New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-17
AZ HONOR1BLE yICTORT.

Az HONORABLE yICTORY.
Unless something shall occur now past mag
ming. the Indian War is over IL has been IN
many WAYS a remarkable contest, and remark
able in nothing more than in the o1GaclOuS con
duct and wholesome influence of the army
The commanding general has behaved through
ont with great Judgment 1t is scarcely too
much to say that he ha, been in full control OF
the difficulty az every stage of its Development
lie was close observer Of It's origin. He knew
its causes its varying extent over the Indian
country and the mental. moral and military
value Of every chief and every band involved.
1t was equally fortunate that the country hau
i'm its President man whose acquaintance WIN
Indian affairs was also thorough and derived
from extensive travels through the lcrnl"iic>'
The President was in position, by reason OF
his own experience and knowledge, 10 dpfe-
cia,e the value of every military and every
administrative suggestion. To these two CIR
cumstances, in principal degree, Is the country
indebted for the happy results described Ill
this mornings dispatches.
The surrender of the Indians appears 10 I've
made with no conditions that compromise the
authorities in dealing with those who arc proved
10 be climinally responsible for any OF the out
RACES that have occurred. In our last trouble
with the Sioux we taught them to believe that
strife Wa. profitable; that whcn they felt them
selves aggrlcved or when they wished 20 secure
any concession, OF advantages, all they had TO
do was u Kill Il few whites, burn few chulcheS
and ranches. Dive oil public and private stock
and threaten a big war. THIS sort OF cohducI
with much that was worse had been rewarded
in the past. and they were poor lo@GanS II thcy
did not think it would be cificaclOuS AGAIN
probablv their faith has been good deal
shaken bv General MIlc>'S conduct, for win
all his plaiscworthy patience and tact he has
been wholly uncompromising, and always true
TO the demand that they must submit to the
Governments authority. Now, at THIS carry
date we venture to hope that the President WI!
be cf, alone to mctc ont rewards and PUNISH
mcuts according to the advice of his soldiers
and Interior officials. without the interference
of noliticans on the one hand or phllanthrOplSt>
on the Other lie has saved lis what threatened
- be a long. bloody and expensive war. lie
ha, all the information upon which To arrive
nj the best conclusions Is to the policy that
should be pursued to restore quiet ana CONN
dcnce in the reservations and to rc-cStabliSh the
| authority OF the agents, anu hc >hoH'u H'' ~
haIasSed by any unreasonable demands whether
inspired by partisan politics or by sholt-Sishtcd
| kindness.
Indian wars from this time on ought to he
made an imposSibiliiy. Il is likely to he the
white mans fault if they are not. IirmncsS'
| consideration and commOn-SenSc VIII make ii
comparatyely easy 20 get the Indians on the
way toward citizenship. The trouble we have
iu>r gone through may De a valuable means II
! that end. Ii has brought the consequences Of
our old and selfish policy 10 the public MIND al
q time when some encouraging results OF the
newer and better one may be pointed ont as
proof Of what education and fair dealing can
do. The reservations must 20. The guns
must 90 The chiefs and the mediterranean
the tepee and the blanket must 90. Inc
Indian must earn his own living ana must
take the consequences OF Wlltu SOth. lie
must learn the lesson Of equality and per
sonal responsibility. There must be an end OF
the impossible arrangement by which we 'lea,
with him as Il foreign sovereign ana yet hod
him in bondage rs slave. These obligations
are fully appreciated by the President and tho
Interior officials. If Congress also shall give
them heed, and shall render the Executive able
by sufficient appropriations, to carry on the lc-
forms SO ably begun, we shall have heard III
all probability, the last Indian defiance.