New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-24
LITTLE DANGER OF INDIAN OUTBREAK
GENERAL MERRITT DISCUSSES THE RED MEN
AND THEIR TREATMENT-AN OPINION
OF THE german EMPEROR


General Wesley Merritt, commander of the De.
partment of Dakota OF the United States Army.
has been in this city several days personal busi
ness He will return TO his command in a few
days. General Merritt talked entertainingy 10
Tribune reporter at the Gilsey House yesterday
about the Indians Of the West. among whom he
has lived for many years and whose customs. con.
dition and needs he understands fully.
Everything is quiet in the Indian country now"
said he Il do not think there will be any moro
serious outbreaks The Indians have learned better
than to attack the whites blindly. They know that
they cannot hope to succeed They have lost taitn
in the ghost dances Besides. they have not the
reasons for hostility which they formerly hao-
They are no longer pundered by Indian agents.
Most OF the agents now are Army oflcers be-
sides being honest and understanding the Indian
character they have the confidence OF the Indians
more than civilian agents have. About four-httns
of the agents in my department are Army officers
who for the time being serve under the Interior
Department. | heartily commend the policy OF ap'
pointing Indian agents from the Army.
The Government is doing about all II can
for the Indians. 1t gives them ratons worth from
- to % cents day, blankets, etc The reserya'
tons of the Indians have proved to be too large
for them and the Government has bought tracts'
the price adding the wealth or the Indians lhey
still have all the territory they need, and any VINO
desire individual holdings can have them Ihere
arr
by Indians and Indians have the contract TO pro-
vide hav for some of the Army posts. Many OF
them ride in wagons instead Of on their ponies
and most of them wear our style of clothes
1T is a mistake to suppose that the Indians as
fast disappearing. In times OF peace Inc ~
present. ! think enumeration would sho" .'".
they are slightly, increasing in number instead Oh
becoming extinct in a few years the ou'oo"
that they will become permanent charges upon IN.
bo not
very high civilization d.
Has the United states Army its full quota W
men, was asked.
Eyes. and they are generally fine lot OF men
Army life Is more attractive than II USED 10 De- "
the frontier the men can hunt and fish, ana "heN
they are stationed near cities they nave -
libraries gymnasums frequent leave. etc sfes'
many young men nowadays are entering the AM
for the training which they get They do WISER;
The awkward and unsophsticaed country ~
comes out of the service graceful weH-ua'"eu
ambitious Hundreds of the most successful peoP
OF the West were mustered out OF the ARMY
world be hard To find who left the ser'.s
as a non-commissioned officer who Is not doihs We"
II | had a son whom | could not send to colese
would nut him in the Army an enlisted ma'
Numbers of my friends have put their boys III Wv
service to advantage. 1t is the only way except "
graduating at West Point, for a young ma" !" o
Il commission" .s
Have you ever attended the military iia"'
abroad?" . al
NO. | have wished to CO. but the way -
OPEN United States Army officers are not NV" ".a
TO attend the reviews in Europe. and uioe'L
that / am the innocent cause OF THIS sta'e
fairs We have never had in this country Us,
noeuyres to correspond at all with those heu ,rmy
year in Europe, OWING the Smallness Oh V "a ap.
and the lack of available funds. There !sn,a,ned
propraton out of which visitors can be eh.s' ~ the
In 1889 however. when was In conhalaa, Ming 10.
Department OF Missouri. succeeded III $500 ra had
gether an unusual number of men, ana Md as
some interesting manoeuvres. Ii was re5ar were
only "A departmental affair and no forelshuss cor.
invited Soon afterward, however theie c'sfe De.
respondence the subject between our .~sre in.
partment and the foreign Cabinets ana "" ,.'es had
formed that, inasmuch the United 'acSnvern-
not invited representatives OF European ,hs Off.
nents TO witness its military manoeuVres, 'invited
GERS from this country would no longer pe been
there SO since 1889 no American Officers Ia be.
invited to take part In the reviews or huiop explan
eve that our State Department trlei !" '
matters but the effort of no avail han able
II regret exceedingly that have never tnterested
TO see the foreign evolutons. | am much u" - regard
in them particularly those OF Germany. ,s lie Is
the young Emperor OF Germany as se n nv the
more than an Emperor possessed nneLLeg s for the
martial spirit His future Is rich WIN hoPs
future Of the German nation.