Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-04-30
THE INDIAN QUESTION.
The Question of Removal to Indian Territory a
 

The Question of Removal to Indian Territory
 Hopeless One.
 EDITOR CITIZEN: Arizona has long
 been suffering from Apache atrocities
 andis still. Many people believe this
 suffering will not certainly end whilo the Apaches remain in the Territory,
 and hence have demanded through the press and in public meetings that they
 be removed to the Indian Territory. If
 .here were the slightest hope that the
 removal could be accomplished. the de-
 mard f5r ii should be ceutirued with
 greater zest by every voiee the people
 can command But there is no gro1nd
 for hope ard 1t will not be done. Do
 you ask why2 The answer IS ready and
 easy. Congress has by law prohibited their removal O the Indian Territory,
 and provided they should not be so re-
 moved unless an act were passed ex-
 pressly authorizing such action. The same influences that secured this prohi- bitiou are uuqUestionably more deter mined now than ever before that such re-
 moval shall not be made These intlu- . ences consist of powerful railway con- pauies with headquarters in New York and Boston, and the combined power Of
 the States locally and in Cougress) of Kansas, Missouri. Arkansas and Texas.
 md It is believed the Territory of New Mexico. Indian Territory borders on
 tlI these States and New Mexico. The | Indians now in it make occasional raids on the outside, and the people of those ! exposed States will nos permit the re- moval of the savage Apaches to then
 greater peril They have the power and VII use it.
 Prior to 1879. the Interior Depart ment favored such removal It selected | representative Apaches and Pimas land the writer thinks Papagoes tool and took them to Indian Territory to view the .and, hoping they would recommend their 9eople to go there. Some of tbem did return favorably impressed for the move. About this time the projected movement vas publicly discussed and the Stytes before named, immt diately decided tc prevent 1t, and they dId sc, and always will be strong enough to defeat any measure locking to such removal. They would not trust to chance, but prohibited removal by law. This very movement for removal caused the following to be inserted in the Sund-y Civil Service Dill in 1872 directly in connection with he item appropriatins S320,O00 for sub listing the Ar1zona and New Mexico Apaches: g
 And the President of the United States IS hereby directed to prohibit the 'emoval Or any portion of sand tribes of Indians Co the Indian Territory. unless he same shall be hereafter authorized " act of Congress
 See act approved Feb. r, 1872 Stats. .t Large, Vol 20, F. SIS.
 The Arizona render will bear in mind hat this action of Congress is not ab- ,olutely against removal, but Is against cmoval to "Tndian Territory" Thy ailway systems os Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and New Mexico de- nand lines through lt The Atlantic md Pacific are zealously working for isht of way through jt SO as to form it's hroush overland line through New Mexico via Albuquerque and on over trIzoDa to the Pacific ocean. The biil or that purpose contemplates a payment ,f s2S per acre, as a sort of bribe to ge5 he Indians consent, and no more h. uaus will be allowed to impede it's pro- ,ress. or the buildinS of connections with other projected lines. Several large states as well as many railway com ,auies will forever prevent the repeal of he present law or the passage of another authorizing the removal SO much desired y Arizona. The press and the people night as well stop urging the measure.
 Do you ask what We are going Co do O be saved from these ever recurring Apache atrOcities2 No one can exactly ell. Many think if the United States military forces were used as they might le, the Indians would soon be afraid Co % Co war or their bodies be made to .nrich the soil But judged by the past. title Is t0 be expected Of them. Do you uquire, IS there no remedyz Hardly my one alone, but there are several .hich fl applied simultaneously, would Irobably be effective, among which are.
 First. Disarm every Apache under government control and every one brought within it's control, and under no circumstances let them have arms again or any purpose.
 Second. Cease tO use Indians as police .r soldiers. Whatever service they may
 ve rendered as such, they have proven reacherOus and VIII again. Sucb use ,f them involves giving them arms, and he greatest measure of safety from h. iiau massacres is tO keep arms from hem This done and they will not he .ery warlIke, and man detected in sell ng them arms or ammunition should bo reated as public enemy, as an outlaw, nd shot without mercy. Some harsh measures will have to be rcsOrted to, t0 ,revent heGrtless traders from supply ng the Apaches with arms and ann nunItiOn.
 Third Have every mile of the reser- ,atiOn boundaries SO plainly marked hat neither Indian nor other person -ould plead ignorance Of it's where bouts; and so far as the Apache IS con- .eTned, make the line dead line, with D which he should be protected and without which be treated as hostile aut hot upon sight.
 As heretofore said, harsh measures re necessary. They need not be con- inued forever. but should be until the Ind ans were taught. compelled, Co be as ,eace, and to a large exteutIf not wholly made to earn their entire support by tIll- jng the soil or doing other useful and productive labor.
 Fourth An honest, jealous and intel ligent use of the power given to military commanders and Indian Agents would slon of itself bring peace, but as these ,ficers are human and man is frail," any hope under this head is SO weak that Ii wlll probably be a waste of time to ai- vrrate it; but there Is some hope ni the other three, and 1t is submitted that the press elaborate them and keep them be- fore the people.
 But the object ot this article is to show the utter bOpelessness of relief by re- mOval tO Indian Territory. The four TOwerful States and other sympathlZing influences will easily prevent any such relief 90