Arizona weekly citizen., 1895-04-13
WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH OUR
 INDIANS?

The question of what shall be don'
 with the Indians is one that should p'
 seriously considered by our clt'Zens. O lcourse to an Arizonan who has suffered and seen much suffering of his Kind al
 the hands of the red man the subject If easy of solution and the happy hunting grounds would, before the rising or
 new moon. be crowded with the copper Ihued braves, but there are some gooo Indians who are not dead lndisns, anc their welfare should not be overlooked
 These good Indians are the Papsgos llV' ing off the reservation south and south
 west of Tucson. True they are some
 what given to cattle stealing and sub feet stockmen to considerable annoy auce in this direction, but Tn this res pect they differ in no wise from then | civilized height bors, ss may be evidenced | bv the court records of the county. Fur thermore they can plead justification | not at the disposal of their American or Mexican brethren. The Pspagoe have occupied the territory to the south ano west of us from time immemorlal. Am srican cattlemen have overrun their coun try, appropriated the little water to be ourd therein, and the cattle have eaten heir ranges bare. What then IS there for the Indian to do but steal or die,
 L h0fh nrfu l r. ly if he happens to get caught in the uu- lawful act.
 Now We believe in civilization; we be- iieve iu the rights of our citizens against all corners, but at the same time we are not forgetful of the rights of others, h. dlens and barbarlans though they may be- These people are with us, if not of us, and by contact and association with them we have not only robbed them ot their means of living but we have pro vided for them more wants than their
 limited and scanty resources can sup ply, and the result is demoralizing to both Indians and white men.
 These Indians are suffering an enforc- ed change of circumstances and some thing should be done to assist them into usefulness. Originally, and till within very recent years, they were able to maintain themselves, and now that they are no longer able to do so, through DO fault of theirs, the white man should step in and give them helping hand. In this there is DO sentimentallty, but spirit of fairness a, d justice to deserv- ing people.
 We say this without reservation. The time was in years agone when civiliza- tion with its christianizing and soften ing influences was dependent upon these very Indians for succor and support. Hereditary foes to the dread Apache, whose :ootsteps were the footsteps of devastation and death, they joined hands with the whites and Mexicans against them and the blood of their best braves was freely shed in behalf of the stranger race From every hillside and every plain they answered the white mans call to repel attack or punish the aggressors and now, in the day of our str, ngth and the night of their weak ness, these things shoulI not be forgot ien, for whatever they are we have made them, ther efore in return let us join hands ID making them better and prOvid- ing a means by which they can earn Jheir daily bread.
 It is common for the white men to characterize the Indian as thriftless and good for nothing, and the less We know of these people the more we are welded to that belief, but so far as it applies 10 the Papsgos it is not true as those familiar with them can bear abundant testimony
 The women of these people, originally noted for their virtue, are now throng ing the towns in enforced prostitution and the young men are doing but little better. They apply for work aud get ting none become, like white men under similar conditions, loafers and bummers on the streets. This end IS inevitable, to people deserving a far better fate, unless something is done for their re- lief This can be done and we think will be done by the government provid- ing our citizens move in the matter and properly lay same before the authorities at Washington. Give the Papagos farms and they will work, but of land there is no scarcity it is a sufficient supply of water to meet the demands that is the crying want. This can be had through government assistance and we are con strained to believe that this assistance will be gwen on proper representations beng made of the necessities of the case The Papegos make good farmers and there ig abundance of room for them on the Sacaton reservation provided sufficien water for thelr uses can be developed. Beyond little labor it will cost our people nothing. Let us at least try and do something in return for the good done to our people, by them in the dark days of Indian warfare and border
 strife.
 THE people of Apache county. having ecume tired of waiting for outside cspi- tO dAVelon thelr resources have