Arizona weekly citizen., 1891-07-18
THE INDIAN QUESTION.

4aO A0OrsAOa VI VIC
the indian has absorbed the attentio
OF the best and ablest OF the caucasia
race ever since the discovery Of thi
continent. Different policies have bee
adopted at different periods by the gov
eminent Of the United States, accord
ing to the prevailing ideas held by tn
several administrations upon the sub
lect. However, the general policy es
tsblished for the past half century o.
longer, has been to improve his condi
tion through education, embracing th
ruaIments OF the English language anG
the cultivation of the habits OF industry
substituting the modes of civilized liz,
for those of savagery, that instead o
being predatory nomad, dependent up
on the spoils Of conquest and the un
certain fruits of the chase, he might be
taught the practical advantages Of a re-
lance upon honest labor for his hVeli-
hood. That the aim Of the government
has, in the main, been upright and com
nCAdoOlC III toicA1h hlLI III lllc
scale of progress admits of no doubt,
but that the plan has, in a large major
itv Of GASES, been badly administered is
equally IS certain.
We are well aware there are amongst
US many who profess to believe that
there are mo good Indians except dead
ones,. but We ace inclined to the opin-
ion that this radical notion has arisen
from too limited survey of the sub
ject. or from the prejudices which the
inhumsn cruelty and treschery of some
tribes-most notably the Apache-has
sngendered. At the risk of running
counter to some Of the popular ideas of
the day We maintain that there are
many good indians who have not shuffied
OF the mortal coil, and, without in the
least justifying any OF the deeds Of
savagery for which he is accountable,
we incline to wonder that there are not
more bad Indians scattered over the
American continent than is to be found.
We must remember that at the coming
or our race they were in an uncul.i-
y4ted state OF nature, and the good and
elevating Influences that have been ex-
trted in his favor have, in far too many
cases, been counterscted by the most
Pernlcious in the catalogue of the evil
propensities OF man. The very worst
and most abandoned of our race, have,
In the main, been thrown in closest con
tsot with the red race, whereby he has
become an adept in our vices which are
more seductive to coarse nature than
virtue, and the good seed sown by teach
ers and missionaries as well as the good
example o: others has In a great measure
failed Of its benign object. The
policy OF the United States as stated
above, is believed to be good, but the |
manner OF carrying it out is open to Sc
rious question. Bring the matter down |
TO local standpoint, We denounce the |
idea or the government permitting the
Indian the use of or what is still worse,
furnishing him with firearms, especially |
such tribes as has proven troublesome
10 their white neighbors. Tribal rela-
tions must be broken up as speedily |
Rs possible and land should be assigned |
TO them in severalty-an In alienable |
heritage. Nothing less than this is in
accord with the duty of government in
behalf OF its recognized wards. Then |
our system of agency needs reconstruc-
tion, or a more careful selection OF |
agents endowed with greater honesty
and integrity than is commonly found |
among them. TO accomplish the latter
object more strict adherence TO the
civil service principle is the only
remedy. AS the appointment Of the
Indian agent shall depend solely upon
the efficiency Of service rendered in po-
litical caucus, primaries and at the polls,
regardless OF other elements OF fitness,
30 long will tie charge Of robbery Of In
dian annuities to aprease the avarice
Of the agent, continue undisputed |
and the most formidable difficulty
stand in the way of a satisfactory |
and peaceful settlement OF one of the
most important problems within
which our government has to deal. |
There is no go-between policy that is |
worthy OF our advanced age OF CiviliZa- (
ton. We must either recognize tho
Indian as human being susceptible of
or accept the other alter
native that he is not, and adapt our
treatment accordingly. Tha. the for
mer theory is beyond question the
correct one there would appear
no room to question. Then to
sum up from the basis Of reasoning,
let the Indian be treated with justice
and nrmness. Continue our school sys
teu and extend the industrial branch
that the time may be hastened when
the amnesty Eystem NAY be Topped off. |
Let him be protected in the rights
Sus-nnteed him by the government, and |
WHEN guilty Of any crime or misdemean-
or let him be punished with equal
severity to that meted out to our own
race. 1t begins to appear that our gov
eminent has awakened to the common |
sense idea that when there is threaten |
ed outbreak, prompt and decisive action
TO quell it is the true method for adop- |
tion. Such was the commendable course |
pursued by General Miles last winter
in suppressing the insurrection in Ds-
kots, and just recently the same policy
on the part OF Gen. McCook has Eeen
successful In dispelling the Indian war
cloud that began to again darken the
horizon of our fair territory.