National Republican., 1882-12-09
Secretary TclIor's Indian Policy.

1t is no derogation of his predecessors to
say that Secretary TELLER's report embodies
the most radically sensible propositions that
have ever emanated from the Interior de-
partment relative to an Indian policy. 1t
would be almost strange were this, otherwise
because Mr.. TELLER not only has before him
the concrete results of all former policies, but
his prolonged experience in the west among
people with whom the Indian question is Il
matter Of direct, almost of paramount interest
has qualified him to speak with an intimate
personal knowledge of the subject.
Time and money and lives enough have
been lost in the governmental attempt to invert
the natural order of economic growth with re-
spect to our western savages. The history of
civilization among all peoples follows one
course in progression as regular as the pro-
cesses of development in the life of plant or
animal. A people must learn first how to sur
port life by means other than those of the
chase. They must learn to labor. After that,
and following the stage at which physical
conquest of natural surroundings has been
achieved, time will come and inclination will
serve for the cultivation of mind and the ac-
QUESTION ofmental and moral graces To persist
in an attempt to subvort this order is to in
vite failure as certainly as failure would be
invited by commencing at the chimneys in
the building of house. Foundation must be
had before superstructure.
Time has amply demonstrated the mistaken
kindness of a policy in which tho Indian is
considered partly child, partly pauper,
and partly highwayman. He is neither of
the three He is n man, possessing all the
qualifications for and possibilities of civilized
development. He is neither lazy nor
weak. Wherever the experiment. OF
rational treatment has been tried upon
him it has succeeded. The first
steps only have been difficult, and these more
by reason of the false views that have grown
up in him as result of tho mistaken benev6-
lence and ignorant liberality with which he
has been treated than because of any inherent
perverseness of his own. Disarmed and com-
pclled TO sustain himself, it would require
very little time to bring about change of
spirit ia him whereby the problem of his fu-
ture would solve itself
One of two things must befall the race.
Either it must accommodate itself to better
and peaceful ways Of life, or it must perish.
The government cannot afford to push them
over the verge of the world bya longer con-
tinuance of that partly dynamic, partly eee.
mosynary course of treatment under which
the tribes have been partly forced and partly
encouraged to vagabondage, pauperism, and
turbulence. To pursue that course much fur,
ther would be to incur responsibility for the
murder of whole people. Education is
necessary, aid is necessary, gentleness is nee
cssary; but the education should be practical
the aid moderated to such actual needs a!
might be developed in the transition from
savagery to self-support, and the gcntlenes
should be marked by justice and free from
imbecility, and from that variety of "pro
lection" which does not protect the whit,
settler.
1t is to be hoped Secretary TELLER will b,
assisted and encouraged in the practical ap
plication of the views he has so boldly AMI
so clearly expressed. To reconstruct tn
plan upon which the Indians are now deal
with will prove anything other than holi
day diversion. Almost as much must be un
done as will have to be done. The abolition
of an expensive and totally valueless sys
TEN of "higher education" the disarmin
of whole tribes, the reduction of res
ervations, the consolidation of som
agencies and the abolition of others, must b
proceeded with as first steps. These will b
difficult as well as delicate steps to take, bu
the courage of the secretary in offering to al
tempt them argues a likelihood that he Wi
succeed if the attempt is made,