Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-07-10
Indian OutraycS,

The accounts of the recent horrible
butcheries of settlers by the Apache In
dianS, in New Mexico, show that the red
man has not lost particle of his original
ferocity, while he has gained immensely
in his powers of destructiveness from in
tercourse with the white man, and the
adoption of the more deadly weapons of
modern warfare. The Indian problem
has long been a very serious one for our
government. While here and there a
tribe is becoming civilized to a greater
or less extent, the great mass of the
blanket Indians" as they are callel, re-
sist all efforts TO train them to the arts
and industries of civilized life.
Their inherited habits and tastes are
strong upon them, and every attempt to
subdue them by humaniZing influences
has proved fruitless Mr. Edward F.
Clark of Conway, Mass, who has lately
returned from the scene of the Apache
outbreak says in Il published letter: Pro
lection can be assured to the white man
and justice to the Indian. Let the Presi-
dent place honest, positive, capable men in
charge of the Indian bureau and the In
dian agencies. Let all Indians be depriv-
ed of their firearms. They are supplied
with food and clothing by the govern
m mt, they are not at war with each other
the .. never assailed by white settlers,
hence they have no need of firearms. Let
any person selling firearms to the Indians
be promptly and severely punished. There
is Il law to this effect, which has frequent.
ly been disobeyed with the cognizance of
the agents, because of the profit accruing
to them from such sales. Let all Indians
who leave their reservation without Off
cial permission be punished by the contis-
cation, and if need be the killing, of their
saddle horses. An Indian without gun
is not dangerous an Indian without a
horse is a coward"
Gen. o. o. Howard, whose long service
on the plains and Christian character, en-
title his opinion to respect, considers the
frontier to be Intellectually garrisoned
and suggests an increase in the number
, of military posts and in the military force
, on the frontier, SO that Indian revolts may
/ be more promptly suppressed He alsc
, advises the opening of negotiations will
the various tribes for the abandonment o
the reservation system. Possibly a com
bnation of the two plans might be adopt
: Ell, WllD SOOtt tlltCl. IL is LnuCu easier
: however, to suggest plans than to carr,
!, them out, when the conditions of success
t are so numerous and difficult. Homes
a men, however, can be found for Indian
1 agents. While general disarmament o
the wild tribes would be big job i
!. would seem' that it ought to be possibl
k to largely cut off further supply of i'm
t proved arms and ammunition to the saw
!. ages. The treatment of the Indians mvs
: be both firm and kind. If the govern
/ ment had always kept faith with them
: there would be far less trouble in mar
$ aging them. They must be made to Sc
that the government has the power to Ell
q force its commands, and be assured botl
v that they will be protected fom the rapa
!, city of the whites and that Lawful
u settlers on the frontiers will be protected
, from murder and outrage, The rest c
e the problem will have to be left to tn
gradual processes of civilization an
k Christianization.