The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-08-09
THE INDIAN POLICIES


has returned to Chicago, where hI
tells the irrepressible newspaper re,
porter that he was agreeaSly sur
prised by his investigation among
the Indians He found many tribe:
prosperous and progressive, snC
thinks all can be brought to this
satisfactory condition, if a proper
effort to that end be mede. The
general is right in his estimate, and
it is hoped he will employ his new
knowledge and good ideas to some
purpose in Congress. However, it
will be a strange spectacle to see
Logan engaged in any laudable IN
dertaking in the national Legisla-
ture.
1t is a fact that, with two or three
exceptions, the Indian tribes of
New Mexico and Arizona are in a
much better condition than most
people realize them to be in. Most
of the tribes are entirely self
supporting, having long since ceased
to be charge upon the government,
and others are fast moving in that
direction. Immense tracts of land
are under cultivation by the red
men, who have learned to till the
soil, growing grain and vegetables
with excellent success. They also
own and tend large herds of cattle,
and are gathering around them some
considerable evidence Of wealth, if
not of luxury. Your true Indian
knows very little of luxury as we
understand the term, and he will
be slow to learn, for in his barbaric
ignorance 1t is hard for him to COM
prehend what greater luxury there
can be than in having plenty
with which to supply hig
wants. An explanation of
this aboriginal prosperity in New !
Mexico is found in the fact that !
the policy Of some administration |
or agent has been to treat the Indi |
ans as responsible, reasonable, in
telIigent being, capable of being
taught and made to understand
conditions and things. The popular
policy is to deal with the Indians as
if ne were an unnamed and untam.
able wretch, utterly devoid of all
the better qualities OF human NJ
tUre, and incapable Of improvement
in any particular. The idea that the
good Indians are the dead ones has
been too literally accepted as true.
aud the consequence is seen in gov
eminent feeding, blanketing or
lighting thousands Of lazy, shiftIess,
vicious vagabonds who are at per
petual outs With the nation on &C
count Of alleged ill-treatment.
Those of the New Mexican Indians
Who have become seIf-supporting
find it less difficult to Gain
A livelihood by their own
efforts and jndu try than
dc their dependent fellows in
begging from or lighting the gov
eminent. Many of the redskins in
our southeastern neighbor have be-
gun to feel their Importance as men
and women. Though in a sense de-
pendent as the wards Of the nation.
they show their independence by
asking no tayors and demanding
only their right to be allowed to
3arn what they have, and purchase
What they want. Lately another
step in advance in thel elevation of
-he Indians has been taken in the ,
errltory mentioned. Governor
has enlisted company of
he Laguuas as territorial militia.
md whenever occasion REQUIRES
puts them in the field Of service
'aying them as he does white mill
la. These troops have so far proven
themselves brave, honest and intel $
igent soldiers. They are faithful. ]
nd are relied upon with per- |
3ect confidence to do their I
-uty. The men seem to feel {
ne importance and responsibility i
4 the trust reposed IN them. as '
ally as would SO many white vol S
and as showing their t
ptitude it may be stated that in G
Wo drill contests with the other q
of territorial militia the +
.agunas have each time carried off r
he second prize. q
When 8 vernment shall adopt a Q