The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-24

american InU1unt as soiuicFbs
The War Department has directed that
Company l, Fourth Infantry. and Troop L.,
Fourth Cavalry, shall be mustered out;
and Troop L. First Cavalry. was mustered
out several days ago. All three are Indian
organizations.
In view OF tho strong desire hitherto
manifested to obtain Indian recruits. this
step Is very significant: and some officers
are disposed to read in 1t the beginning Of
the abandonment OF the whole system OF
Indian companies in the army.
One trouble is with the red men them
selves, for many OF them are taking advan-
tage OF tho new system OF discharge by
purchase to buy their release from the
army. That. Of course, shows dissutisfac-
ton with the restraints and duties Of mill
tary life. In one case Just spoken ofsit is
said that there was such a rush to buy
discharges that the authorities suggested
q consolidation OF Indian companies. and
thereupon came hubbub OF opposition,
and disarmament was resorted to.
The enlistment Of Indians in the regular
army. forming companies OF their own. with
white officers. but with their own sergeants
and corporals. has always been an inter-
csting experiment. 1t has had much
in favor OF It's practicability. To begin
with. it had the experience Of other nations.
which, after the subjugation OF savage
tribes, are accustomed to form contin-
gents from among them for local service.
Differed by the conquering race. England.
France. Russia and many other nations
offer familiar examples Of this practice on
very large scale.
Our red Indians OF the West were particu-
larly promising subjects for such an exper-
iment here. because individually they were
considered among the best soldiers in the
world Brave. capable OF enduring great
labor and privation. skilled in woodcraft.
excellent horsemen. adopts with the rifle,
they have many admirable qualities for the
hardest campaigning. They are also fond
OF show and Of martial movements.
Their capability OF obedience to orders
and their fidelity has been shown in the
service rendered by the organized Indian
reservation police. sometimes against their
own tribesmen. and in critical emer-
gencies. as. for example. at the capture
and death OF SITTING BULL. Besides.
Indians had for long period been regularly
enlisted in the army as scouts. sometimes
change to full companies OF them was less
OF an experiment.
The Government also needed them: for.
strange rs it may seem, with only about
$4,000 enlisted men in the army. and q
nation Of 65.OO0. 900 to recruit from. there
Is always much difficulty in keeping the
ranks full of desirable men. It was there
fore hoped that the Indians would supply
a certain number OF companies OF cavalry
and infantry. Just as organising the colored
regiments had provided for four out OF the
forty regiments.
But there have been difficulties In the
way. The Indians. it appears. like the
cavalry better than the infantry service.
Then they have, OF course. in their reserva-
ton system. u totally different life from
that to which the native contingents Of
foreign colonial armies are accustomed.
Still. it may be hoped that tho inference
| drawn from the recent mastering out OF
these companies as to the eventual aban-
donment OF Indian enlistments is unfound-
ed. Life in the army is undoubtedly IN
education for the red men. 1t accustoms
them to obedience land self-support. 1t
gives q safe outlet for tho martial
| spirit which comes to the young
men with their blood. 1t teaches
| them to look on the Government as
more important than the tribe. and fits
them for American citizenship. We are
probably correct In surmising that there
| will be no such stress under Secretary La
MONT in encouraging tho organization OF
| Indian companies Us there was under Secro-
tary PROCTOR. with whom the project origi-
mated: but there Is no warrant yet for the
assumption that the system will be wholly
abandoned.