Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-24
WHAT 20 No WITH THE INDIANS.
ytev. of n Promineut Army O2eer.


PRESENT sYsfEM-rHH 11hsr LESSON II
rHx1R CIvrl1xArfoR-rNsrRuC As 10
THE DIGNITY or LABOR
1--WE have NO trouble with the Indians lust
now" said prominent army officer to STAR
reporter the other day; ''but there 10 no telling
when or where they Will become dissatisfied
and give us trouble.
have an idea," he continued, "that this Cd.
ministration will take hold of this Indian oues.
ton aud settle IL; settle IT, mean, SO far as to
pursue q course of treatment of the Indians
that will make them selfsupporting, or nearly
So II we owe them anything now is to see
that they do not suffer for want of food and to
do the best we can to civilize them and to teach
them 70 earn their own living. There is no
doubt about 1t, they are not properly fed, and
yet plenty Of money 10 spent 70 purchase their
supplies, but is not expended in the right way,
even II honestly. What Is the best way of Rur-
tfibuting them?"
THE coMAIssARY DEPARTMENT SHOULD PuR-
CHASE THE sUPPLIE8.
"As 70 the former, never could zee why the
eommissary department Of the army could not
purchase the supplies for the Indians as well as
for the soldiers. There is an officer Of the COM
mssars department stationed at st. Paul to
purchase pork, at Minneapolis to purchase flour
and at some other place--New York or Balti-
more OF whefsver there IS tine oes. marketHto
would it be for these officers to double or Quad.
ripple their purchases, aud supply the Indians
What a saving in expenses there would be-
There would be the same system for purchas-
Ing, transportation and distribution
ABUSES UNDER THE PRESENT SYSTEM.
at often happens now that the Indian sup
plies run out In certain quarters, and then
there is trouble. This would never happen If
they should get soldiers food. The soldiers are
10 Ind
they never have to go without food because OF
an inability to get il to them. By this means
the of ss supplies would
for soldiers It is good pork, not ali Of the animal
from snout 70 tail with bones thrown in. Care
the Indians and in teaching them how to an.
portion them. II you give an Indian ten days
rations at once, what will he do with theme
stuffed, and his rations will be gone in day or
two. would give him enough for one day at
time and teach him to apportion 1t among
hts family. Then give him two days rations,
and finally q weeks rations at time. In this
way he will learn the principles of demand
and supply"
CORN NEAL BETTER THAN FLOUR FOR TIE
RED MEN.
at was always a great mistake anyhow to
issue flour to Indians. That is an article that
is more difficult than anything else for them te
cook In good shape. The bread made by them
Is nothing more than dough, aud indigestible
should have been given cornmeal instead o
-four. Nobody can fail to make wholesome corn
bread. After mastering cornmeal cooking
they could perhaps be more successful witt
-four. Still flour is not as bad as some Of theil
supplies"
DINNER BELLS AND CASToES, BUT NOTHING
TO EAT.
81 have heard of a barrel Of dinner bells bein,
sent out to the Navajo Indians. They have
them now at the agency am told as curiosi
ties. What does an Indian care about dinne
bell? have heard, too, Of load of castor
being sent to the Indians with all the bottles
belonging to them missing. No wonder tat
Indians are dissatisfied sometimes"
TAKE AWAY THE INDIANS FIRE ARMS AM
TEACH HIM TO WORK.
''The next step after supplying an Indian.
animal wants is TO civilize him and teach hin
to be self supporting. Perhaps this can not b,
done thoroughly. Or 1t is slow work. Thint
how gradual our own civilization was. Tn,
prevalent idea OF civiIiZing Indians is to pu
them on a reservation and keep them Within
its bounds. The only way 10 do it is to dignity
labor in their eyes. Take away their fire arms
as there is TO game for them now, and let then
see that he among them who work the best ha
the most comforts. The young ones should b,
sent TO the Indian schools, where they ar,
taught to be skillful mechanics. Whereve
possible would substitute the native mechan
les for the skilled Iaborers who are kept at tn,
agencies. In this way the Indians would sc,
not attain it they might hope their children
could. The only sure method of making pro
gress towards civilization of the Indfan
is to dignity labor in their eyes, The,
naturally despise it and make Ahei
squaws perform all that is necessary Tle,
can be taught that 1t Is not undignif1ed for IN,
buck to go out and chop the wood for his sQu&sv
to get dinner with. 1t may take good whh,
to do 1t, but believe it can be done. There hsA
to be radical change of the present treatment
and, as said, think the present administra
ton will take the matter in hand. In the nrs
place the Indian ring will have TO be broken up
1t Will take good deal Of nerve to do Ii, but
believe our present President has got tina
nerVen