Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-04-24
The Indians-ShaI We Have an
Indian WARP


If Cleopatra's nose had been shorter, said
Pascal, the fate of the world might have
been different. That epigram is the epi-
tome of many histories. To the greater O
less length of a nose or chin-to the greater
or less circumference of some skull-we
may trace war or peace, the destruction or
preservation of nations, the happiness or
obliteration of whole branches of the hu-
man race. We are likely TO have an imme-
date application of this practical para
phrase In the war now perhaps already
raging between our troops and certain In
dian tribes.A There is good reason to be-
Ilieve that the present state of Indian rela-
itions was brought on by the acts of blum
dering ipcompetency. A war whose least
result will be the spending of some mil
lions. that will cost many lives, and arrest
for two or three years the magnificent
trans Mississippi march of American prog
ress, may come upon US, having no better
or greater cause than that most common
faet-a bad appointment made at the ma
tional capitalize appointment of a man
of rather less than average discretion to a
point that indeed did not seem to the au-
thorities of great importance.
We had agreements with the Indians, in
virtue of which we were able to live on toll
cradle terms as neighbors. In pursuance of
such agreements certain parties were auth
orized TO sell them ammunition. If it is a
bad policy to sell powder and ball to the red
men we ought not to agree to do so, or we
ought to annul the agreement in a proper
manner and as becomes a people respecting
law-at least laws of their own making
Somebody thought it was bad policy, and,
dressed in his brief authority, ready enough
to play magnate and dictators ordered in
panic haste the discontinuance of such sale.
so the Indians had no means to kill buffalo,
and were distressed and exasperated, and
the cause of trouble was an encroachment
on their hunting grounds by the new route
to Virgigia City. They did not, however,
plunge into war. So many Midshipman
Easys could not have been more disposed to
argue the points in pacific way. Argu-
ment, explanation, good temper, would
have settled all the trouble. Argument
could not be had; good temper was
not to be wasted on s'savages," Parties
themselves in sight of Fort Phil
Kearny and held up their blankets as sig
nails. They were shelled and driven away.
Soldiers went out shooting at them ION
their own hook" whenever they came
near. They lowered around, however; they
assembled in larger numbers-three hun
dred, it is said; three thousand, others say
and Indians present in the party, of tribes
that have always been friendly, and boast
they never slew white man-such Indians
declare most firmly that the intention was
not hostile. But there was panic. A
: DdrGy was OuG cub6luO -WOOu-GllG
might destroy it! Another party was sent
to see to its safety. This latter party saw
Indians and opened fire. The Indians re-
treated, the soldiers pursued, were drawn
into an ambuscade and slaughtered to a
man. Such is the plain story on the judg-
ment of experts OF the Fort Phil Keafney
massacre-all, there is too much reason to
fear, most terrible blunder!
Shall we eXpiate this blunder by war
with all the Indians we can force TO fight
us? Shall we save the pride of the author
of this blunder at the expense of the equip
ment of an army? We hope not. There
was time when war was the only possible
result of accidental collision, If two or
three men of Megara murdered an Athenian
in drunken bout, the Athenians murdered
any Megarean they could lay hands on; and
so from murder to murder men dritted into
war. 1t is the advantage of higher ciVili-
Zation that we act less. blindly. We single
out particular -delinquents and do not re-
tort indiscriminately on a race the crimes
even OF certain of its members. Let us not
give way to passions and prejudices, but
pause and inquire calmly whether there is
not a better way for the settlement of our
Indian difficulties than the costly one of
eXtirpation; whether, indeed, properly
established system of stocked reservations
may not make the savage his own antidote,
and make him even contribute towards our
progress across the plains. --Neoo York
Herald. -a a AesE