Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-22
WHAT SHALL THE POLICY BE,

Secretary Noble has expressed what
must be presumed to be the policy, in
part at least, of the administration re-
garding the Indians. He thinks they
have no Legitimate use for firearms and
should be deprived of them. This is
now being done, and although progress
the Indians will be completely disarmed.
There can be no question regarding the
expediency Of this course, but something
more is necessary The well-armed
braves did not obtain their guns
and ammunition from the govern
ment, but by purchase from private
dealers. If there is u way to prevent
them doing this again it should be pro-
vided. A bill was offered in congress
short time ago prohibiting, under PEN
alties, the sale of firearms to Indians. If
congress has the authority to enact such
legislation it should certainly do SO, for
without such safeguard many of the In
dians will assemble again ana supply
themselves with arms, and an armed
Indian is apt to be dangerous under
almost any circumstances. They
do not need guns, but there
is hardly anything they more
eagerly covet, and the only safe plan, if
it be practicable, is to prevent them get
ting the weapons by interdicting their
sale to Indians. The states can do this
if congress cannot
The secretary of the interior is in favor
OF making the Indians work for their
l;,,;, ;,,gt tl,l>, To la;n
| They are strong, abled-bodied men, he
says, of average intelligence, and there
is no reason why they should not earn
| their bread, They should. be treated
with perfect fairness and justice,
but work should enter largely
into any policy or scheme
for their civilization. Everybody
will concur in these views who has
an intelligent knowledge OF the situa-
tion. The Indian policy for some years
has contemplated the ultimate attain
ment OF this condition Of making the In
dians self-supporting, and the results
show that good progress has been made.
1t is reasonable to believe that more
would have been accomplished if perfect
fairness and justice had been observed,
but there is abounding evidence that
such has not been the case. Not
only has the government failed
to keep its contracts, one
proof of which is found in
the legislation only just effected to
carry out the agreement of the Sioux
commission made more than year ago,
but it is not questioned that for several
years the Indians have been wronged by
agents of the government, and that the
injustice and unfairness practiced had
grown to grave proportions. This state
Of affairs begun under the preceding ad-
ministration, and the attempt TO remedy
it by replacing the official chiefly re-
sponsible was unfortunately not success
full The very serious consequences
cannot justly be charged to
the present administration, which
has shown a most earnest desire to i'm
prove the Indian service, advance the
educational work, and to push the diff
cult task of inducing the Indians to
accept the requirements and conditions
OF civilization.
There is a very considerable public
sentiment in favor OF transferring the
control Of the Indians to the war de.
partment and bringing them entirely
under military direction, but the reason
ing of the advocates of this policy is not
conclusive eithe. as to its wisdom or
necessity. The civil authority will be
fully able to solve the prob
lem OF Indian civilization II politics
, shall be wholly excluded from the ad.
ministration of Indian affairs, and this