The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-09-27
Wby is not The Frontier Protected?


Why is moi The Frontier Protected?
We have more than once asked the
question, says the Union, Why is not the
Frontier protected! During the whole
summer, the Indians have been commit
ting deprepations on the lives and proper
ty of our citizens residing on the Rio
Grande, and the frontiers of Mexico and
Texas. Large bodies are also collecting
in the neighborhood of the western routes
TO California. And yet our government
does nothing, except 10 lend It's aid to
Spain IN putting down an anticipated revo-
luton in Cuba. Whittier are things ten
ding? While we have general war with
the savages apparently impending, we are
also upon The eve ofa rupture with France.
What bungling management ofthe cabinet
has brough about this state of things? In
view of these threatening difficulties, shall
we have any more of the stupid nonsense
and humDuggery about having man of
peace. at the head of our government?-
Does it not invite aggression from civil
zed nations? And have not the savages
at last learned the meaning of this con-
temptable cant? It is time for the cabinet
to relieve the country from the error of
position in which they have placed it, if
they cannot retrieve their own regulations.
With the counsels of the Czar prevailing
over the weak but ambitious President of
France, who knows but we are upon the
eve Of war with the miscalled republic? 1t
would be just such a game as the butchers
of Hungary would be likely to play in Or
der to prevent the spread Of republicanism.
Unfortunately, IN this crisis of our affairs,
we have not a man at the head OF the gov
ernment who has the capacity or genius
TO meet il.
The New York San, Taylor paper,
thus speaks Of the mismanagement of the
cabinet, and of its fatal results to the public
interests and safety:
Our border, from the Gulf of Mexico
up to the northern line, is in a frightful
condition; and the administration is so
much occupied in watching and soothing
the fears of the Spanish minister, that it
has no time to look after the protection of
the frontier Ofthe merchandise and emf
grant trains towards California, there has
been notice sent of 1877 lives being taken.
and of nearly half million of cattle and
merchacdise destroyed: but as the officers
in military command have not reported in
due form but % cases, no steps whatever
have been taken in relation TO the remain
ing Indian massacres, although perfectly
well authenticated. The twenty-three
cases officially reported are duly placed
on the file in the War Department.; and of
course, The neighbors and relations of the
murdered will feel entirely protected.
Many trading parties have been cut off,
many emigrant bands have been broken
up, whole counties on the border have
been left without mail communication for
weeks together, and any number of border
farms desolated; vet 10 redress all these
outrages on our citizens, there has been
not fifth part of the stir and attention, nor
a third of the military array and expense
which has been lavished on the watching
and suppressing the suspected expedition
to Cuba, to alleviate the anxieties of
Spanish official. 1t may be an ungener-
Gus prejudice, but we must confess we
have a deeper sympathy for the lost lives
of 1877 of our citizens, slaughtered in cold
blood on our soil, than for the anxious sus-
penses of any regal despot. If the fifty gal
liant marines who turned out with such
cheerful alacrity" to arrest men who never
dreamed of resistance to the laws, were
in saving the unprotected wo-
men and children on the border from the
scalping knife, il would be more gratifying
to the nation at large, though not quite so
cheaply heroic to procla nation soldiers,
or so ma unanimously in accordance with
our liege lady of Spain.