Year: 1872

clple. 1t needed 8 definite thing

 aimed at, and an adherence to it right

 through to the end.

 The new policy does not consist in

 a change of agents only. The old

 theory respecting Indians is wrong at

 the bottom. We hold up a set of

 savage tribes as independent nations, and make treaties with them. as if they were capable of being treaty

 making power. What does the new

 policy propose? It takes up the h. dians as the wards of the nation, and makes an honest practical effort to treat them as human beings, capable, after proper instruction and help, of living in & civilized way. What can be done with them if we do not elevate them! have heard men talk of extermination. We'll, if that's it, then begin with the first Indian you meet, kill him on sight, and so on until the last red man is gone, or introduce poison among them. This is extermination in a straightforward way. But this nation is not to do that, nor anything like it. There is but one mind on that question. I am asked to decide between two policies. There is now really but one policy, and it is not mixed. The Secretary of War and the Secretary of the h. terior agree with the President. What he desires you will see from his letter. They all mean to give the peace policy & full and fair trial. 1 have letters from them all. They insist on peace if it can be had, and they do not propose meanwhile to leave the citi- zens of Arizona in the terror of rob- bery and murder by savages, but to protect them, and at the same time give the Indians fair chance under honest agents and in security from the attacks of hostile tribes or hostile whites, to come under the influences of civilization on a reservation of their own.

 am instructed to study the Indian question in Arizona, to consult with citizens and officials and army officers as to the best course to be pursued, and also if found practicable to take 6 delegation of Indians to Washing ton for conference and to impress them with the hopelessness of contending against the United States. You will see how earnestly the President feels on the subject from his letter by me to Gen. Schofeld.

 Teen. Howard then read the letter in full.

 The President assigns as the res- son for sending out the Commission his own anxiety, and that felt by the public generally, that in the future h. dian hostilities shall be avoided, and that the policy to civilize and elevate the Indians shall prove successful. It is not proposed by the Commission to interfere with military movements by the proper authority, but the hope is expressed that a sym pathy of views may be entertained between the officers of the army and Gen. Howard. It is not proposed to a abandon use of force if the Indians will not come under such restraint as will insure the security of white set tiers, neither is it proposed to give protection all on the Indian side, but if they will submit, protection by military force shall be given alike to III.

 The General continued: Is there in that letter to which the citizens of Arizona will object? You 10 not doubt but that this policy night be tried on the Copopahs and he friendly tribes along the river.

 But the Apaches! you say; the nurderous Apaches! what is the sense ,f trying to civilize such savages? Nothing can be done with them until hey have been whipped, by which is meant that you must kill certain lumber to make the rest submissive.

 believe in war when it Is necessary, ,ut it must be for g. definite cause nd pushed with vigor and brought to n end. Some people say because m Christian-a fact Inever deny, ut rejoice in-that therefore l am milk-and-water sort of man, going ound to pat everybody on the back.

 could not be more misunderstood. 1t meeting held in Washington in he interest of universal peace, just as was leaving for this coast, they in- isted on my speaking. l told them

 believed Tn peace. but only the eace that insured security and justice.