The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-09
THE INDIAN WAR.

4 determined VIGOROUS
Poiicy-imbeciiify Of the Interior Depart.
ment-Necessity or souadiy Beating the In.
dians-Peace Commissions a Failure-scv.
ernl Columns 20 March-ArrivaI Of the Ftfth
Cavalry at Fort Harkcr Condition Of Colonel
F0rsythc.
FORT HAYS Kansas, Sept 3o 1885,
The warm reception which greeted Colonel For.
sythe and his little band the waters OF the Repub-
lican has had the effect OF increasing the highest
degree the determination Of the commanding gen.
eral to punish the refractory tribes, and only to
bring them to sense OF their weakness when
Drought into collision with the strong arm of the
government but to reduce them to such condition
and fear that they will be perfectly
Vented 10 remain upon their reservations and devote
themselves to the more civilized pursuits OF agrcul-
tural or pastoral life Looking at the policy OF the
government with regard to the Indian ques-
tion' ana judging the merits or those who
nave us administration IN their hands by
'he'r acts' without any compromise whatever
every one OF them from Secretary OF the Interior
70 inc lowest official. might be down as under
andins aou as little OF the duties OF their tees az
IL Is possible Tor any person 10 know The man.
agement, or. rather, the mismanageme Mt OF Indian
sars - el.er inc result OF corruption or deplora
OF the matter In thls region that there IL about an
equal share OF both these influences ut work. The
indian agents aud others who have the SUMMING
or the tribes naturally, from interested motives
light or or by some other means stay every attempt
TO rcnovate and reorganze the Indian admlnistra-
lion; while conversations with those not Interested
and therefore more competent TO give an opinion
develop the fact that nothing ever cal Ue done with
the indian to keep him permanently quiet until q
change Is made.
There is one consideration which susrends any
terrible consequences from the present turea ening
aspect OF aiiars on the frontiers, and that Is the pre-
sence of Sheridan. His activity officer, his
holiness as commander ard his familiarity win
Indian a1ars, render him Just the person give the
insurrectionary tribes about as much business AZ
they can attend to.
principal cause no doubt OF the present hostile
attitude OF the Indian Is the want OF good thrash
ing. There Is no influence SO pacfying TO an AFRO
punishment. The Indians, pretty much this spirit,
have for the past few years forgotten en.ireiy g
nored the TACT that there Is government TO which
they must be obcdient Or at least, not murder its
ctzens. When Old General Harvey killed the chill
dren upon the theory that .knts maze llcen che IN
dams suddenly discovered wonderful regard Tor the
government, and the name OF Harvey to-day IL q
word OF terror to the tribes OF the plans.
Since the days OF Harvey the COVE nment has been
paying annullles and granting liberia supplies TO the
tribes While Indian traders have sold them arms.
Last year, when soldier was not allowed 10 fire
upon an Indian under pain OF court-mar,ia prob
ANY more summary punishment, troops were sent
result OF that abomnable farce and nuisance called
Peace Commission. 1t would be u nne thing for
the government to send out another commission nd
Tor the benefit OF the country. that II majority OF
those useless individuals were sent back scaped we
might have respectable Indian policy. II h absurd
TO think that persons who have never seen the plains
or . live Indian, and do not hal understand what
they were sent out for, should know much about
preserving peace with the Indian. Every time they
have attempted their measures OF questionable phi
lanthropy the government has been Inundated. Bnt
az thus mas become SO common OF late In the eyes OF
the indian, we might let the government take this
with its usual composure, bai the army must bear
all the insult and disgrace attaching to such con-
dtion OF things. For instance, case is mentioned
after the peace commission farce OF last year had
Illuminated the government as far as It could. paid
to kill an Indian the latter frequently INDUCED in
sundry evidences OF lordship, such splitting In the
in various ways OF o similar nature. On one occn-
sion some Indians wished to purchase arms; they
were . tod they would use them 10 soo. soldiers:
soldiers with sticks" This Is very tine position in
which to place heroes Of four years war against
white men, to be driven away by the sticks VI the RED
man. No one else was to blame but the government
and those whom 1t sent out to attempt to quiet
savage by money and presents.
II Is now generally admitted that this kind OF
policy VIII not work. IL Is the most expensive In
determination would probably be about as quick
means OF settling the question, because On their part
the Indians never take prisoners and to adopt the
same on our side would be but retaliation, this 10
not necessary TO insure quiet The policy OF Gene.
raj Sheridan II the true one. Don't listen TO cries Of
many OF his number killed. Keep the warriors en-
gagged on the 'front.' and strike suddenly for their
Indian crippled we may expect him become salts.
ned with war and remain In peace and enjoy what
ne has left. Wherever this programme has been
followed the most enduring success has been the
result. General Wright tried II some years ago in
the case or the California Indiana Since then there
has been no serious trouble from this source In that
section.
General Sheridan Ia exceedingly busy organizing
for vigorous prosecution Of hostilies. Several
columns to be at once to cooperate with
each other. Colonel Royal, Fifth cavalry, who ar
rived ct Fort Harker on Tuesday last, viii be here
with his command Sunday. IL will probably
then be several days before he can get OF. He win
move northward, towards the Republican river.
Colonel Forsythe with his command reached Fort
Wallace yesterday. He has two wounds-a COM
pound fracture OF the leg and nesh wound In the
thigh. The nrst 10 Of Q dangerous character ana
may necessitate amputation. IL Will be ten days st
least before removal would be safe. The Colonel, II
sufficiently strong by that time, viii then be taken
cept those already given In former dispatches have
YET been received at headquarters respecting Colonel
Forsythe's movement. win myself visit Fort Wal
lace at the first opportunity, communication being
less frequent, owing to the depredations Of the In
dams along the route.
The scouts from Fort Larned this morning
report Indians south OF this point and express the
belief that they number quite large force.