Wichita eagle., 1886-12-23

: other commissioners met the representative,
of the Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Kiowa
7 Comanches and Apacbes. at the poir
where the city Of Medicine Lodge no,
stands, in 1857, it was with feeling on th
part of the Indians at least, that the sam
old policy of fighting one year and treatin
the next. was to be maintained. So indi1
ferent were many tribes that they barrel
had representation at that council TIL
Cheyennes and Arrapahoes in particula
were SO little concerned as to send only
few to represent their interests, and from
the indifference then shown they hav
ever since suffered, in that the total pop
ulation Of the tribes was estimated from
the relative numerical strength of each rep
resentation, and while the Cheyennes ant
Arapahoes far outnumbered any others
they were credited with the reason giver
Comanches, who happened to be strong
| ly represented, and all subsequent
appropriations by congress for the support
of the various tribes in this Territory, being
based on the terms of the treaties there
made, the consequence has been to give
the smaller tribes the larger appropriations.
The terms of the treaty of 1867 provided
for the education of all the children under
a certain age, the establishment amongst
them Of schools, shops for repairs, store
house for clothing and annuities and in
struction in agricultural pursuits. But
contrary to the generally understood idea,
not one dollars worth of subsistence was
guaranteed or even promised. Yet, prob
ably under the opinion that it was and still
is, cheaper to feed than to fight them, for
the one was then contingent on the other,
congress has annually appropriated large
sums of money, usually aggregating about
$500, 900 yearly, for the subsistence of
these Indians. This is purely gratuitous
issue. No provision of any treaty provides
for it, and the only warrant for it is the
generous sentiment of the people as ex-
pressed by their representatives in con
gress.
The policy inaugurated by General
Grant has been steadily, if not at all times
thoroughly, kept as the controlling policy
Of our dealings with the Indian and after
seventeen years of trial, can be pronounced |
greater success, than its most ardent as
ociates at any time dared to hope.
That policy included the discipline of
he warrior, as well as the Christianization
# him, and so all outbreaks have been
met and vigorously put down
% this end the government has expended
billions of money and valuable lives have
cen sacrificed, but the frontiers of Kansas,
'exas, Colorado, Nebraska and other states
on the Indian reservations are ]
ljoying perfect immunity from the hor-
,rs of savage warfare When once sub
led the Indian has been taught the ways
civilization, and while progress is neces-
rily slow, the movement will gather
eed as it progresses. The next step
ould be the allotment of land in several ?
=. Already bill looking to this end has
used the lower house of congress That
easure, rs there laid down, does not go :
r enough. 1t is a compromise, and COM
omises are fatal. The allotments should
compulsory in the discretion eff the au-
critics, and not optional with the Indians.
20 many of the older men are still living
exert their influence in opposition
lere are too few progressive and enlight-
ed Indians to make the law as indicated
present successful There should be no
ceptions. Certainly the object to be at
ned is the guarding of the just rights of \
2 Indians by securing them homes in
7eralty, with the ultimate object =
opening up of all left surplus,
the operation of the law
white settlement Why should there be
,cial exceptions made in favor of the
erokees, Chickasaws, Greeks and others
re capable, by far, of assuming all the =
lies of citizenship than those directly af- .
ted by this act. True, they hold their
d in common, by patent from the gov
ment, while the Others hold only by
ity or executive order Special legisla- -
l may be needed to affect this and it
y be necessary to purchase their surplus "A
DIS. but the great factor in the perma- ID
It settlement of the Indian question is
incorporation in the body polite of
Sc people; bring them from state of
rdship to citizenship, with all its rights
privileges. and making them amenable
he civil as well as to the criminal laws
he country.
he present policy of dealing with the i
der Indians contemplatcs scattering
N by small colonies over the reserva
IS, choosing for them the most arabic
is, placing with each colony practical
ner who shall have charge of them, as
as be instructor for them, and by en-,
ragement and example locate each fam V
upon farm where subsequently he
build his cabin and gradually make
family the unit Of organization, break
up the band and tribal system, as it has
etoforc existed. The project is
ible and good, but its success
ends In great measure, on III
energy. ability and chararacter
he instructor with each colony These L
ians are obedient, tractable and to a
ain extent ambitious, under proper Hs
lage, but the wrong men can easily
0 all the good that the right one has