The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-24
THE TROUBLES or BLACK HORSE.
The Threatening Aspects OF the School
Question Among the Nnvajos.

Question Among the Nnvajos.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 24.-Compulsory educa-
tion seems to be mt tho root OF the serious
trouble threatened among the Navajos When
Congress, in the act approved March 3. 1891.
declared that the Commissioners OF Indian
Affairs subject to the direction OF the Secre-
tary OF the Interior. is hereby authorized and
directed to make and ENFORCE by proper
means, such rulcs and regulations as will
secure tho attendance Of Indian children OF
suitable age and health at schools established
and maintained for their benefit" its purpose
OF course. was to do good to these children.
Perhaps Congress did not take fully into con-
sidcration the fact that too much zeal on this
subject might involve serious trouble.
At ull events. the Indian Bureau rromul-
gated ten rules for carrying this enactment
into effect. One OF them defined children suit
able age as all those over five and under eigh-
teen years OF age. while suitable health was to
be determined by tho certificate OF Il physician
after medical examination. Again. where there
were not sufficient day schools on the reser-
walton or II for other reasons the good OF the
children shall clearly require that they be sent
away from homo to school," thcy were to b
put into schools away from the reservations.
In this latter case the consent OF parents was
ordinarily TO he secured, III PRACTICABLE
which Of course implies that they were to go
With or or without consent Three other rules.
might en'leavor to resist the law. road thus:
Case, o. refusal TO allow children TO- he sent to
,S The S,2ssr , ,M,e; N Hsr Z, s.gaI. ns
,nents s,rns forth lilo crsna,ssantes o. enSn ease
sa TO- vii % prs."SSta i by H''i s once
and NAV" iie aS /" -s . . S''" "u sESn
S "an 10 within . s school
W. ~ sha, be proper tnr agrns after rrror'ing The
neressary.
education tknt has caused tho trouble in B,ci
Horses band Of Nnyaios Several weeks ago
| i was announced that various Indians in III,
Southwest were resisting the cnorts Of tho
agents to put their. children in the schools,
but the threatened disturbances, had ceased
| Gen. McCook has now been forced to call The
attention Of Tie Mar tDeEsrtnsnht to thI at
thought 70 ls MlllliNtipg with a neirhboring
| tribe OF rtes. The violence Threatened TO the
agent wh5 was on;deaynrinE to got the ; en-
| far all the actua disturbance manifested. and
it's possible that the all',!r may 10 controlled
| like tho Keams Canon affair.
There are two. circumstances, however.
which make the situation unusually SERIOUS.
Navaios. both in numbers and in res?nrcos.
shows that there are iu.iV2 members Of iii.
tribe: which would allow for several thousand
| llS. I.S horses. 1.5UN.OOO sheep. and 5000
the warrnth the results would he grave; i:
addition it should form au alliance with tho
southern ties. who also have reriain sriey,
would take the field in IL mountainous coun.
try: where cam raigning is very diiltrnii. a.
| taking children away from their parents and
| putting them at school il rot the only GrieS-
On which Gen. McCnok dweit in his iinnnnl re
| port. much oi1er and more wtirspreai
trouble is caused BY tho conflict be'Teen tne
| Indians and no white settlers over the occu.
There are about 5000 Of these lndians OF tho
brought into danger Ct alterations with the
settlers, moro especin!iv over the question Of
the use o. the wat"rccursos. which arc not
numerous in that region. 1t Nigh, 10 Thought
that the problem is the very simple on. Of re.
turning the lnaians to their rSseryni1n En
the reservation is destitute of water and good
grazing. and these arc essential 70 thu Nava
herds. Tho knowledge that their reservation
is largely arid and barren has resulted Il! the
crnmcnt Tor many wears TO live beyond its
limits This permission has almost acquired
the chnractrr Of rrescrip'i3ys riG; !. and
tremei Tad pol icy forth government to drive
them from lands unassigned to white settlers
| the result would be o imperll their herds and
thus heir sources Of support Leaving ont o.
away the sources Of their snhsistc nce by dri> i'm
them upon lands where their sheep and cattl'
Gen. McCook has proposed n solution OF IN
difficulty by the withdrawal Of the Indians t
certain places supplied wi tn water ana pas
tura.e; hut for the moment the point to net
is the nos sibiity that other sources OF trouble
may be added to the school question.
Tht cheering feature OF the situation Is TIA
the Navaios. as Il who g. are peaceabls. docil<
and dis posed to trust in the troops to protsc
their rights. These traits have ranente
be"n shown. not only in he d sturtances witt
settlers from tho causes already spoken Of. b
when the reservation IA, been invaded J.
} prospectors ia search OF gold. The army ON
GERS at Fort Winga,e and elsewhere have 70
| TO them with their, comrlnints: and roreatedl
they have been able TO satisfy them. Accord
T inGly We now find these officers going up,p
the reservation Tor frlenGiy fnu,.I.! WIN YIN "a
Black Horse to terms, and convince hi'
and his hand that the only Object !,
! good OF tho Indian children. At FOL
WlnEate arc nowt the heaGgunrters and IrooI
G. ID. q, H. and l.. Second cavalry Troop
| Fort Stanton. tomrauics II and ]. Tenth II
fantry. the latter M Indian company. nre ais
= there, These forces my re airInatea 70 sni
p. ton should Sprcud there are other garrison
= in New Mexico aud Arizona that would
, called upon. But ~ effort TO arrange Il
e doinr this it il only fair to consider the Il
Il grained preludires ot the Indians and the
;. family affection: for, while education 10 m
desirable thing 70 10 unable to- secure
without the horrible barbarism OF q bloOt
wnr would show wretched want Of tact and i
y competency. to say the least.
i A Charitable Organization Criticised.
. To rrr Enron Tux sus-sr: morning pa:
=. OF the 18Th of November contains a news item as