New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-11
THE TROUBLE NTH THE NATAJO&

The reports regarding apprchenSonS OF al
outbreak of Navajo Indians III the southwest
direct attention again to certain peculiar hard
ships which have been borne with remarkable
natjence by n powerful tribe. There arc now
obout 20. 600 Navafos and 5000 armed war
riors can be placed in the field. Their power
is greater than that of the ApacheS, and yet,
since their defeat by Kit Carson nearly quar-
ter of century ago, they have kept the peace.
Unlike many other tribes they have devoted
themselves to peaceful callings. They are u
race of nomadic herdsmcn, and their wealth
in cattle, horses, sheep and goats Is surprisingly
great. Moreover, they have considerable de-
gree of manual skill. which has been shown in
the fine blankets which they weave and IN the
work of their silverSmiths. Nevertheless, the
peacefulness and exceptional industry OF thcSe
interesting Indians have not prevented az
gressionS and complications which have be-
come a serious trial of patience.
II may be said that the present trouble is duo
primarily to the inadequacy OF the reservation,
which is in Northeastern Arizona and North
western New Mexico, for the support OF tho
large hocks and herds owned by the NayaJos.
Recognizing this inadcquacy. tho military au-
tho.ities have tacitly permitted tho Indians
10 seek pasturago and water outside Of the
reservation limits. As the number OF whitc
settlers increased there were disputes between
Indians and settlers regarding the right to land
and springs which were necessary for the sup
port of tho cattle and sheep owned by the
former although they were used by the Indians
without any legal title. Another cause OF
trouble was an order issued at Washington i'll
MAY 1881. which took from the reservation a
strip of <nd in Northeastern Ncw-McNico, north
of the san Juan River. settlers Immediately
crowded upon the land and shut oG the Indians
from the river, thu, making the adjoining part
of the reservation unnhabitable for distance
of fifty miles. Tho forbcarancc of the Indians
under the circumstances was recognized IN tho
rcport of Commissioner Atkins In lNNG the
land was restored TO the Indians, but many oi
the settlers refused at first TO surrender their
holdings despite the offer of compensation. and
their hostility to the Indians was greatly IN
creased. Under these conditions friction Is
unavoidable. The latest cause OF trouble !,
the killing of an Indian by a cowboy, and the
neglect Of "A demand for tho arrest and thai
of the murderer or tho payment Of m indcm-
nity. If the cowboy had been killed there
would have been cllnor for III" mastering
OF troops and for summary vengeance but a
dead Indian or two is nOt commonly regarded
as a matter Of consequence in the Far south
west We ar told that San Juan County fears
an outbreak. and that 800 armed warriors ara
in camp ready for an attack upon the settlers
along the lower San Juan and the Las AnimaS.
But We have 10 idea that any outbreak viii
80, t1,r- .,fffl Ia
western reports with CORPORATIONS, due 10 tho
general hatred of Indians or indirectly inspired
bv a desire for the profitable market caused
by the presence Of troops. Moreover we hnd
Il stated that the Indians with remarkable for
bcarance have laid their case before the COM
handing officer at Fort Lewis Col. the near
est military post.
Nevertheless. il is clear that the present COM
plicatiOns Will cause serious trouble sooner or
later As the case stands, the Indians cannot
live within their reservation, and the Whte
settlers intend that they shall not 20 outside
Two remedies have been proposed One J.,
the enlargement Of the reservation, and joe
other is the employment Of irrigation on
large scale 10 reclaim the tract, of barren
land within the reservation limits. 1hl, plan
has been recommended by military officers
tyho have investigated the conditions and con-
Quoted experiments. The success OF irrigation
elsewhere in the West iu,tilic. confidence III
this plan. 50 far rs it goes. II is Obvious. how
ever, that any measure Of relief must bc put
into practical operation at once, since The dan
gers Of the present situation are Increasing
daily. II is also plain that no permanent re-
lief can be afforded until the Indians possess
an indisputable title to their land, and this
seems a favorable time for the allotment Of
land to them in scycralty. Their nomadic
habits may offer peculiar difficulties, but we
think that an allotment could be- made which
would at least secure the independence Of each
Navajo and his equal rights 50 far as white
settlers are concerned.