Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-07

49, OeVS<saA8 - 49, = AA8s
m SEES NO REASON TO KxrRcr ANY UPRISING IN
TIE sPRINo-rHE INDIANS NEED THEIR ARMS
AND HAVE NOT ATTACKED WHITE sKrrLERs-
How TO PREVENT ruRrHEs rsoUELE
Recently Gen. Morgan. the commissioner Of
Indian affairs, was requested by the Secretary
Of the Interior to give an expression Of visws
upon the Communication Of the governor of
South Dakota urging the disarming Of the In
dams in that state In his reply Gen. Morgan
states:
The reasons for disarming the Indians are
obvious and weighty, viz, to prevent them
from going on the warpath and to quiet the
fears Of white settlers in their vicinity. II
thought there was really serious danger Of any
considerable number Of Indians going upon the
warpath, or that the surest way Of preve nting
any Indians from becoming hostile was to dis
arm all, should be very slow to interpose any
objection to the measure. II I felt that white
settlers were in serious danger Of attack by the
Indians and was convinced that their safety
demanded the action above suggested could
not we'll resist it.
NO DANGER or An uramNa.
But 90 far % my knowledge extends I can
hardly believe that there il now any serious
danger Of an Indian uprising. I believe the
Indians to be for the most part inclined to
peace and ayerse to war. They are sufficiently
intelligent to understand ct what fearful disad-
vantage they would be in q war with the United
States. They know our vast resources and are
conscious Of their own weakness. Moreover
many reasons which have existed among them
for discomfort can be, and by congressional ac-
ton just had win 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 Indians have attacked
no white people in their homes, nor. 50 far o.
know, have they seriously threatened their
peace.
Those who have been or are really hostile
should unquestionably be disarmed and their
leaders severely punished. But during the late
trouble in Dakota the great body Of the Sioux
were friendly, and the innocent should
not suffer with the guilty. To
make no distinction in the treatment Of Indians
who took part in the hostilities and those who
remained loyal, many Of whom suffered for
their loyalty, would be an act of injustice,
which an Indian is as quick to recognize and
resent as a white man.
HARDSHIP TO THE INDIANS.
1t would be great hardship 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 I
say it only after very careful deliberation and
greatly fear that the Indians would not
be safe, either in their. persons or their prop
erty, If it were known that they were entirely
without means of self-defense. Recent sad
events in Dakota, where it is said that women
and little children were shot down by soldiers
OF the United States army and others were
ambushed and slain without provocation by
citizens lsee correspondence in WASHINGTON
STAR Of January rs, 1891, have shown us how
Pitifully defenseless these poor creatures might
he If wholly unarmad and unahla 70
themselves.
To disarm the Indians generally and leave
the whole body of the Sioux smiling under a
sense OF helplessness and wrong would tend to
produce among them a widespread feeling of
irritation, unrest and distrust, disastrous not
only to the peace and prosperity of the Indians
but liable in itself to bring about the very
danger which the disarming is intended to
prevent.
For should the arms that they now possess
be forcibly taken from them there il 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 and ammunition which they are able
TO pay for.
HOW TROUBLE CAN BIZ PREVENTED.
The prevention of future trouble lies, it seems
to me, first, in treating them justly and kindly:
second, in maintaining among them wel-dis-
SAfAAuSo, puu, NA6AoAt pOAiCc
force and lastly in keeping at exposed points
a small garrison o. troops, sufficient in case Of
great emergency Of maintaining order and
protecting both Indians and whites.
In view Of these considerations therefore, /
feel constrained to advise against the general
disarming of the Indians.
THE APAcHEs IN ARIzoNA
A request was received at the Interior De-
partment from the acting governor of Arizona
urging the disarmament of the Apache In
dians in that territory. This request was re-
ferred to the War Department and thence
through the military channels. 1t has been re-
turned with the recommendation of the
various army officers from a lieutenant to the
major general commanding, and all unite in
opposing such a measure. Capt. Bulls of the
twenty-fourth infantry, acting Indian agent at
San Carlos agency; First Lieut. C. P. johnson,
tenth cavalry, in charge Of the subagency.
Fort Apache; Capt Lewis johnson, twenty
fourth infantry, commanding the military
post: Gen. McCook, the general commanding
the department Of Arizona. Gen. Schofield. the
major general commanding Of the army, and
finally Secretary Proctor all unite in the view