OCR Text |
Show CAI'T. JACK'S CASK FROM TWO NTA.DlOI.TS. A White .11 mi ami an Indian .Speak Out'' iu .MectiiiR. The following from a gentleman of this city reached us yesterday: What wii.i, hk done with him? In the Daily Hkkaui of yesterday you put the al-ove finest ion, Messrs. Editors, Edi-tors, when speaking of Captain Jack, the Modoc, murderer. Now, the solution solu-tion of the enigma is so seasonable, and the answer to tho question eo easy, that the wonder is that tho question ques-tion has ever been propounded. Indeed, In-deed, I have often thought it very remarkable that tho American press should, in the excitement growing out of the treacherous murder of General Canhy and the Rev. Sir. Thomas, have lost sight of the real crime for which the scoundrel Modocs ought to ' stretch hemp. The government, ns we nre wont to call our servanlsi, Grant, Sherman, and those who carry on our busincs at Washington, also seem oblivious of the fact that Captain Jack and other Modocs, committed in the State of Oregon a series of horrible murders, ruthlessly killing men, women and children, that these fellows have been indicted by a grand jury in Oregon, ami that the people of that State are in readiness to receive, hold, try and acquit or convict them, and if found guilty to hang them. If they had been white men no other theory would have been for a moment entertained. General Canby was a victim to the theory that the government had a right to treat with and condone their crimes and put them unou a reservation. If the States in the Union have any rights as States, then no proposition is more clear than this, that Oregon shall have jurisdiction of the Modocs. X. And the annexed, being another view of the case, we clip from the MijlliUttri trjiltblinm ; St. Louis, May 10, 1S73. Editor Keitumcan: I am nn Indian In-dian of pure lineage, descended from a warrior of a tribe now nearly extinct. ex-tinct. You may therefore know and appreciate the avidity with which I have read every item of the pending struggle between Captain Jack, with his handful of Modoc braves on the one hand, and prominent generals with powerful forces on the other. I do not say that the chief was right m what he did, but merely present pre-sent the other side of the question. Tho Modocs arc on a land which has been theirs from times immemorial, and they have no wish nor desire to leave it. That land is their true reservation. re-servation. Xow glance at the Indian's religious . belief. Like the Jews of old, with whom they have many points in common, com-mon, IkiUi of religious and other beliefs, be-liefs, they hold to the doctrines of polygamy and retaliation "An eye lor an eye and a tooth for a tooth." If these are now exploded, then the ancient system has fallen, with the exception of the Qi)C apd only Deity creed, and this, too, believes t'lieM.h doc, As with so-called ignorant- races, he does not believe (hese things, he is convinced of them. Conviction built the pyramids, and belief builds only a wooilen church. You observe the distinction. I merely now mention the massacre of innocent Modocs hy C'apt. Wright, which all admit. Not a thief among them, or if there was he knew it not. If he knew it, then he shot them in retaliation for theft. Captain Jack, in doing what hedid, obeyed, first, a principle of his religion, reli-gion, mid occuiid, (he example of United States army othecrs. If you exterminate him for the first, why not exterminate Mormons who obey the polyganilu rule tuitnd in the name place with the law of retaliation, or any nation whose belief is nt variance with yours. If you kill him for the second, then so serve captain Wright, who is equally guilty.- The only dill1 eronee Is In persons. But the white man's law Is no respecter re-specter of persons, so .says the Uxk. So it is hard to perceive why Gen. Sherman has any right to kill Captain Jack, that is, to an Indian mind, lor he is not the law. nor has he more right to kill the Modocs than either Captain Wright or Captain Jack, and if he does do it, must he held in the same class liefnrc the God loth of the white and Indi an. So says (io-YA-DA-KA-NA-HA, Or the sitting beaver of the Teehem of" the Onondagas, third ttf the Iro- I quoin. |