Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-10-27
4 NEW WAY WIFE THE INDIANS.

The course of the Government in its re-
latons with its Indian wards has so often
been marked by incompctency, treachery and
fraud that it gives pleasure to know that at
least one officer knows the proper way of
| dealing with the troublesome abOriyincs and
has the disposition and the means for carry.
ing out his ideas. Such an officer is Gen.
Crook and the Indians over whom his an
thority extends are the Apaches This tribe
| is well known rs the most in,ractivc and
have made Arizona almost uninhabtable, in
terrupted all mining enterprise, killed many
of the white people, destroyed or made use
less vast amount of property, and made
even the immediate neighborhood of
the larger settlements unsafe. Once be
| fore Gen. Crook was stationed over the m
and it took him no long time to restore order
out of chaos. lie hunted down mlrduders
with untiring energy he showed the lu-
dams that they could neither deceive nor
nor take advantage of him when he pro-
missed benefits to the ohcdcnt and punish
meut to the rcbellious he kept his word to
the letter. Asa result, tn. Indians ceased
their dcprcda,ions and gathered upon their
reservations and submitted to the restraints
placed upon them immigration to the
| Territory was resumed capital again sought
investment there, and industry and enter
prise were revived The Indians found that
in peace General Crook was their best friend.
He encouraged and taught them to cultivate
their lands and make homes for themselves ;
he would not allow them to be oppressed or
cheated he made no promises that he could
not keep, and what he agreed to do was
done. In short, the Indian problem was
solved for that time and place. But Gen.
brglntorun in the old chanscl. Now he has
again been sent TO the Apache and affairs are
beginning 10 60 on well. The other day
General Crook held a conference with some
four hundred of the chiefs and head men Of
the Apachcs, listened to their complaints,
and told them what his policy would he.
They said that affairs could not he worse /:
that one officer of the government would tell
until finally they lost confidence in every
body, They were constantly told that they
were TO be dIsarmed. Owing to the incom-
pclencc and prejudice of the Interpreters,
innocent Indians had been iionod and put in
the guard house, and they had about reached
the conclusion that thcy were all to he killed
anyhow, and that they might as well die fight
Ing AS any other way. To this General
counted daily, and none would he allowed
to leave the reservation without written per
mission. The making Of an intoxicating
fermenlcd liquor much prizel by these H.
dams was forbidden. Every encouragement
aud help would be given to the Indians will
ing to be peaceful and to work for their own
living but those who chose to go on the war
path must expect no mercy. On the other
hand Gen. Crook has had something to say
also to the officers and soldiers of his
command in general order of recent
date. He regrets to find, he says, among the
indians Of the territory general feeling of
disrust and want of confidence in the whites,
and especially the soldiers. lie reminds
them that one of the fundamental principles
Of the military character Is justice to ali, In
dams us well us whites, and that dis
regard of 1t is likely to provoke hOstilities,
and cause the death Of the persons they are
sent there to protect. Therefore officers
must be careful 10 observe the strctest tidel-
ity in all their dealings with the Indians,
making no promises which they can not keep.
They must redress promptly all grievances
arising within their jurisdiction, for even
petty grievances unredressed and permitted
to accumulate will be like smoulderi1g en-
bers, eventually breaking into flame. When
applied to for the employment of force
against Indians, they must satisfy themselves
of the necessity of the application and the
lawfulncss of complying with it, so that they
may not allow the troops under them TO he
come the instruments of oppression. Each
officer will be held to II strict accountability
that his actions have been fully authorized
by law and Justice, and that Indians desiring
to be peaceful have no cause of complaint
through hasty or injudicious acts OF mill
tary.
Such II policy as this can not fail of lead
ing to the best results; and as long as such
principles prevail we are sure to hear of no
trouble among the Apachcs. And similar ac-
ton all along the line would undoubtedly
effect the same object. 1t is great pity that
the Government can not find or does not EN-
ploy more men like Gen. Crook.