Page:The Red Man and the White Man in North America.djvu/585

Rh This formidable list of allegations against the peace policy does not lack definiteness in its specifications or proofs. That policy is based upon the generous if not lavish distribution of supplies, clothing, cattle, rations, and money to vast hordes of worthless paupers, who, if they cannot hunt, will do nothing but laze about and steal, the whole expense being a burden on the industry and toil of our own hard-working people; and this too, while we are warned by the complaints of the poor and the unemployed in our most thriving communities not to assume such a huge responsibility. Again, the furnishing of these supplies tempts a vast number of cunning, greedy, and fraudulent contractors, hucksters, middle-men, and rascals of every grade and hue, to practise all sorts of frauds both on the Government and on the Indians. Honest and high-principled men in authority use all their wisdom, sagacity, and keenness to prevent these enormous and outrageous frauds, and occasionally a culprit is detected, though escaping without being deprived of his gains or punished except by loss of office. Still, there is such opportunity, such facility, such mighty temptation for practising and covering up these frauds and evading justice, that it is generally allowed that abuse is incident to and inherent in the system itself.

The pensioned and pauperized savages, it is further urged, become greedily dependent on these Government supplies. If they are withheld, or delayed, or the frauds in them make them worthless, the savages are furnished with a good plea justifying them in an outbreak, a pillaging expedition, a murderous raid, — the wily old chiefs on visiting terms at the agencies, alleging that they cannot restrain their young men from such outbursts and expeditions. On the plea of the scarcity of game and the inefficiency of their native weapons, the best modern arms and ammunition are furnished them by our Government. Over and over again has it been affirmed by our most honored army officers, that these arms have been almost immediately turned against