The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-23


hard 70 make the best Of their men, and
as they saw changes in the right direc-
ton here and there, were sanguine Of
the final result. And such changes did
occur. The Indian is not initiative. like
the negro. and usually takes unkindly to
new things. But commonly he admires
the soldier; and this chance to be him.
SELF a soldier, wear a bright blue uni
form with brass trimmings, and carry a
sword or gun or both all the time, won
his fancy. Moreover. a few Of the older
white campaigners shared the enthusi-
asm Of the juniors, inferring from their
experience with Indian scouts that In
dian soldiers would make an equally
good or better record. But the difference
between the scout and the soldier soon
showed Itself. The scout was enlisted
Tor six months, the soldier for FIVE years.
The scout, in time OF peace, had little to
DC, and could lie about in a cosy camp
IN familiar country, with his women
ana children round him, as long as he re-
ported periodically TO his commanding
officer; whereas the soldier must 1--we in
barracks separated from his family. must
hold himself ready for the daily exer-
cises or the post, ana was liable at any
time TO pull up stakes and be trans
ported to some distant point, among new
people ana unaccustomed scenes. The
family feature, by the way, was seri-
Gus consideration for everybody con-
cerned. His patriarchal style of living
when at home caused the Indian to be
unhappy when separated from his wives
and Children; but the government could
not AFFORD 20 transport. two or three
women, half dozen children, and the
ever-faithful nlongrel dogs for each SOL
der whenever the company moved. and
even If that had been possible. it would
have been out of the question TO keep
this domestic outfit from hanging about
and practically living in the post or
camp, where their presence would have
spread general demoraliza lion.
1t is possible, nay, probable, that under
somewhat different conditions the expert
ment OF an Indian soldiery might have
been continued longer and worked on.
better results by a process of shifting and
elimination and the operation of the law
of the survival of the fittest. But the
powers that be al Washington despaired
OF i: early in its course. Secretary Proc
tor, an eastern man with ideas. had
hardiyset il going when he made way for
Secretary Ellzins. VINO had passed good
deal OF time in the Indian country as a
mining ami land speculat tor and whose
opinion OF Indians was the conventional
one cherished by the white frnntiersn1an
Mr.. Eikins was the next year succeeded
by Secretary Lamont, who took the bust
ness mans view of making every dol
lar count. He reasoned that for the
same money which was spent upon all
full reliance. the government could be
training an equal number Of whites or
negroes, of whose qualities I was al
ready assured by experience, or, Z so
many men were not needed for the nu-
cleus OF an army, the companies then
filed by Indians could be sl,eietonized |
again and the money saved. His theory |
Of civilizins the Indians was that con- |
scieniious army officer acting an agent |
in charge Of a reserva ton could accom- |
pish more BY encouraging them in the |
arts Of peace than by drilling them in |
the work of camp and field From The |
cate OF his accession 70 office il was evil
dent that Secretary Proc5or's pet enter
prise was doomed. The number Of In
dams in the army Was gradually reduc-
ed. by individual discharge and muster
ing out, till the 80 Of 1892 shrank 20 547
In 1894 The company which is 20 be
.sbanded next week is the remnant of
Ieronimo's band Of Apaches. which
spread such terror through the southwest
\ few years ago
Capt. Scott is a hard-working officer
,ai;hfui TO his Indian charges. and en-
oying their unqualified confidence. He
,ouid doubtless have done more with mis-
bravo and Robertson and Rhodes and |
4 few Others who put their whole heart
MO their undert aking. Or ( We had q |
standing army like the British or French !
n 4 ;ni"kly settled country. instead OF
'neTS skeleton on bouniless and slmos;
ininnsoi'ed plains. ;he experiment would
nave oeen carried On under more favor
.oie conditions and might have succeed
-. As II WAS, = Possesses an historic |
interest. however unsatisfactory IFS con-
Illusions. Sinsu,arly enough. The 70
norcers Of rhe day have done little NTH
, and the artists sin less. The wsr de-
,artInenf library was SEARCHED the OH
r day for some photographs yhir5,
would psrpetus:e its record for the eve
{ pos:erity. but none could be found |
SUI Tor me prompt action OF General 4
\. Greeley. who wrote a: once 70 one OF
rs suho7iinates in the snal corps. the
; ;. % he Indian companies would have
-one Sus % existence az For; SIN with
nj leaving one Photographic n,sment
me official flies
We recently heard doctor say piece of
lie was good Tor person just before retiT
~ -, -ba isSb,soD t.foh, :