Arizona weekly citizen., 1883-08-25
PRICE ON THE INDIAN PROBLEM.

PRICE ON THE INDIAN PROBLEM.
 Nr. Price, Commissioner of India
 Affairs, does not think much of the a,
 I--ei proposition for the purchase c
 ths Indian lands by the government an
 gr;tius the Indians op small tracts O
 tb5.r own This was to be expected
 however, as 1t would do away with tn
 office that gentleman holds and destro,
 the immense patronage it controls. H,
 says "I can't believe there is any trutl
 m it The whole story looks to me lik,
 .Er creation ot the brain of some imap native correspondent. It is not reason.
 able ,o suppose that General Sheridan
 urlli go about making propositions of tdis sort to the Indians, when he had no minority to do so. Of course only Con- g-sss can do such a thing as shis story talks of. It Is a huge hoax, IA my opin- ion. For General Sheridan to 20 about among the Indians, opposing a plan that would change the entire Indian policy throw some millions of their lands on to the market, cause the government to enter into new and complicated relations with them and transfer them at a stroke rom th- charge of the civil to the mil. a-y branch of the government, all with al, any authority, directly or indirectly. from the only branch of the government ;st has authority to do this, or even to talk oi t, Is preposterous. I do not .ai1k It would be a wise or successful one. The system which We are now fal- lowing Is, feel sure, the true plan for the civilization of the Indian. We now have j.ol0 of the Indian youth in school learning to read and write and speak .f4 English language, and to work. The Ind au has always believed hereto fore that work was degrading to him. Now, however, the rising generation .n0u- them Is learning to work, and ,5 5d5i- well, too"
 N ne supposed that the president ard General Sheridan could formulate aliput ID force an Indian policy with - the ald and assistance of Congress W= -e- DO impropriety in General Sher- 1 .i.a, or anyone else. proposing a plan that would change the entire Indian 1 p rlcy, especially if it offers any i'm pavement over the present system. l Flrh Commissioner Price, and all who | have gwen 1t any thought, know to be ile wors- that can be devised.
 The present policy of the Indian de- Flrtment furnishes a great many posi- t0l- to te filled. and 1t IS not to be expected that change will be allowed 1 ,aat branch of the services can pre- v-atI As 10 the throwing of large anIlu. Of government land upon the market We think that would be aa argument in favor If Sheridan's pol cy, as good government land Is becom- ing scarce all over the country, and such lands are much needed. MT. Price feels sure "that the system they are now following is The true plan for the civill- za on of the Indians" IL is strange how any man who IS well informed upon this question can arrive at such a con- c.1sion He states that 1000 Indian y5gths are In -chool learning to read, v-ite aud speak the English language s.l to work" We fasl to see how the usE policy would interfere with this p5-- fl the present policy, which is aulut the only festure worth saving, and e7-n that is an of shoot, or apendage which is not in reality a part of the sy,-em. Tn the statement that " the h. ilal has always believed heretofore tla; vors was degrading, to him." NIT. Price has fallen into an error which Is common ID the east. Degradingl what j. the entire life of au Indian but de- grading No; 1t is not because be thinks work degrading, but because be ls lazy worthless creature who will not work fl he can help it. The proof oi this statement is found among the Plmo Naricopa and Papago Indians of thls Territory, who occupy country destitute of game or other natural sources of supplying food Realizing tlls fact, these Indians of their own ac- cord have gone 10 work cultivating the soil, and raising cattle, not through c-ioce but necessity, to prevent starva- hon Now that they have got at 1t, 'ley are improving both in az 1rlltu-e and stock raising, are self supporting, and peaceble. But for every Apache or other wild Indian, NIT. Price or those who may succeed him, cvllze and make self supporting under i1e present system, will be done at an average cost oi twenty-five white lives, Tor every Indian so civilized. It is a very serious matter 10 the white pioneers Q, 'le west who are trying to make homes and build up the country to con i11e m this dangerous position. Under the present system there is no F-o'eetI7u to the people; they are not even allowed to defend themselves against the barbarians. It IS plain that l t1e Indian department will fight any l neT policy that may be offered. We be- heve tue proposition of General Sheri- l lan- If 1t is proposition, or some sim liar proposition will be strongly support 1 ed oF the people in the western territ- | orles, and as they are the ones who are most interested and who have to stand | The abuses Of Indians, the army and the Indian department, they should have something to say upon the question, and what they may have to say should at least command a respectful hearing.