Year: 1874

-~ee4 "eA SA~s~0e


There Is every reason to fear that the Indian
tribes along the border are preparing for
general war. The appearance of prophets
among tho Comanches preaching q crusade
against tho whites, may be taken as pretty
fair indication of the state of public opinion
among the noble red men. 1t would be un-
wise to underestimate the influence Of the
prophets in shaping the course of action of
ignorant braves Superstition has ever been
ono OF the strongest motive powers in the
world even among races more intelligent than
the indian, whose wild life and constant con-
TACT with nature mako him receive with deep
reverence revelations supposed to be made to
the medicine man by the Great Spirit People
and prophets react upon each other until the
communicated wishes of the Great Spirit
have become the absorbing thought of
the Indian race. The red man per-
ceives very clearly that unless he checks
the advance of civilization he will be swept
by its tide out of existence 1t is natural that
he should object to make way for the pale face.
and that he should prefer to die fighting like
warrior than to perish miserably by famine
and disease. So far the boasted Christian
civilization of the white man has brought only
degradation and death to the Indian. Why it
should have been so is not difficult to dis
cover; but why this, so great reproach, should
be permitted to continue, cannot be answered
SO satisfactorily 1t is urged by men inter-
ssted in maintaining the existing system that
the red man cannot be civilized; but we have
proof of the contrary in the many tribes that
have settled down and adopted, with
fair success, an agricultural life But
the truth is that honesty and fair
dealing are strangers in the Indian De-
partment And were new system of
dealing with the Indian tribes inaugurated
1t would conflict with too many established in
terests to render it welcome to the politicians
and agents who grow rich ON the infamies
practised on the unfortunate tribes Most of
the Indian troubles are caused directly by the
i'll conduct of the whites; and if it were not so,
the present eleemosynary system-which aims
only at maintaining in idleness the various
tribes-would be indefensible. If the Indian
be the ward ofthe nation, as is pretended, the
government should do something more for him
than supply his physical wants. He should
be trained to more useful purpose than to
become loafer around an agency. The true
solution of the Indian question must be found
in persuading the tribes to abandon tho no
madic life which they follow at present on
the Plains. II might require the
sacrifice of some millions of dollars
in the beginning, but this would be
amply compensated for by immunity
from costly Indian wars and the gradual
lessening of the annual burden as the tribes
advanced in civilization and became self
supporting. At present the duty Of the gov
ernment is clear. All indications point to the
outbreak of an Indian war of unusual proper
tions; and while military expeditions are pre-
pared to operate against the hostile tribes
care should be taken not to leave the
frontier unguarded The concentrations of
troops already effected appear to expose the
settlers in the Platte and Republican valleys
to attack from the hostile Indians should they
try flank movement against the troops
marching to punish them. IF this be
80 the government should not delay in order
ing troops to this point They can be well
spared from other sections where their pres
ence is merely ornamental