New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-17
TINE 1P1CHE PROBLEM

General Crooks annual report for tho yoar
ending September 9, 1883 is a clear and forciblc
demonstration of the evils consequent upon
division of authority between III litary and civil
officials. This question assumes unusual Importance
in view of the Indian trouble. which began IN the
Southwest last May. In 1858, after serious
difficulties had been caused by the opposition of
Agent Wilcox to General Crooks treatment of the
Apaches the police control Of the san Carlos
reservation was vested in the War Department
but not as it appears, with the approval of the
Interior Department. Notwithstanding difficulties
and annoyances tho adoption of General Crooks
ulan and the efforts of Captain Crawford secured
for the Southwest two years OF peace. Agent Ford,
appointed year ago, sought to Oyerue military
action upon the reservation. General Crook
Obliged TO ask that he be relieved from his great
responsibility since his right of control was with
drawn The invaluable services of Captain
Crawford were lost. In May. Geronimo, Mangus
and some fifty warriors broke away from tho
reservation.
Such Indians the Chirlcahuas,' writes
General Crook who is certainly not their apolOgist,
must believe that the person in charge of them
has absolute power" These Indians saw that tho
power of the military officer in charge had been
curtailed Those about Fort Apache knew that
General Crook had not succeeded in inducng the
Government to build n much-needed Hour mill for
their benefit They had suffered from the cxtOr-
tons of traders, they had been all winter without
their annuities, although these were in agents
warehouse at San Carlos they were without suit
able clothing, and despite General Crooks efforts
their relatives in captivity had not been returned TO
them Without aitrlbuting the outbreak directly
TO these causes General Crook simply says that the
Chricahuas felt aggrleved Soon the manufacture
of Lswia was again begun. Geronimo and Mangus
became intoxicated, and fled to avoid punishment
taking with them many Disconnected warriors.
General Crook has for the first time shown the
origin of the dcplorable outrages which have Oc-
Cured during the last six months He dcprecates
the hasty Judgment that these fresh troubles prove
the impossibility Of managing the Apaches aud OF
making them self-sustainlng citizens. At the same
time he insists that tho Ch.Icahua raiders must
lie visited with the most summary punishment.
The troops and Indian scouts have done and will
do all that can be done in this peculiarly difficult
campaigning
We do not argue for sentimental treatment of
Apache murderers. but we need not waste time in
answering tho brutal cry for the annihaton OF the
Apache race which is and then heard in the
Southwest 1t is time that these Indian troubles
should be clearly understood. 1Greed and avaricc
| the part of whites at the cotton of
nine-tenths Of the troubles" writes Generai Crook.
Political considerations aud wranglings over
authority have been responsible for much mlsman-
agement. These Indians must have "a muster
whom they sees to be absolute IN authority and
whose requests of the Government for agricultural
tools mills what not will Dc promptly honorrd.
Military power is essential upon "A reservation,
civil authority is not. and We are glad to know
that tho military authority is again paramount IN
the control of tho Apaches. This difficult problem
can only be worked out by man intimately
Quainted with the peculiarties of Indian character
possessing tact, executive ability and motives
of undoubted purity. These qualifications belong
| to General Crook. For success in his great work