New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-26
DEALING WITH APACHES.
GENERAL CROOKS ANNUAL REPORT.

GENERAL CROOKS ANNUAL REPORT.
HE ADVISES THE GRANTING OF LANDS IN SEVER
Atty AND THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE.
fFRoM OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSEl
PRESCOTT, A. T., Dec. 1S.-General Crook has
lately issued his report for the first year Of his eommand
Of the Department Of The years that havc
passed since he before connected with this Depart
ment have been marked by series Of amentable and
costly blunders IN dealing with the Apacnes II NOT
necessary to rehearse the catalogue which, dismal ~ 10
really is has been exaggerated In the reports which have
reached the East But 1t is only fair point out that
the Apaches in almost every had strong indictments
for their reprisals.
In speaking of the numberless councils and private
interviews which he held Immediately after taking
mand in September 1892 after the years OF blunderng
General Crook says: found the Apaches sullen and
dstrustful and "a general feeling Of distrus OF our
people existed among all the bands. They told
me that contradictory the utterances OF the
different officers of the Government that they had lost
confidence everybodyj and that they fast ariv-
ing at the conclusion that would he manly TO die
fighting than TO be thus destroyed. They had
been openly pundered OF the supplies provided for them
by the Government" 1t was not strange that they
were, as they admitted, contemplating war TO tho
death.
General Crook rega'ned the confidence which tho
Indians formerly had in him. re-establshed police regu
latons that his Indian police kept him informed Of
everything occurring among the ulHerent Dands,
and directed the male Apaches to numbered tags
and to be frequently counted whenever necessary Ex-
psctng depredatons from the hostile Chricahuas in the
Sierra Madre he made preparations Of pack trains
panes OF scouts and central garrisons but from Sep
TENDER until March not single outrage committed
by Indians In Arizona In March fifty Chircahuas
under Jeronimo-a variously spelled He" and
Gs-"-made a raid into Sonora TO steal stock, and
twentysix under Chato crossed into Arizona
ammunition. The latter party travelled 400 miles dur
ing the six days that they IN Arizona, and killed
about a dozen PERSONS including Judge McComas and
wife. The details Of this raid and Of General Crooks
subsequent expedition into the Sierra Madre set orth
in this report.
General Crook Acknowledges and gives practical
for his belief that the Apaches with modern breeeh
loading than the equal Of the white man in
their mode Of warfare, and that It would be practically
impossible with white soldiers to subdue the Chirica
huas in their haunts. He says With all the inter-
at stake cannot afford to fight them; are too
cupable nation for the existing condition of affairs.
follows that satisfy them that hereafter they
shall be treated with justice and protected from the in
roads of white men," What the latter clause meansis
explained by the too wefounded Statements elsewhere:
Public sentiment in frontier communities does not
slider the malicious killing OF an Indian murder, nor the
most unblushlng pundering theft. 1t is too often
the that border newspapers are the organs OF tina
thieves and disseminate all sorts Of exaggeratons and
fasehoods about Indians which copied in papers
high character and wide circulation in other parts OF
the country, while the Indians side Of the case Is rarely
ever heard" 1t may be added here that within two
weeks general press dispatch sent East from Ar-
relating alleged murder by the Apaches. and
unnecessarily luggng in the comment that General
Crooks policy is much condemned by the people here
His policy" is one of honesty and strict good faith
toward the Indians.
One cause OF difficulty in dealing with the Apaches has
been their inability 10 comprehend the distinction be-
tween the Government and the officer or agent repre-
seutng the Government The vestlng or the control or
the reservation in War Department. under the direct
this obstacle since the Apaches have all learned to
spect and 6eeys the eso OF G 1 se eac5 ~
the Apaches General Crook offers some suggestive adj
vice. settle the Indians reservations aud teach them
what they do not know OF methods OF agrcultuTeS
stimulate them to industry by providing market Tor
for their subsistence until they learn how to live in tho
new way and to become selfs supporting. I'm
like the negro the Indian cannot speak our Language,
has been dOmesticated among u.s. and Is conse-
Queny Ignorant Of our way OF lie Therefore indians
and until mutual interests spring up between them
among whom have been their land in severaIty
There Is among them constant feeling OF insecurity;
reservations that they the same thing may occur
again, should their land be coveted BY the whites
ass be cared for and projected ~ t the band md
dian patent land conditions prevent
ing alienation may be deemed advisable. aud let Nun
feel that t IL his and cannot be taken from hm
. . He then realizes that he is independent and that
his family is provided for in the event OF his DEATH and
will then in my judgment disappear and not till then
Now recommendation which Is likely 10 attract
wide attention: soon as the Indian gets his land IN
seyeralty ne shOuld have the ballot. . He Is
tanly the equal mentally Of large class who now have
the franchise. No people or race can live IN our
country deprived Of full political powers without be-
coming more and degraded. Nor can such people
be long imposed upon mistreated with the right to
vote allowed hond OF the much-vexed question OF dis
arming the Indians General Crook that in the first
place IL Is impossible and further that such an attempt
would be causing the Indians to think mat
tho authorities were afraid OF them But most COZ.
elusive OF all ia his remark deprive the Apaches OF
their arms and in short time there would not be HOOK
OF stock on the reservation" Disrepuabe white men
constantly watching for chance Ia commit depeda-
tons and the Indian needs means OF protection An In
stance IA cited the time OF the excite
ment following the raid last spring After many threas
company OF rangers was formed with the purpose OF
assacrng the peaceful Apaches at san aros General
Crook sent word the Apaches that they must DEFEND
themselves This rangers marched nearly to san Car
los learned that the Indians ready To light, and
turning tan scurried back TO Tombstone.
Captain Crawford writes from San Carlos that the M
crease cultivation by the Apaches over last year has
been nearly ten-fOld. The Apaches this year raised
nearly three million pounds OF corn. 10000 pounds OF
beans $4,000 pounds Of potatoes and large amounts Oh
other cereals. vegetables and fruits
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CHRISTIANITY AND MONEY.