Year: 1878

National Associated Press to the Star


e. WASHINGTON, Sept. 2.-An effort is being
made to revive the interest in the Mica
raugan Inter-Ocean Canal project The
friends of the project are growing uneasy
for fear England and France may secure
control of the route, as it is well known
| that capitalists in the two countries named
are ready to place the necessary funds to
complete the work, and that the Govern
men. of Nicarauga is growing restive under
| the long and unnecessary delay of the Gov
ernment of the United States in finally de-
Gliding what it intends to do. The strong
est opposition in this country comes from
the Panama Railroad Company. This Com
pany succeeded in defeating the project
during Grants Administration, and it is
asserted that their influence is still patent
at the Department of State An effort will
be made at the next session of Congress to
interest that body in the great work, and if
that fails the matter will probably be
dropped, so far as this country is con-
| cerned


The Indian Bureau.


The question of transferring the Indian
| Bureau to the War Department has been
under discussion some years, and has at
tracted more serious attention since Deem
! UtT luSU tlldl J1cNlOuolys lIC pam law lC-
Gently brought to notice that all our Indian
wars are brought about by the unfair deal
ing OF Indian Agents and traders, together
with efforts to move the Indians from res
ervations where they can live comfortably
to reservations where the instinct of the In
dian teaches him he must starve or fight
The propositions TO transfer the manage
ment of Indian affairs to the War Depart
ment is daily growing more popular
| throughout the country and among officials
| in Washington. The strongest opposition
! is made by parties who now have control of
the vast political and financial patronage of
! the Indian Bureau. The good people who
sustained the peace policy and have no per-
sonal knowledge of its operation have been
| led to believe in bloodthirsty and ex ter-
minating spirit on the part of army officers,
simply because they maintain that there is
no other means of improving the condition
/ of Indians than to use force. This is great
mistake and it is only necessary to invesli-
| gate the matter to find the fallacy of it.


Wherever officers have had charge it has
| been to the great satisfaction of the Indians,
| they greatly preferring army officers to the
agents, who are seldom, if ever, selected on
account of fitness for the positions. The
agents are usually men who have no knoWl-
edge of Indian character; have little or no
control of the tribes under their charge, and
are obliged to call to their aid men who
have had experience. Officers of the army
are generally the best friends the Indians
have. They have occasions to protect them
as often as they have occasions to fight
them, and it is this double duty to which
the army is consi siantly called that makes it
necessary TO give the army exclusive charge
of the Indians, 1t is asserted that the pres
ence of troops is:demoralizing to the Indian
The reverse is the case, as has been satisfac-
torily proven. There seems to be no doubt
but that the Transfer Bill, passed by the
House last winter, will go through the Sen
ate at its next session.


Personal.


Secretary Sherman resumes the duties of
his office to-day. First Assistant Secretary
Hawley left here last night for his home at
Rock Island. 1t is his in ention to be alb
sent about a month