The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-25
THE INDIAN QUESTION.
Breaking Up the Reservation System-The
Race Dying Out.

Breaking Up the Reservation System-The
Race Dying Out.
General Nelson A. Miles. in Denver Republican.
In reply to an inquiry as to the trouble with
the Apaches, General Miles said:
There Is some fine country in New Mexico
which some of the Apaches, who belong over in
Arizona, thought that they would like, and SO
they went over there. The settlers there object
ed, and the Apaehes now in Arizona where
they belong. | think that we have enough
troops there now to cover the Territory thor
oughly.
THE only trouble which anticipate now is a
possible outbreak of the Utes. They are really
in a starving condition. They are situated in
mountainous country, and are not allowed off
their reservation, and SO they cannot 60 hunt
ing Their Tations have been cut down to a
small quantity, and, of course. when they do
not get enough to eat, they are likely to get
unruly."
What was the reason for cutting down the
amount of their rations, or with whom does the
fault liei asked the reporter.
We'll. it is claimed that the appropriation
was insufficient. 1t is bad state of affairs, and
L have recommended an increase. / think that
If the Indians are to be kept upon reservation
the government should see that they are fed.
ANY one who is at all acquainted with Indians"
continued General Miles, cannot fail but have
a considerable feeling of sympathy for them.
There are some individuals who. of course, can
only be subdued by being killed. There are
ooiue VI Luo young 1uuldnS WHO grow up anu
hear the old ones boasting of their powers, and
so the young ones watch their opportunity and
go and kill somebody, SO that they get up
reputation. Then some of the old ones want to
get up stealing expedition, and they go out
and commit some depreciation, and then come
back and report that the soldiers are after Them
and get up stampede.
II have also heard of one or two cases in which
white men have wanted revenge, or wanted to
get possession of some property, and so have
nIC Io.s1 ntw~ac T~1s
their schemes"
Upon Indian matters in general General Miles
said that in his annual report he recommended
that the reservation scheme be abandoned. His
plan Is for the government to deal with individ-
uals or families and not with tribes, in the dis
trlbution of the appropriations and that it give
them their land in severalty. and that all the
reservations. including the Indian Territory be
thrown open to settlers.
Instead of melting out justice for crimes to
committing these crimes and trying them the
same the whites are tried.
II have tried enlisting them as scouts very
successfully" General Miles said when speaking
upon his report 1.-THE young Indians like to be
dressed as soldiers. and they do their work very
nicely. 1t cures them of their restlessness they
earn some money, and when not actively en-
ployed they have chance to get little hunt
ing. OF course it is more than you could expect
of them to act against their people, and so
we use them only against tribes to which they
are hostile For instance, down in New Mexico,
1 employed Navajo scouts against the Apaches"
General Miles predicts that in fifty years from
the present time there will be no pure Indian
blood in the country. He says that the race is
fast dying out and that intermarriage with the
whites is growing in extent