The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-06
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The recent news OF the defeat of Col Steptoc~h y,
fifteen hundred indians. and the excited state Of
large number Of tribes at the North West lead
many to suppose that we the eve of serious
trouble with our red brethren
In his report at the opening Of the last session OF
Congress the Commissioner for Indian affairs repre-
sented the Indian tribes of Oregon and Washington
Territories in very unsettled state, and predicted
from that fact general outbreak On our North
western frontier.
The events now Transporting. not alone IN those
regions but the borders of Texas, California aud
New Mexico, are ominois of heightened and expen-
sive Indian war, which may cos: much blood aud
treasure before it is terminated. Reports from all
these poihts well as from the Minnesota frontier,
indicate serioas trouble with tine savage tribes all
along the borders OF civilization. The Indian wars
in 1886 cost several millions; and ia view of the
present condition of the treasury another outbreak
is not to be contemplated without serious apprehen
sion.
In Minnesota the Sioux and Chppewas have just
renewed the feud which has existed between these
nations for century and threc.quarters, rendering
the condition of the white settlers extremely unsafe
In the Simcoc valley at the junction Of the Colum
bia and Snake rivers, Colonel Steptoe's command,
of four hundred men, met severe reverse from
1900 of the Polouse and Snake tribes on the lGth of
May. About the same date brutal massacre Of
Indian women and children took place ut Fort
Thorne, in Arizona, by party OF Mexcans, for the
purpose of provoking war, and in all probability
terrible retaliation will be taken for that act.
In view of vii these facts it will become necessary
for the government to concentrate strong bodies of
troops at different points the frontier to repress
the growing spirit Of hostility thus manifested by
the Indians.
Our correspondence from Dacotah, which we pub
lsh day, describes fearful attack the town of
Madeira, on the the Big Sioux river by the Yankton
and Cissidan Indians, who completely burned down
the town and carried of $50 600 worth Of the pro-
perty of the settlers, rendering il necessary for them
to appeal to the Governor Of Minnesota for military
aid. The whole frontier from Minnesota to Califor-
mia is pregnant with danger.
II cannot be denied that our Indian policy has
hitherto been full of grave mistakes. The red men
cannot be bent to our civilization no more than the
negroes; and even if II were possible. the mode we
have adopted has been very bad one. They have
been exposed to association with the worst classes OF
white men-heartless and immoral spectators, who
mix with them only to cheat and demoralize them.
The examples of white civilization which they see
around them calculated to disgust them with its
very name, while the cruel frauds that confirm
ally pmctised upon them, the vices and disease in
troduced into their lodges and the liquor traffic
that curse of the red maa-have all combined not
alone to retard their progress but actually to bru-
talize them to a degree far below their primitive
simple nature. The three greatest obstacles to the
progress of our Indian tribes have been the large
annuities paid them by the government--the wide
limits Of the lands allotted to them and the inter.
course of traders and enigrants, with all their
scheming and viciousness. II was suggested, we
believe, by Mr.. Douglas. at the session OF Con
gress preceding the last. that the Indians
should be gathered into one Territory, where
they could be better controlled and governed, and
the lands parcelled out them in severates forever
of sufficient number of acres for each to cultivate
whereby their nomadic life might be reformed and
the tribes who are now roaming restlessly over our
frontier prairies, almost without boundary to their
domain, might have an opportunity Of settling down
into agricutturists. George CONWAY suggested a
scheme somewhat similar, and many Of those who
are in favor of some such plan. The total number
Of Indians in the States and Territories Of the United
States exclusive OF few who have lost their tribal
character or amagamated with whites, is from
800 600 TO $50 600 Ofthese about ESQ are located
in New York, Indiana, the Carolinas and Alabama,
and are harmless peaceful tribes; but all the rest,
numbering over 10000, are settled in California,
Florida Texas, Kansas, Nebraska Oregon, Wash
ngton Territory, the upper Missouri, and the whole
Northwestern frontier. These with few exceptions
such as the Shawnees and wyandotts the Oneidas
of Wisconsin some tribes of the Cherokees, Creeks,
and Choctaws, and the Indians Of Northern Mich.
gan.-msy lie set down rs dangerous aud irreliablc
race, with whom difficulty may be experienced at
any time.
With these troublesome neighbors hanging on the
dividing line between the States and our Pacific
shore and Of this time threatening danger to from
tier settlements, the prospect Of proiracted and
costly Indian war seems imminent, and it behooves
the government to take prompt. decisive course to
meet the emergency. We know by experience that
Indian wars are very expensive undertakings. The
war with the Seminees in Florida cost some hity
millions Of dollars. When our government bound
itself by the treaty Of Gaudslupe-Hdslgc to pro-
tect the Mexican frontier from the attacks Oh th' IN
dams. 1t found, after a very short time, that the
claims arising out of various spoistions of the hos
tile tribcs-some real but many spurious in
vclve the treasury in expense of hundreds Of mil
lions; and II was compelled to abrogate that provi.
sion of tho treaty by the negotiation Of new one.
Our present system of dealing with the red
men ia manfestly wrong. II Is not only fraught
with injustice to them but |. is fruitful Of danger to
ourselves. The parties employed as agents and In
other capacities accustomed to turn their Official
powers 10 their own private advantage. wholly re-
CARELESS of the happiness of the Indians or the inte
rests Of the country. Rapacity and frond are the
characteristic features in their policy and as long
"a this Is true we never hope to see the red men
placed on proper footing on this continent, or to
End peace secured on vast western frontier. We
have II stated on excellent authority thst In many