The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-04
The Indian War.

notwithstanding the treaohery OF the In
dians since the trouble with them began,
there is feeling throughout the country
that the government is partly. if not wholly,
| 20 blame for tbs war that is now I'm progress
in the northwest. The Indians. OF course,
inaugurated the war. but the question is.
were they not goadsd into it by the treat
ment they have received from the govern
ment and the hitss who live in the vicin-
| ity Of the reservationsf
Thegovsrnment very naturally insists that
it has done its whole duty, sad the white
settlers will not admit that they have been
guilty OF wrong-doing of any kind. The
Indians, however, are unanimous in their
complaints that the promises made to them
have not been kept, and that they had 10
adopt some course TO avoid being robbed Of
all they possessed and starved 10 death. The
English newspapers seem to think that the
view which the Indians present Of their case
is the correct one.
A few days ago the MORNING NEWS pub-
lished statement made by the old chief
Red Cloud, which, IL true, showed a coudi.
tion Of affairs far from creditable to the
government Yesterday the dispatches Of
the MORNING NEWS contained statement
by Father Craft, the Catholic Indian mis-.
sionary, who is now at Pine Ridge agency,
and who has been closely associated with the
Indians for years he knows their griev.
ances and is qualified to say whether there
is foundation for them or not Father
Craft declares that the Indians hoped for
much aid from the government to enable
them to become like the whites, but that
they were abused, Knocked and discouraged.
They regarded themselves as the victims OF
INSCRIPTIONS politicians, who benefited by
their misery.
All fair-minded mon who are in position
to know the treatment which the Indians
have received talk in the same way. They
unite in saying that the Indians have been
dealt with outrageously. What wonder is
1t that the Indians have become maddened,
and prefer death to existence under such
conditions. They deliberately invited death
when they attacked the troops because
they knew that any advantage they might
gain would be only temporary.
But notwithstanding the fact that it has
been so clearly demonstrated that the inte-
rior departments management of the In
dams has been such a conspicuous failure
the secretary of that department resented
holly the suggestion made in the cabinet
the other day that the Indian bureau should
be transferred to the war department.. His
wishes in the matter however, ought not to
be regarded. He has shown his incapacity to
carry out the intention Of congress with re-
spect to the Indians, and there ought to be
no hesitation, therefore, in making change
which growing sentiment throughout the
country seems to think desirable.
If management of the Indians were
given to the army a great many of them
could be utilized in one way and an
other. They make excellent scouts, and
some Of them, doubtless, would make good
soldiers. Perhaps they would take pride in
being connected with the army. II so, en-
llstment in the army could be made a re-
ward for good behavior.
But, after all, it is apparent that more
liberal policy will have to be adopted in
dealing with the Indians The time IS rap
idly approaching when they must cease to
lead the life Of savages The territory open
to them is becoming too small for existence
of that kind. They must be taught to adapt
themselves to civilization. The Indians
of the Indian territory have been so taught,
and so can the Indians of the northwest be.
Patience and fair dealing on the part Of
agents Of the government are necessary,
however, and of these little, apparently.
has been known in the northwest.