The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-02-12
THE rHDrAx QUESTION.

GDlTukc OAAk NIII -UcStS$SBtSb. uotivo
in your valuable paper that there il consider.
able discussion 1t Washington over the ffoa-
tier question, embracing the Pacific Railrusd
and routes to the gold regions in the FIR
West, which are now being besieged (asd
have been for the past two years. BY Indiaa
tribes through whose hunting grounds these
routes pass. Gen. Sherman representing
that the Government should treat with theue
sayages through and by the military am, 80
not through spectators, Qndian Agents and
Tradsu)l
/ can give the sentiments" and obsssvar
tons Of one man from the frontier:
In the FIRST place, President Lincoln ex.
pressed his view Of the gold Regions to Mr..
Colfax, by saying that they wore tie Shank
Of the world and our greatest treasure r.
expressing his desire TO protect and populate,
BY our native and foreign migration, these
vast territories in the shutdown. No man can
know and understand the vicissitudes of Z
life on the frontier, unless through actual OK.
perience. The United States Government
has long enough neglected it, citizens in the
far West, and experimental for years through
Indian Agents and Indian Traders at the ex>
pense Of the lives of her citizens, playing
foolish humanitarian schemes and leaving
the actual settlers to become the only real
protectors of the mail routes, and to emigrs-
ton.
The Union Pacific Railroad is looming up
to- day reality; assuming gigantic propor>
tons; attracting the attention Of our enter
prising Yankee Nation, and enlisting the
capital Of Europe in this vast and all.impor-
tant thoroughfare for our citizens to the great
| banks-the mines-President Lincoln spoke
| of. Now we can see the true situation
the first settlers have been left in by
the Government all these long years:
Without adequate protection BY the
army-too weak in numbers to
keep up strong military organization Of
their own-the Indian Agency power a hum
bug and disgrace to a nation like ours
left to the inroads of war-like and unscrupu-
lous neighb0rs, who combine the craftinsss
1
man, and who are ever ready to wage war on
the most frivolous pretext; with savage
satisfaction in knowing that the blood split
by them would be covered up with wooden
blankets, powder, lead and firearms to con-
tinue in peace! If the settlers, or soldiers
sent out to keep the Indians in awe of ye grea,
white maut?), dared to kill few Of these
bloody monsters and their spawn, the cry
would 60 up from the Middle States, and res
echo along our Eastern shores until the halls
of Congress rang with /" Lo, the poor ln-
dian ~ and thousands of hearts would ache
at the dread stories of cruelty perpetrated
missioners forthwith would be sent to the
scene of slaughter(.); and, if settlers, they
would be indicted; if the military, their com
mander would forfeit his straps more blan-
kets more powder, and more laughter from
the "poor Indian y would be the result
The men aud their families who were endur-
ing privstion and outrage, holding this terri
tory as United States property, and smooth
l rug WIG pdAhc iOi OAuUtay duu scnuiuk kOluc IL
returns to clothe our soldiers and sailors and
carry on the Government, would be left to
their own personal bravery and indomi.able
will to protect themselves from the barba-
rians, their neighbors, "poor Indians T.
/ There is little spot, midway between the
Missouri river and California, that bears the
title Of Utah. This sacred spot is inhabited
by the dregs and odn,in of Europe, and
composes Mormondom. Great Salt Lake City
is the Mecca. Its prophet sits upon his throne
in this celestial latter.day metropolis, and
rules his kingdom with rod of iron-liter>
ally. To this sublime and gracious ruler a
great proportion Of our Indian troubles are
due. Ever since Brigham Young settled,
with his proselytes, in Utah. he has melted
the Indians to murder American citizens;
and not only has he melted Indians, but he
has commanded his executioners destroying
angels) TO rob, murder, and retard emigra>
| ton to the Far West This is no hypothesis,
tor there are those (whites) who have par
ticipated in bloody massacres on the Plains,
by the direction Of Brigham Young, that will
testify to this fact. have conversed with
numbers of these Mormons, myself. and
know that they are more to be feared than
the red devils of the Plains, so far as retard-
ing the great work of building q railroad
across the continent.
Nine>tenths of Mormondom, in 1868, were
traitors, and Salt Lake City was a refuge for
the dastards that fed from the Southwest,
from that justice they would have received
from our boys in blue had they renamed.
II IS this element that will through the mach
nations Of Brigham Young, goad on the
savage hends now prepared by our Indian
Agents, to slaughter, the coming summer,
that will startle the nation.
General Sherman is right. The entire In.
dian question should be left with the militia.
~, and the military should number at leas,
$4,000, with bases of supplies, and, in fact
our Government will soon, if it does not now,
see the necessity of gigantic war with them
on our frontiers. Let {" old crazy Bill have
his way, and | warrant satisfaction will be
/ o''~A' - 'Oet ~ VIM NC Hcfc question Oh
time; and after a few more millions Of mon,
ey and more blood. the Government will
adopt his views; and not until then will a
Sufficient protection be given to our frontiers.
Exterminatioas should be written on every
regimental banner sent westward aud i,
enough banners are sent, it will soon be sail
quiet" on the frontiers, and the rich mineral
regions of the West can be fully developed,
The Union Pacific Railroad will DESTROY no.
lygamy by flooding Utah with Gentle pop
uls,ion; and the Mormons held in CHECK
from furnishing arms TO Indians. the rich
mineral regions on the western slope Of tht
Rocky Mountains will then be developet
without our citizens being murdered while
working their claims by Mormons, who def,
the United States laws.
Yours, O,M.H.x
LOOKING AHEAD.
In view of the rapid progress of the variou
Railroads towards the Pacific coast, a Wild
awake traveller dreameth in the nevspaner
OF the good time coming: