Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-07-19
Gen. Crook On The Apache Indians

Chicago Times.
"The common conception of Indian
character is wholly ut fault with its
true nature. They must be treated rs
children, for they are such in ignor-
ance, though by no means as innocent.
Some Yeas ago placed 5000 Indians
on the San Carlos Reservation, and
they are all there yet, and there is not
a more peaceablc community in the
country. As soon rs the Indian is
taught now to work, he Immediately
becomes conservative. Get them to
work for year or two, until they be-
come accustomed to it and see tho ben.
efits they derive from their labor, and
they will no longer be hostile. After
they have secured little farm and
some stock, they appreciate the advan-
tages of labor and enjoy the fruits of
their industry. There is no truth what
ever in all this bosh about the irrepres-
sible savage nature of the Indian and
his incorriGible laziness. When he
finds that he becomes more important
by reason of what he has accumulated
it stirs his ambition, and he is jealous
of his property and remains with it, in.
stead of maraudiDg around the coun-
try to satisfy any roaming instincts.
The only trouble with them is their
fondness for tizwin. If it were not for
that there would be very few brawls
and few murders on the reservations.
Irwin, you know, is made by ferment-
ing corn and barley when il is sprout-
ing. The drink isn't as strong as
whiskey, but they starve themselves for
two or three days in order to make the
liquor take hold and make the drunk
come. From 1875, when | left there,
20 last fall, when l returned to the res
ervation, no less than fifty Indians
whom | knew personally have been
killed in these DRINKS"
"What induces you to believe, Gen
eral, that Indian outbreaks are per-
petually endedP"
my knowledge of the Indian charac-
ter. Years ago when the frontier was
only sparsely settled, they thought that
they could whip the whole country; that
there was not force enough to over
power them. Then when 1000 or TO-
600 men were sent against them, and
they were again victorious, this belief
was strengthened. Even after few of
them began visiting Washington, and
returned with stories of the numbers of
people they had seen, they were not be-
lieveved, and were considered as in
league with their enemies. Whenever
peace was made, they believed that
the whites sought or consented to it
through fear, and there was nothing to
deter them from renewing hostilitities
as soon as they felt inclined. Now,
however, they recognize their power
lessness to hold out. They know that
they are outnumbered and can he east
ly exterminated, and have no desire to
go into what they know beforehand
will be losing fight. Satisfied of this,
they want to do the best they can, and
are willing to work. These last prison.
ers all asked to be taken where they
could get farms, and said they did not
want to be put along the San Carlos
river, where the land was no. fit to be
cultivated and where they would die Of
malaria. They know now that il would
be nonsensical for them to revolt again,
as thev have discovered that they can
be !. ten at their own game. The
Indian, you know, relies mainly for
success in fight on being able to sur
prise the enemy. l took them by sur
prise and il has settled them"
'How did you succeed so admirably
"Oh, very simply. l had rs good
and as sharp Indians as they were. and
we were upon them before they knew
we were in the country"