Arizona weekly citizen., 1884-04-12


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 GENERAL CRooR may hi.ve been Sa- vior, and may be s saint, or perhaps god for certain people to ,all down and worship, we can't tell, except to judge by what IS said by his worshipers. They seem wholly blind to ms faults, for faults he has, like other Ilen, but some men are not able to see, or will not see them. We do not want to pluck single feather from the Generals plumage of fame; whatever he has done worthy of commendation We cheerfully accord to him, though we are not sure that he ever did anything but his duty, for which he has received due compensa- tion. We have nothing to say against General Crock, except that his Indian policy, or his manner Of dealing with Indians, is not one the people approve. The records do not show any victory which prolonged peace; raids continue to occur, and It is not much credit for hIs organs to continue to tell the people how Indian agents have failed in pre- venting outbreaks. What has the mili- tary been stationed in Arizona for these many years, except to prevent these raids? Outbreaks of Indians may be charged to Indian agents, but raids must be charged to the military, whether commanded by Crook or others. It is his duty to keep himself so informed of the euemy's movements that they cannot escape him. If General Crook and his command are not in Arizona to prevent raids and protect the people what is he here for? He relieved Gen. Wilcox because he was supposed to have been a failure. Did Crook prevent the usual spring rad last spring? There were 27 people killed and many thous- auds of dollars of property stolen. The Mexican troops assisted by Crook cor ralled the Indians in the Sierra Madre mountains, and there was no fight for victory-no fight to subdue the savages, but to the contrary, the Indians pro- posed terms and Crook accepted them; these terms are only known in n general way, but the people under tand that whatever the Chiricahua chiefs demand of Crook it will be forthcoming. If this is the great Indian fighters way of fighting Indians 1t is a queer way, to say the least, and one that when properly understood will find its level and rank where 1t belongs. The charge that two newspapers in the territory make against the CITIZEN and every other pa per in the territory that opposes Crooks milk and water policy, that We are in the interest of an Indian ring IS as false and malicious as 1t is possible for man to concelve. We are in nobody's inter est except the peoples. We know that our course Is approved by the people not only from the intercourse we have had with them, but by the numerous letters received from representative men in all parts of the territory. We wor- shin 10 man, nor do we see any good cause to pat a man continually for performinp bis duty. An officer is not entitled to fulsome praise because he performs Lis duty, but he should be called to account for the neglect, or non-performance of it ana removed if incompetent. We have criticised General Crook. We believe from the day the news was wired over the country upon the out break of the last raid, General Crook has failed to do his duty as general in this department We censured him when he advocated one of the most dangerous doctrines conceived by man. that of refusing to consent to give up the murderers of Judge Me Comas and wife and others, saving that punishing the living would not bring hack the dead-a sentiment that II car ried out to its full extent, would lead very shortly to confusion and anarchy. The condition of Indian affairs in
 
 Arizona is reprehensible and dangerous. The head of the military and Indian agent do not agree and are constantly in conflict with one another. Their run counter to one another and trouble must sooner or later come of it unless the government steps Tn and prevents it, and We see no way eA- ,ept to remove the dangerous tribes from the Territory, but the military Is opposed to that, for Osheilo's occupa- lion would be gone. Except for these Apaches there is no need of the military in the Territory. Let us have peace; remove the Indians. The people demand it.