New-York tribune., 1885-08-10
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE INDIAY AND TUE COWBOY.
LETTER F soa ras Hov. JosEpd YIMMo, JR


TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: A few days ago ex-DsIegate Ouray, OF
Arizona called on In iian Commissioner Atkins and
presented TO m number Of startling facts rs TO the
numbering OF white settlers, cattlemen ana their
employees commonly known rs "coSboys" by band OF
Ap lche Indians the savage OF their race within
the borders Of the United States. Mr. Ouray asked that
these untamable AMI boodthirsty savages might be
dlsarmed. Mr. Atkins replied that II the Indians are
disarmed tho cowboys ought also to be disarmed IL
wond be dsngenuous and unfair to comment upon this
remark In any partisan spirit 1t was undoubtedly the
expression Of sporadic thought Evidently the
Commissioner has not yet had time to inform himself as
to the merits OF tho complex Indian question In Its
relations civilization to tho public domain and to the
industries which have sprung up In the great Interior
during tho last twenty years. Besides, he voiced
sentiment which entirely comports with the attitude OF
the National Government toward froncrsnen In the
trials and dangers to which they have been exposed from
hostile Indians for than fifty years. During oil
that time the Government has Ia almost all cases failed
adequately espouse the Of the settler except
the case Of violent outbreaks involving Indian wars.
Thus the fr0nersen have been forced TO organize for
ther own protection. and tho conflicts which have
ensued have given rise to series ofbloody reprisas on
both sides But tho time has when n temporizing
policy, dictated by false sentmentalty, and admins
tered by impractical methods OF dealing with the whole
Indian question should Tho logical result OF this
policy has beon to convert the untuored savage into
pauper upon civilized society. Thus he has had pre-
sented to him the opportunity OF learning some OF the
vices OF civilization. while carefully isolated from tho
eevathg influences OF its enterprises and its civic virtues
Reflect for moment upon the conditions under which
young OF the Indian tribes reared upon the
reservations First there Is tho spirit OF resessness
begotten OF Jieness .or U Is traditional and cherished
belief OF the Indian that labor Is degrading to man,
that IL IL the function OF to work and OF man H.
hunt and to fight Then again from his earliest child
ha IN fhe of
OF wrongs done by the whites to the Indians, and who
In the fervid elo1uence OF the chill o! nature tell
stories OF Indian prov which throw into the shade
Fastan's Of his single han led encounter with
eleven men In bue<ram on Kendall Green. Thus tho
young men fired wha thrst'lor glory and revenge
Ever AMI anon the vain essay Is made by these poor
Ignorant creatures the lost estate OF their
ancestors exchange the dull life OF panpcr for
that OF nonaiic No claim Il made to prophetic
wisdom In SAYING that In all probability the present
outbreaks thelast expiring efforts OF resistance
10 rhc Inevitable decree. that civilization has the right
Of way the future on this continent Throughout that
area lying between the lO0th meridian aud the
Sierra Nevada Range an greater In extent than the
portion of the United States situated east OF the
Mississippi River the Indian and the cowboy stand to-
Only twenty-five the bnhalo rcamcd over that
Pymontl Rock The Tndlans hat time generally
al owed upon tho approach OF sprag to wander on from
that immense their ancestors had done before
them. But thi is no longer permissible wonderful
I'M" worlds progress During the brief period OF n
OF wears five transconnenal railway lines have been
constructed with ntcflacln; branches Besides. about
the year 1866 the discovery was made that ON these
vast plains where the buffalo rrazed cattle and horses
water from the time they able 70 browse until they
ready TO be shipped to the great iyc stock narker OF
the INTERIOR Kansas city. ST. Louis and Chicago The
results OF that discovery aud Of constructing those lines
transport have becn Ia place that crc area as
completely within the dominion of intelisent enterprise
Is the OF Massachusetts The buffalo has diSp-
pearei aud the very indncemcnt to hunting has ceased
when the Indian attempts to capture cattle ana
and take the scalp of the settler or OF the COW
boy who stands for the defence Uf the Interests Of his
EMPLOYERS. he becomes n rohher ana mnrde,er nni
indian incur-ios upon ncss and herds and upon widely
settlements the cowboy II Rn armed man from
spoken OF treated sayasc Ihe tales which We have
heard OF cowboy oI'rags are iny macnon -, me me
en,re ~ civil law and bn.idc, the range and ranch
cattle business. organized into county district and
State associations that the cowboys have become
Thoroughly dIscpncd enh regulated class The greater
part of them yourg mea from the East Many ot
theIn educated gentlemen Thcy i've III an rfniar-
atng amosuhere, their outdoor ne on her-'lark J.
rroove OF health and phy-ical vieor "mi tue spice OF
danger which attend. their occupation inspires many
courage. Many of icr VIII dons arr but me harmless
pranks I'm which young men every hrr thke h.lgnt
Lawlcssnes. among them ha' been grcIt' aoaial sni
characters the and Of the "sen a. lhey present
themselves to-day upon that vast area ~ Tue Westtne
Indian scoruing hoaest labor, paIper upon ths
National Government ietherci by restraints acSlshcd
indnsifons aud ne.t worker carnis hi bread by
ardaoas and honorable occupation niepenieni. chiv
area the pioneer OF civilization and OF commerce.
Throighout that region property interests nave
air. ady been created to the value of stOOOpooOD,
which interests as deserving ot ratcctlon by mo
National Government against Indian deIredaion- ~ i
the property OF the citizens 0f New YORK CITY ny their
municipal government aeainst The depr,dhtcls 9i
thieves aud robbers The progress ot civilization forbid.
that we should longer permit TIC Iudau To roam beyond
the borders OF his reservation a. nomahic SAVAGE
Any line o pulley which permits this IA false 10 the best
Interests humanity. and j. deserving OF seyecst repro
baiion The total Indian population Is now lnsgnihcant
I'm proportion the white population even within the
limits Of the area OF their possible dcprcdatons Let rs
deal with the Indian question In the spirit or human
kindness bat remember that must be Just 10 our
fellow countrymen well generous 20 our ~a the
aborgines has been dutv recently. In compliance
with resolution OF the House of Representatives, to
nvestgate and discuss tho Important questions which
have arisen during the past few years. touching uie
disposition tho public lands. and 10 express views ~ Ia
the wasteful and dempraZng policy OF cxcmpting from
setteinen In tho Indian Territory AMI on Some OF the
larger reservations tracts Of land four or i've times a.
large a. tho Indians require The acquisition OF the
tile 10 land In the great interior has iad some abnormal
deyeopr cnt- whlrh especially cal, for legislative and
administrative action These burning questions OF
the day aud demand the earnest attention OF Congress
and OF the Administrations Th,y now being inye-u
gated committees OF the Senate ani House of Repro
sentayes and Il n To- be hoped that the Iubc press
will 40 uso ts mighty influence as 10 gn'l the public
sentiment 10 rignt cQncluslons. JOSEPH AiMho, JR
Washington. July 20, 1888.