Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-03-10
THE NEXT INDIAN CAMPAIGN.

THE NEXT INDIAN CAMPAIGN.
Tho unsubdued savage is already on
the war path. Thus early, his depreda-
tons have stained the annals OF 1868
with the blood of the white man The
first act consists of killing one man and
running off a hundred head of horses ON
the Upper Missouri. The last campaign,
the year 1867, was a remarkable one,
and will always be distinguished at least
among our savage enemies, for It's Drill
liancy, sagacity and heroism Peace
Commissioners in front and soldiers In
the rear! Their orders, prohibiting
offensive operations. It was the cam
paign of entreaty, and we had almost
said defensive operations, but we fear
the latter is too liberal to properly desig-
nate it, Us the defense, in all cases re-
curing protection to travel was lacking.
The Overland Stage Company was OBJ
liged, during the summer and fall, and
until nature i~nterposed obstacles in the
shape Of deep SHOWS and cold weather,
to run the Indian gauntlet in order to
perform their carrying all mail service,
and this over a U. S. mail route. The
Same is true Of every avenue of travel
leading to the mining country of Mon
tana and Idaho, and is alike applicable
to the newly discovered mines of Sweet
water. A misguided philanthrophy, q
~squeamish humanity which prevails
among the jewellers 10 walled cities two
or three thousand miles remote from the
scenes of danger and Of the d~epredations
which result in the taking of the lives Of
our citizens, and the destruction of their
property, governed the policy of the
nation in its campaign of 1867. Even
General Sherman, who early in the
campaign was enabled to travel, with
only a small escort q long distance in
the country where these de~predations
were being perpetrated, because he
saw NO armed foe with pickets and
forts, concluded that there was no need
Of soldiers to protect settlers on these
outposts Of civilization, and could only
be convinced of his error by the reap
pearanco of active hostility in the same
quarters. By that time however, the
advocates of "Lo" had obtained su.
premacy, and had i%naugurated the
peace movement. The olive branch was
sent in advance and the soldier kept in
the rear. The savages had been made
acquainted with the advantages to ac-
crue to them by the character of the
campaign. These were to be all on
their side, and 80, in most cases they
received the Peace Commissioners and
entertained them with just such q state
meut of their side Of tho question as
suited the sentiment that inaugurated
the movement. Soldiers were kept in
background, lest it might exasperate
the noble red man to see the flag Of our
country and look upon the uniform Of
the nations defeudersl 1t was an en-
treaty coming from M side to the other,
in advance of all request or desire for
peace. 1t was, to tho unlettered and
uniformed savage, an acknowledgment
of their power and our own weakness
at least they so interpreted 1t. They
were entreated to make peace, with the
fresh blood Of defenseless settlers and
emigrants on their hands unatoned for,
and ever u%nrepented Of! The fruits Of
that campaign are already seen in the
early opening Of another-a war, which
is being waged upon settlers and trav-
elers over the nations highway and
thoroughfare between the two oceans.
We have already expended hundreds of
millions on this do-nothing, peace-en-
treaty policy, and had hoped to have
seen the end Of it. We call now for Of
fensive movements, We demand that the
Peace Commissioners be left at home,
and IL any cry for peace is heard, let it
come from tho savage devils who live
from year to year with nc other purpose
or motive than to add scalps to their
belts and murder our defenseless wo-
men and children upon tho borders.
We demand at the hands of the nation
q vigorous campaign. The great inter-
ests not only Of our own nation, but Of
the world, require that security Of per-
son and property DO given to the Over
land route Of travel between the Mis-
souri, and the Sacramento and to those
hardy pioneers who are pcopling the
waste and desert places in the Terrific
ries through which the Pacific Railroad
is being constructed as also or each
side of it. II is acknowledging too
much to say that tho Government a n
not afford this protection. Protection
can be given, and unless it is, those
charged with this duty will be held false
to their trust and wanting either in ca
pacity or will. We feel a direct inter-
est in the matter, situated and depend
ant as we are upon the Overland route
for our communication with the world.
direct the attention Of our Repre-
.sentatives at Washington to the subject.
There is o little reconstruction needed
in the policy relating to Indian affairs
and We hope to see it speedily applied.
Reese River ReusiHe, March s.