St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-12
OUR INDIAN POLICY.

The GLOBE is glad to find its views
on the employment Of army officers as
Indian agents indorsed by so good am
authority as the Indian Rights assoca-
ton. The eleventh annual report of
that organization is comprehensive
review of all the efforts made during
the year TO improve the condition of the
aborigines, accompanied by suggestions
that are the result of close and intimate
observation. In speaking of the ad-
vantages to be gained from the use of
selected army officers as Indian agents,
1t sums them up to be these: First
The army furnishes a number of
men especially adapted to the Indian
service by reason of thorough educa-
ton, previous knowledge of the Indian
held. strong sympathy with honest and
fair treatment Of the weak, opposition
to partisan SpoilS methods, and freedom
from political entanglements." A thor
ough test of the system elevates the
tone of the Indian service and improves
its efficiency. Most of the army officers
appointed have shown deep interest
in Indian work, and have done MUCK
towards developing the capacity of their
wards for moral and intellectual devel-
opment.
The army officer is far better adapted
for the discharge of the duties of an
Indian agent than any civilian can he.
He has been thrown in contact, more or
less Intimate, with the red man, and
the possibility that he may some time
be engaged in fighting them has induced
close study of their nature, habits and
characteristics. He has learned their
weaknesses and their strength. how they
can best be persuaded or more effective.
lY inundated, how to awaken their
pride and arouse their ambition. The In
dian,it Is true, has not much ambition to
boast, except the qualification of his APP
petlteS,but even this seemingly dormant
quality can be aroused to commendable
activity by the use of the proper means.
He takes pride in his personal appear
ance and in his courage. and by proper
stimulation these can be made to assist
in controlling and elevatiug him.
The Indians upon our frontier have
ceased to be a menace to settlers.
The bands are too weak to threaten;
they are even too weak to offer effectual.
resistance to outrage and oppression.
Few tribes have more than nominal
existence. and the members of the
stronger ones are so scattered and dis
organized as to be impotent tor either,
defense OF aggression. Their very help
lessness ought to awaken sympathy in
the breasts of the conquering race. All
Of US know that the complete eXtermi-
nation of the Indian race is but uues-
ton of few generations. The grand
children of the young men and young
women of today Will look upon the tales
Of Indian life much as we do upon the
stories of Aztec grandeur in MeXico-a
little of reality with much OF romance;
thrown in to aid zest to fairy tales. 70
The Indian question deserves more
attention than 1t has received at the
hands Of the public generally, and GER
tainly more of the consideration Of the
government. 1t has become fashion,
able to talk of the wrongs of the red
man, but few have any conception of
how deep these wrongs have been.
Exposures of peculation and robbery
rife, and there have been investigations
followed by dismissals from Office but
the wrongs continued undated. The
Indians were regarded as the legitimate
prey of the politicians. Their helpless
ness was fully understood. The re-
moteness of the agencies from govern
mental centerS offered immunity from
detection and punishment. and the
wrongs have been heaped upon them
until they became national scandal.
1t did little good to change the agents.
The new appointees profited by the eX-
perience of their predecessors, and
being more on their guard, robbed the
more thoroughly.
1t is time for change, and the new
policy of giving the affairs of the In
dians in charge of ARMY officers espe-
cially fitted for the duty seems likely
to bring about the necessary reform.
All good citizens will rejoice at the
inauguration of the system, for it gives
promise that there Will be an end of the
siekening recitals of robbery and out
rage with which we have been RECALLED
in the past.