New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-11
INDT1NS and WORNONS.

The President devoJes considerable part OF
his Message to the treatment OF the Indians
and the problem of polygamy. On the Indian
question he has great deal to say, but not
much practical information to give. Reviewing
at length the various phases OF the problem, he
| comes to the conclusion that no fixed and
unyielding plan of action" can be adopted with
justice to the Indians, and that the Indian
! Bureau "can hardly possess itself OF the minute
phases of the particular cases needing treat
ment,n and therefore recommends the appoint
mpnt of six commissioners, of whom three shall
| be detailed from the army, and the others
selected from those who are Interested IN the
! Indian question, and who have practical ideas
| on the subject of their treatment" Inns
commits sion, he considers, should be charged
"with the duty of a careful inspection from
time to time Of all the Indians upon our reSer-
"vatiOns or subject to the care and control OF
The Government, with a view of discovering
their exact condition and needs"
One wocld like to know just what the Indian
! Bureau is for. If it exists solely to furnish
comfortable places for officials of the party in
power, we'll and hood let it be understood.
If it exists for the purpose Of supervising the
treatment of the Indians, and the enforcement
of laws regarding them, then it may be doubted
whether an outside commission would not cause
difficulty by frequently conflicting with the
bureau. If the President is anxious to have the
treatment of the Indians supervised and
directed by persons who are interested in the
question and who have practical ideas on the
subject" why does he not select such persons
to fill the various offices in the Indian Bureau
As an outside commission, these persons would
oil nv
the law with especial power, would almost
unavoidably come into conflict with the bureau
and the different departments of the Govern
ment. But if the Indian Bureau itself were
empowered 10 deal with the q Ieston intclli-
gently. and were ollicered by persons competent
to treat it, all the good that the President con-
templates might be realized with less conflict
or friction.
On the Mormon question the President
speaks with great earneslness, and his sugges-
tions are eminenty Draiseworthy, so far a
they 60 But it is only just to say that the
| President does not seem To have got at the root
of the difficulty Polygamy in Utah is an
incident; the vital fact is an organized defiance
of the authority of the United States. The
Mormon Church 'ams to be above the law
and hi CHER than the law. Over its adhcrents it
! mas power far greater than the laws of the
! United States, and that power it has demon
! st ated again and again. BY its control of
| lands, of facilities for irrigation, and of oppor-
tunities for doing business in the Territory,
| this organization is able to control those who
accept the TEACHINGS Of the Church to an extent
which outsiders scarcely comprehend. 1t can
crush any Mormon who questions IFS decision.
or who shows any disposition to obey the laws
of the United States rather than the dictates of
| the Church 1t can make it impossible for
such a man to do business, to keep property, or
even to get a living in most parts of the
| Territory The tyranny that il exercises is
well nigh unbounded, and it has been used
almost constantly for many years to resist and
defeat the laws of the United States.
| If the President had clearly cOmprehended
this feature of the case, he would surely have
felt called upon to recommend other action
| than that which Congress has yet taken The
suppression of polygamy, without the over
throw of the despite and rebellious power of
the Church organization, is not an easy task.
But if The rebellion against the authority of the
United States be assailed and broken up, the
suppression of pOlygamy follows almost of
itself The Presidents zeal to enforce the
existing laws against polygamy deserves
commentator, and it is illustrated by the
prompt movement of troops to uphold the
authority of the Government. But his Message
w0uld have been wiser, and his recommends
tions to Congress of more practical value, if he
| had proposed means of overthrOwing the
rebelious organization by which polygamy is
kent alive