St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-08
He Believes the Bucks In
clined to Peace and
: Avepse to War.
Dangerous Leaders Might Be
Disarmed. But Not the
Friendlies.
The Remains Of the Late Sen.
atOr Hearst Sent to
California.

uioH diIdlIS, WAS requested Dy Une Secre-
tary of the interior to give an expression
OF views upon the communication of
the governor of South Dakota urging
the disarming of the Indians in that
state. In his reply Gen. Morgan states:
The reasons for disarming the Indians
are obvious and weighty, viz, to pre-
vent them from going on the warpath
and to quiet the fears of white settlers
in their vicinity. If thought there was
really serious danger OF any considera-
BILE number of Indians going upon
the warpath, or that the surest way of
preventing any Indians from becoming
hostile was to disarm all, should be
very SLOW to interpose any objection to
the measure. If felt that white settlers
were in any serious danger of attack
by the Indians and was convinced that
suggested, l could not well resist it.
But, so far as my knowledge extends,
can hardly believe that there is now
any serious danger of an Indian upris-
ing. l believe the Indians to be for the
most part inclined to peace and averse
to war. They are sufficiently intelligent
to understand at what
AFearfuI Disadvantage
they would be in war with the United
States. They know our vast resources,
and are conscious of their own weak
ness. Moreover, many reasons which
have existed among them for discomfort
can be, and by congressional action
just had will be, removed. The settlers
in the vicinity of the reservation have
been frightened, ,and not without reason,
and yet during all the excitement. and
in spite of bitter prOvocation, the In
dianf have attacked no white people in
their homes, nor, SO far as know, have
they seriously threatened their peace.
Those who have been, or are really
hostiles oL-cec; unquestlonably be
disarm No11v1air leaders severely
punislIRnsuI 'ss!i;.ing the late trouble
in Oak 10 salqsuMol II body of the Sioux
were floo eousInsuI ale innocent should
not sui oL-0l9 H guilty. To make no
distinc4epur-.- the treatment of Indians
who TOOK part in the hOstilitieS and
those who remained loyal, many of
whom suffered for their loyalty, would
De an act of injustice, which an lnaian
is as quick to recognize and resent as
white man. 1t would be great hard
ship to these Indians to lose their arms.
which they greatly prize. They use
them in slaughtering their cattle, in
hunting and in sport. 1t is with some
hesitation that | say, and l say it only
after
Very Careful DeIiberatiOn
and with sincere sorrow that it must be
said, that greatly fear that the Indi-
ans would not be safe. either in their
persons or their property, if it were
known that they were entirely without
means of self-defense. Recent sad
events in Dakota, where it is said that
women ami little children were shot
down by soldiers of the United States
army and others were ambushed and
slain without prOvocation by citizens
have shown US how pitifully defense
less these poor creatures might be if
wholly unarmed and unable to protect
themselves. To disarm the Indians
generally and leave the whole body
Of the Sioux Smartlng under sense of
helplesSness and wrong would tend
to produce among them a widespread
feeling of irritation, unrest and dis
trust, disastrous not only to the peace
and prosperity of the Indians, but liza
able in Itself to bring about the very
danger which the disarming is intend
ed to prevent. For should the arms
from them, there is nothing either in
the law or in the habits of the people
surrounding them to prevent them
from arming themselves anew at the
earliest opportunity by purchasing
from the whites all the arms aud ammu-
milton which they are able to pay for. q,
The prevention of future trouble lies,
it seems. 10 me, first, in treating
them justly and kindly; second,
in maintaining among them
well disciplined, and suitably
paid, vigilant Indian police force. and
lastly in keeping at exposed points
small garrison of troops, sufficient in
case of great emergency of maintaining
whites. In view of these considerations,
therefore, l feel constrained to advise
against the general disarming of the
Indians.
Indian Enlistment.
The general order issued by Secretary
Proctor in regard to the enlistment of
1900 Indians in the army Is as follows:
The following named companies now
skeletonized, namely, troop l. of each of the
cavalry regiments except the Ninth and
Tenth) and Company l of each of the in
fantry regiments Except the Sixth, Eleventh.
Fifteenth. Nineteenth. Twenty-fourth and
Twenty -fifth) will be recruited by the enlist
ment of Indians to the number of twenty-five
for each troop and company. Whenever
practicable, the enlistment for each regiment
will be made within the department in which
the regimental headquarters are located The
officers, in making such enlistments will be
governed by existing laws and regulations;
but d competent knowledge of the English
language need not be Considered an essential
qualification. and ma fied men not exceed
ing ten for each troop or company
may be enlisted with the approval
of the department commander. Enlist
ments of Indians under the provisions of
this order will be distinguished from enlist
ments of Indian scouts. Regimental COM
manders may, with the approval of the prop
er department commander, temporarily at
tach TO the Indian companies such officers as
are especially fitted for service herewith
Ultimately, on-commissioned officers for
these companies will be supplied by the ap-
pointment of Indians, in the manner indi-
Gated by regulations; but, until this is practi-
cal, available nOn-commlsSiOned officers of
either of the skeleton companies of a regi-
ment may be utilized or, if necessary, non
commissioned officers from organized COM
panies of the regiment may be temporarily
detailed. The number or enlisted Indian
scouts viii be reduced without unnecessary
delay TO l50, apportioned as follows among
the several departments: Dakota, 25; Platte
%: Missouri, 25; Texas, 10; Arizona 50 Col
umbia, 10.
Jack Arrives in Washington.
WASHINGTON, March For some