The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-01


France and Prussa-and that such difficulty
will arise before next spring is more than pro-
bable-n0 Exposition will prevent the comba-
tants from entering at once into fierce and
terrible conflict. Napoleon though past the
prime of life, is vigorous enough for another
campaign; and we may depend upon it, if
occasion shall offer he will not shirk the re-
sponsibilities of war. So long as France is to
be ruled by Napoleon that rule must be sane
toned by success. The sad termination of
the Mexican business and the snubbing ad-
ministered by Bismark, render it necessary
that something be done to recover prestige.
In spite of these rumors about reduction, we
have reason to believe that the French Gov
eminent is in the market, making large pur-
chases of arms. What can this mean, if it
does not mean that war is at least proba-
bility in the spring of next year
General sherman and the Indian War.
From the Tribune.
Lieutenant General Sherman will not fulfil
his recent intention of going to Europe, on
account of the Indian troubles. This he ex-
plains in a letter to the citizens of New York,
who have offered him a public reception in
view of his departure. With his usual prac-
tical sense. the General concludes to remain in
his department, where it is momently feared
that the Indians 'may combine and do infinite
mischief" and where our commanders are
daily called upon 'for protection at hundred
places hundreds of miles from each other"
Daily kilograms inform us that the savages are
executing wrath far and wide, and letters and
dispatches bear complaint that our troops, as
at present posted, are even more inefficient
than inadequate to protect the lines of travel
in the Territories. For all that the army does
to prevent him, the Indian is safe marauder
and there is no prospect, we fear that his evil
strategy and tactics will not continue to be keen
thOrns in the sides of his pursuers. Perhaps
we should say his oppressors, since it is under
stood that the Indian taxes our time, temper
and dmeans justin proportion as we vagabo ndize
him by swindling misgOvernment. AS often
as our contractors and agents sell him, he
makes the nation pay for it, till every emil
grant in his neighborhood is made to feel
that he is the most reckless and remorseless
of tax-gatherers. The Government agents
and the army cannot bleed the Indian quite
so badly as, upon bitter provocation he is
able and willing to bleed us. He is wild
enemy, with all the wilderness in league with
him, and he is master of the science of am
bush. While our territorial armies, five
thousand strong, are weakly portioned out to
guard distant points on the line of emigration,
the Indian has crept up between them, and
burned and wasted settlements by the dozen.
The value of the guard duty performed by
General Augur or General Hancock does not
yet appear great as compared to the amount
of ravage so easily committed by the red men,
who are still far from doing us all the harm
that is possible. Have we not heard it cal
culated that it costs us one hundred
United States soldiers, at price of $lOO, 900,
to get rid of single Indian? Re-
ilecting that the agency frauds have rem
dered it harder to conquer savages than
to reform them, this funeral rate does not
appear implausible; but suppose we pay after
this fashion the entire bill for an outright
Indian war, lasting a couple of yearsY Mr..
McCulloch may have to complain that the ma
tional debt cannot be reduced meanwhile, and
our people have once more occasion to reflect
that the painted savages, though they appeal
to us with horrible indecorum, have rights
which it will pay their unpainted brethren to
respect. The way of the national transgressor
is hard las this chronic Indian fever attests: and
we must take the hint once for all, and mend
our manners in dealing with the savages. As
a shrewd warrior, General Sherman will be
glad enough if he escapes the embarrassment
and perpleXity of a combined insurrection of
the tribes. He, at least, does not talk glibly
of exterminating them, well knowing that he
has to deal with a people of three hundred
thousand, nimbler than the Bedouins, and
familiar with the secrets ola country as savage
and strange as themselves. The General Is
candid in saying that "being pressed from
every quarter, the Indians have become ner-
vous, excited, and in some cases positively
hostile.' There is no anger in his statement,
from which we infer that he, too, is convinced
that the ''Wards of the Government have
been maltreated, and that we owe it to them
and to ourselves to prevent further war and to
accomplish justice TO them, rather than divert
men and money to avenge ourselves for the
sake of a few scalps.
The war ON the Platte has fully opened,
however, if we may believe the last telegram.
There is general panic along this route, and
the Indians, we are told, laugh at the infantry
sent to protect the railroad workmen. Whole
sale robberies and burnings, and other such
baneful signs occur in the report and sinis-
ter impression is conveyed by the statement
that the Indians line the bluffs on both sides
of the Platte, whereon Spotted Tail is en-
camped, his ponies in Splendid condition, -
and his young men on the war-path, though
he processes peace Moreover, the Territory
of Montana is aroused by rumors of massacre,
and General Meagher is rallying a volunteer
| force, with the incentives of revenge and booty.
To credit all the stories we hear from the Ter
rtoIles, and especially those to the prejudice
OF the Indians, would be merely rash, remem
| perng what mercenary and panic-stricken in
Iuehces nave so often ruled our border to its
ulsgrace' we are not yet able to Judge what
proVocauon the citizens Of Montana have re
celVed, 1Or the kilograms do not inform us bu
we are fearful that the "pale faceO will b,
again to blame for first outraging his REQ
brother, and then seeking hot revenge for Al
imaginary wrong. There may have been mis-
chief on both sides, but surely nothing ha
occurred that Wlli excuse the apparent thirs
of the people OF Montana to repeat the blood,
of Co1OOal (fbiuinofo,,