oi
The indians will be SO shaped as to insure
TO oUr settlers safety OF life and property
and to transform worthless and danger.
ous human being Into q useful and law
abiding member OF the human family.