The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-09
How We Ought to Treat the "POOr
n-H IndIan.'' s.8.


IndIan.'' sg5l
From all accounts which come to us from the
frontier, there seems to be no conclusion
left us but to decide in favor OF vigorous
prosecution of the war against the Indians.
We have little sympathy with the maudlin
sentimentality which would discourse on the
wrongs of the aborigines, and place the white
men in the attitude of the assailants. The
question whether the discoverers of America
ever had any right to the soil has been settled
by possession. Whether or not Miles Stan
dish, Lord Baltimore, and William Penn were
trespassers or not, and whether or not the
Indians have had many wrongs heaped upon
them, is a question of ethics, interesting to
philosophers, but of no practical Importance
to the American people. We have learned in
six years to think little of theories which have
no applications and the issue before us to-day
is not whether the Indian was or was not
wrong, but what is the best way to prevent
his numbering the whites.
What are the proper steps to secure our bor-
der Itseems pretty well settled that Congress
does not intend to do anything. The General
Government so far as absolute power is con-
cerned, can do nothing more than lend the aid
of a few regiments to act as escorts and repulse
the bands when they make an attack.
Yet with this little power under its control it
can, we believe, effectually quell these disturb
ances, and prevent the repetition of out
RACES by the Indians for many years to
come. What is needed is an active, energetic,
and uncompromising policy in the conduct of
| the war.
We have but little sympathy for the blood
hirsty proposition of Senator Upton, that the
Government should offer a reward for Indian
scalps-although, coming, as he does, fresh from
the"scenes of butchery, we can imagine he had
cause for his bitter proposition. We cannot
conquer the Indians by turning Indians our
selves It is only by adopting plan of war
fare entirely different from theirs that we will
succeed. The good of the whole from
tier, the protection of thousands of brave
men, innocent wives, and helpless children,
demand that some step be taken to to strike
terror into the savage heart. Nothing but the
most summary punishment can secure such
result. 1t has not yet reached question of
determination, but unless by the firm hand of
power these savages be checked, the people Of
the entire frontier will rise in their might, and
kill without mercy those who are not pun
ished because of the false sympathy of the
people of the Atlantic States.
All the sympathy which we possess is felt
for the poor settlers, who taking their lives in
their hands, seek in the West COM
Portable homes for their families. And we say
deliberately that there had better be sacrificed
ten worthless lives of the lazy, rowing, nOn-pro-
ducing, all-consuming Indians, than one of our
hardy workers, whose strength is our national
strength and whose success is our national
success. The irrepressible conflict be-
: tween civilization and barbarism has been
gong on for centuries. Shall the advance Of
= 'he iormer be delayed bya timid sentimen-
:, 'ansin unworthy of men, and suited only for
sonooi-snls We hope that with firm hand
. inc scaiping-knife and tomahawk will be
!. wieS'eo " irOm the warriors, and those who drew
> 'he one ana unearthed the other be punished
q with death If we do not desire to see the
settlers made desperate, and take the law
; into their own hands, the stupid policy of the
e Government must be abandoned a~d ,go r,ust
8 as Sidney said, Seek through tha s,vora ouiat
s rest in freedom -