The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-10
An Angry SECRETARY.

is reported 70 have displayed great deal
/ Of temuer az the cabinet meeting at which
the President determined TO put army
officers in charge OF the Indian agencies.
The order a. first included all the agencies
in the northwest, but was modified 50 as 70
include only the Pine Ridge agency.
The order ought to have stood as it was
| originally made. There are good reasons
/ for thinking that the Indian agents are re-
! spOnsible for the present outbreak Of the
| Indians. The country is not correctly in
formed with respect TO them IL the most OF
them are not politicians, who are more in
terested IN making money than they are in
administering the affairs Of their agencies
honestly and faithfully.
1t may be said that the entire policy Of
the government with respect to the Indians
is a mistaken one. and that the true policy is
to teach the Indians to become self-suppore-
ing. Whether the present policy is a mis-
taken one or not is not the question at
present. That question will be brought
forward, doubtless, after the In
dams have been brought hack
to their reservations and placed under
proper restraint The thing to be done
now is to provide for a satisfactory man
agement Of the affairs of the Indians under
the present system. The President seems
to have reached the conclusion that such
management cannot be had as long as the
Indian agencies are in charge Of men ap-
pointed BY the interior department.
Doubtless Secretary Noble is sincere in
asserting that the Indian agents have done
their whole duty. But what does he know
about the marterl He relies wholly upon
the reports made to him by these agents
and the COVE. nment INSPECTORS who period
ically visit them. But may not the inspectors
be as incompetent as the agents and fully as
unfit for their positionsi All Of them, it is
safe to say, secured their appointments for
political services. They have no interest in
the Indians. Their aim is TO draw their
salaries and make as much money as they
can while they have the opportunity.
Gen Miles has made the charge tins and
time again that one Of the great causes of
dissatisfaction among the Indians is the
treatment they receive from the agents.
The government means to keep its agree
ments with the Indians, but does not do so
because its agents are not faithful to their
trust
The putting of army officers in charge of
the agencies will be change for the bet
ter. They will at least see to it that the
Indians get ali that the government appro-
PIRATES to them. There will be no ques-
tionable practices under their management.
They may not show much sympathy for
the Indians and m ay be exceedingly strict,
aud even harsh, in their management of
them, but they viii deal with them hon
estly.
The Indian is not a very desirable Great
ure to have anything to do with. He has
no qualities that excite sympathy or create
desire to assist him in lettering his condi.
ton. He would much rather kill white
man than not He is so treacherous that he
will shoot one in the back, even when pre-
tending TO be on friendly terms with him.
Hence, throughout the country, there is
quite general feeling that the only good
Indians are dead Indians.
But the government cannot undertake to
make all the Indians good Indians in ac-
cordance with this feeling. 1t cannot afford
even TO be unjust in Its treatment Of them.
The killing Of women and children at the
battle of Wounded Knee creek, although it
seems to have been unavoidable, has been
very severely criticised both in this country
and Europe.
The management of the Indians is I'M
doubtedly full of difficulties, one of the
greatest Of which is to get honest and COM
petent men for agents. Notwithstanding
the Secretary of the Interiors opposition, it
is to be hoped army officers will be given
charge of the Indian agencies. Let us see
if they will not be an improvement upon
the politicians