The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-11-26
LITTLE PILLS VIEWS.

LITTLE PILLS VIEWS.
Some Extracts from tho Annual Report
of General Sheridan on the Army's Con.
dition--His Plans for Solving the In
dian Problem - Legislation Needed in
the Army.
" WASHINGTON, Nov. 1S.-The annual re-
port of Lieutenant General Sheridan. cori-
mander of the army, after referring to the
defenseless condition Of the Atlantic cities,
the raids Of Oklahoma by the boomers"
the sincerity of. whose leaders he doubts,
mentioning the belief of some that they are
in the pay of interested corporations who
desire to have Indian Territory opened to
settlement, and the troubles with the Chey-
ennes and Arapahoes. takes up the subject
of the Apache murders and says:
a,n in hopes of an early settlement Of the.
Apache difficulty in such manner as Will for
ever prevent recurrence of the raids of these
Indians. So long as General Crook had
control of the Apaches under the agreement
of the Secretary of War and the Secretary Of
the Interior matters went on very well in Ari-
zona, but when contentious began under the
divided authority that existed year ago,
distrust and trouble arose among the In,
dians, and continued until the outbreak of
the Chiricahuas in May last. The outbreak
was petulant and without cause, and en-
braced only a part of the tribe, but this ele-
ment comprised the young and most vigor-
Gus. The conduct Of this band, not exceed
ing forty-two men and nine sQuaws, was hend-
ish in the extreme. Unprotected and IN
armed people were murdered wherever met,
and when pressed by the troops they scattered
like flock of quail and came together
again at some designated spot from
fifty to one hundred miles distant. They
should all be exterminated or captured,
and 1 have the greatest confidence in
General Crooks ability to accomplish this
purpose, though the difficulties are very
great. 1 beg the people in that section to
bear in mind that General Crook is the best
dams. and will accomplish in the end more
than, perhaps, any man in the army. He is
familiar with the Indians and l. the country
New Mexico have been, there is no other man
| in the army who could do any better or who
people of that section as regards life, prop
this hostile band in Mexico. under the agree.
! with consideration and kindness which it is
| my duty to acknowledge. take great pleas
/ ure in Commencing General Crook for the ad-
| steady perseverance under dsheartening cir
cumstanceS.
| General Sheridan recommends as solu-
ton of the vexed Indian question that the
| Government give each Indian family the
800 acres now provided for them by law and
buy up the remainder of their reservations
at S1.25 per acre, investing the money for
the tribes in Government bonds, the in
terest to be used in lieu of the annual sub
sides voted them by Congress fol
kh1sc into nd fho parin nir,ol
to be given into their control in
the course of time. General Sheridan
shows that the Crow Indians have
$500, 900 acres, the Cheyennes and Arapa.
hoes 100000 and the Utes 100, 900,
which could be bought by the Government
for this purpose. Some of these lands are
worth from SIS to $40 an acre, and could be
sold to settlers readily at an average OF
$1.25 an acre. II the treaties in existence
between the tribes and the Government in.
terfere with the execution of this plar
General Sheridan suggests that Congress
could easily devise some means OF over
coming this difficulty" The report con
tinues: .
ideas regarding the Indian Territory, or in hi
confidence in the ability of the Indian to max.
himself self-supporting in SO short ia time: lI AL
such confidence, and such opinions shoult
be regarded as individual rather than repre-
Of ast sns bs sow
will, no doubt, be worked out in time II f1rln
ness and fair treatment be observes
aPd lesu is pafy pst soPe
future When a tribe becomes refractory o
has worked itself into state of open revolt
its temporary transfer to the control of tn
military for the purpose of discipline, a
has recently been done with the cheyenne
and in tho W
found of benefit; but the permanent contro
of tine Indians is not desired by the arm
the vicinity of Fort Clark. Tex. tmentioned i
my last report, have not as yet been brough
back to the Indian Territory, sympathy 10
have undergone for about eighteen years ha
been often referred to without effect. The
are good people, and should be provide
for in the Indian Territory.
The Lieutenant General commends tn
recommendations of the Adjutant- Generi
> in regard to promotions to the rank of fiel
officer; he calls attention to the necessity {
i concentrating troops near the large cilie
where they can be more economically SUI
! ported, and whence they can be more rea(
! lily moved; and says the status of the n;
tional guard should be regulated by gel
!, | eral law of Congress. The report conclude
, as follows:
f The discipline throughout the army is vel
= | good. l have no recommendation to mai
= | except to increase the number OF men IN II
| companies and to add Two more compani
and two Majors to each regiment of infantr
! most lie ;rtiy co ncide with the remarks
| Genera SchOheld On the need OF milital
leg slauron HIS views are of such inpOrtan'
that transmit them bodily to my report:
!. | There is a great need in the military ser
, | ice OF legislation, under the power conferrt
,. by the Constitution upon Congress. to NAL
e rules lor the government aud regulation
= the land aud naval forces. 1t is sometimes
n supreme importance that the responsIbi
= ties of mil I Try administrat on and cOminaI
G be clearly denned by law, and it Is importa
= | 1t all times that the rules for tie &c
y ernment of the military service be observe
like other laws by competent authori
after due cons derat'on and under all q
light wh.ch experience can bring to the aid
legislat or. Regulations thus established n
subject to change only by Congress wou
have such Ih has degree OF snbd stability Militia ii
:, stem. which up TO the present. time h
d not existed in this country. Althoui
Almost without number the mo It importi
questions involved in the command al
The source of constant embarrassment al
the cause of mucn controversy for NAL
years. renal. unsettled at the present tin
No commanding General. from the highest
the lowest can know the extent or limit
:, his authority, and no one can nave any ST
J. responsible to him for the faithful execuu
$ During the last twenty-five years the cou
Is try has passed through three momento
9 crisis wherein these unsettled questions We
of vital importance to the Nation and th
decision for the occasion depended sole
upon individual opinions. Another Sill
CT sis may not be far distant when such
n cision might not be so fortunate Tor the col
r try. Hence, while present the necessity
" a considerable increase of the army, a
a suggest as a still greater necessity that la
b be established by Congress for the ''gove
ment and regulation of the military force
e CRABS AND OYSTERS.