| Show THE INDIANS General MILES is again in print with an expression of opinion that the Indians will go on the warpath this spring The Rev Mr CRAFT also says there is danger of an outbreak when the grass grows It was Mr CEAFT who predicted the recent trouble and tried so earnestly to induce the authorities to take the necessary steps to prevent it He says the same discontent which prevailed last year still exists and unless something shall be done for its removal re-moval tnere will be more fighting as the Indians cannot endure the fraud and cheating cheat-ing which are practiced I am heartily sIck and tired hesays witnessing mis cries that I cannot correct and sharing the sufferings of the unfortunate Indians and I I brave > soldiers who are forced into conflict 1 and then slandered by the cowardly politi clans who slaughtered them I Father CRAFTS remedy is the remedy which all who are familiar with the government ernment of the Indians recommendthe transfer of the Indians to the war department depart-ment Until that shall be done there will occur periodical outbreaks so long as there shall be any Indians with spirit enough left to protest against robbery and maltreatment treatment Nine out of ten of the Indian wars can be traced directly to one cause and that is the dishonest or incompetent administration of Indian affairs Agents ft ft I Q1 IH rl 4 hI 144 ue wllJUUUU uuuu 5nu uu uu u ness for the performance of the duties imposed im-posed and too often without any regard to personal honesty The agencies are conferred ferred as rewards for political services or as pay for contributions to party funds If the appointee happens to be a good man well and good if as more occurs oc-curs he is a scoundrel bad results follow as a natural and necessary consequence Indians possess sufficient intelligence to know when they are being swindled They know whether or not they get enough to eat and have blankets enough to keep them warm The government makes generous provision for them and they know that all that is intended for them is not received a considerable percentage going to enrich the agents and swindling contractors If one will take the trouble bo trace the Indian outbreaks to their cause he will find that the aborigines have gone upon the warpath only after a series cf wrongs and their going out has been simply a protest ag manifest evils We have always thought that if the management of the Indians were turned I over to the military there would come an end to these periodical outbreaks of hostilities hostil-ities Army officers do not owe their positions posi-tions to politics they are provided for for life and cannot be turned adrift with the incoming of new administration the incentive in-centive to make money during four years of official life is not found among them as with the politicians having life places provided they behave themselves their aim is to perform their duties in such a way as will reflect credituponthemselves If army officers bad chargo of the distribution of rations and supplies it would be seen that the Indians would receive all they were entitled to Furthermore it would be to the interest of the army to prevent hostilities and thus avoid the trouble and danger which attend Indian wars It is of no moment to the dishonest agent whether or not tho Indians are at war Ho takes no part in it although al-though he may have been its immediate cause He is safe whatever damage he may have brought to others If there is likely to occur an outbreak this spring the thing for the government to do is to at once place the army in control of the Sioux agencies |
