OCR Text |
Show west of tbe Mississippi, river has the situation in the Indian country been fraught with so much peril. It is not improbable the call for volunteers from threatened states and territories will be made." We do not think the Indian troubles this year, will be veiy eerioui; yet it is both possible aid probable that before be-fore the savages are brought into sub jection, many eetttfru will be killed mid much properly destroyed. If , there is to be a gei.enil Indian war, ! "vulunleere from the lliretlened atat Ps and trrnU't ies" should be culled fur, a ud then let thm?H volunteers b.ive the privilte uf Quitting tbe aborigines in e .ruti. Tne Indian fighting by ti e "Cbrifctiaa soldier," Gen. Howard, is simply a ftrce, and only tends to give the aivjgea courage and incite them to more denperate during. It is fun for the reds to be "chased" about the country as Howard manages to chase them. If by some accident they should be overtaken, the conspquences are pretty certain not to be serious; their condition will be no worse than it was before they went upon the warpath. war-path. We fully appreciate the disadvantages dis-advantages under which the military labors in Indian warfare. The work is bard, the danger b great, and the chances for glory are none. But when the Indians uiu.it bo fought, the fighting should be done , in earn eft. This practice of playing war on one side and cruel butchery on the other is not the way to impress trie savages very seriously with tbe power and majesty of the United States government. The minstrel never fails to "bring down the house' ' when he says: " Look at our army ! Feared by all nations except the Indians In-dians they know 'em." That is a stereotyped joke which has a point that is always sharp. This burlesquing of tbe army is not owing to the lack of bravery of the soldiers, who are daring and ready to accept tbe chances of war; but to the triflinc cruras that is Dnrmipd with the Indians by tbe government and Bome of its military officers. Thej savages have little respect fur and less j fear of the army. It is a fact that nine-tenths of tho Indian troubles have been occasioned by their unjust treatment at the hands of dishonest officials. The present hostile movement move-ment in Idaho is traceable directly to tbe usual cause. Notwithstanding this disgraceful fact, however, the Indians must be conquered and brought into subjection. Tbe vast region of country now being devastated by them, and the whites driven ofl or slaughtered cannot be surrendered and given up to the savages. Hence, as fight them we must, the best way to do it is the one that will be the cheapest, quickest in its results and most effective in teaching the redskins red-skins a wholesome and lasting lesson. Volunteer militia from the western states and territories which would soon and cheerfully furnish the required re-quired number would understand well how to deal with tbe Indians. Let a squad ot Idaboans, Montauians or other Rocky Mountain citizeBi have a commission lo disarm the Bannacks, and the work will Boon be performed, and Howard might go east and engage in the safer and more peaceful pursuits of attending to freed men's affairs and joining in the Bhoutings at Moody and Sankey revivals. |