The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-13

The L. dians-The True Policy.
Various and conflicting rumors from
different points in she West seem to Keen 81 q
the story that an Indian war is impending
We do not observe, however, that the govern.
ment is very much alarmed about it, probably
because the stories are not always consistent
with each other, and most likely because the
origin and object of the reports are thoroughly
understood. When, for instance, the public il
alarmed by telegraphic account of an Indian
outrage, which, if it occurred at all, happened
more than six weeks ago, and has been
reported over and over again as fresh
outrage, although it may be the same old
story, we cannot be surprised that the
authorities at Washington, who must be
officially informed of the transaction, pay little
heed to it. The latest report relates to a dash
made by the Kiowa Indians upon Fort Zarah.
a stone fertilization in the middle of the Plains,
days ago it was represented that dash Of
savages was made upon Fort Dodge, on the
Arkansas river, an open and unintrenched
post, comprising goodly number of stone
quarters for the soldiers, an excellent hospital
OF the same material, wood en- tenement,
simplicity, and dozen or more holes in the
ground, or ''dug-outs," situated on the bank
OF the river, where the officers, married and
single, enjoy such luxuries as the prairie dog,
the rattlesnake and the owl are said to enjoy
in common in the splendid artificial temples
known as ''dog towns" Whether this attack
and the one at Fort Zarah which is about a
hundred miles a way from Fort Dodge-formed
the basis of the same story we know not, but,
from the general inaccuracy of Indian reports,
we should not be surprised if it was. How
ever, we have the testimony of Colonel Wynn
koop, reliable Indian agent, that the clash"
at Fort Zarah was only the consequence Of
two young Kiowa warriors getting drunk and
pitching rather boisterously into the camp Of
some teamsters, who fired on them an pro-
voked return fire from the young folks, who
were indulgng in what in civilized life ID
called spree. The Kiowas, it appears, went
to the fort to demand satisfaction, but few
friendly words from their chief and Colonel
Wynkoop settled the whole question. Colonel
Wynkoop says, moreover, that all these tribes
are friendly. On the same day wagon
master reported that his train had been robbed
by the same Indians, but he subsequently
confessed that he had disposed of his mer-
chandise to them, and possibly part Of the
transfer was the very fire-water that created
all the trouble. When we hear such tales we
become suspicious of the veracity of the
sources from which they come, and, while any
news officially reported by Generals Sherman
and Sheridan is undoubtedly entitled to credit,
we are not disposed to accept half the stories,
often multiplied and vague as they are, az
literal truths.
There appears to be disposition on the
part of interested persons either to provoke
an Indian war or to manufacture one by tele-
graph. No doubt an appropriation Of mill
lion or two by Congress would be most accept
able to good many people on the Plains.
The rivalries of Indian agents, too, have
more, perhaps, to do with these troubles than
is generally known. The nfliction of political
than to the cities, and we fear that much OF
the rumors and a good deal of the actual facts
of Indian disturbances may be traced to that
source. Of one thing we are pretty well con-
vinced-that the only true policy in dealing
with the Indians is, first, to make no promises
to them that We do not honestly fulfil, aud
next. that the management Of Indian affairs be
deposited in the War Department, and their
execution be entrusted to the judgment of the
military commanders, who are for the most
part-indeed, almost without exception-gen-
tlemen of unpurchasable integrity, who tho
roughly comprehend their duty as soldiers.
and who have no interest in provoking Indian
warfare.
The SEASON IN THE COUNTRY. -Notwith-