Harper's Weekly

“ The army is not bent upon making money. But while the troubles which begin on our side are chiefly due to the present system of management, there are troubles which begin with the Indians. When the grass springs, groups of young men, instinctively restless for excitement, slip away from the reservation, and descend upon a village, or a ranch or farm, one or two hundred miles away, steal horses, burn houses, and kill people, and return to the reservation. Even if the agent knows that they have gone, and knows when they return, what can he do? ”

“ Now if near every agency, instead of an agent and half a dozen helpless civilians only, there was a military force, the rascalities would be summarily suppressed, and end, and the supplies would be as sure as they are at the military posts. The crowd of Indian traders and agents are bent upon making money, and the Indians consequently suffer. ”

“ He is a man not only of statesmanlike views, but of the courage of his convictions, and of implicit trust in principles. His spirit and force have been felt throughout the administration of his department, and nowhere more than in the Indian Bureau. The Secretary denies absolutely that the administration is without an Indian policy. ”

“ There is no doubt that the present control of the Department of the Interior is vigorous and honest, that many abuses have been corrected, and that the old Indian system is managed as well as it can be. ”

“ Like all barbarians, they respect visible power, and the display of force in treating with them is a humane policy. As we write, the White River Utes, who have just massacred Major Thornburgh's command, are conferring with a peace commission of half a dozen of our citizens. ”

“ He can not arrest or punish. But when the irritation produced by the raids bursts into war, the soldiers are summoned to interfere; they are ambushed and massacred, and at great cost of life and money they subdue an outbreak which they could have prevented without any loss whatever. ”