Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1869-09-04
SATURDAY MORNING, SEPT. 4, 1869.
The First Military Ukase.

W mic the people ol inc South HaN u HUI
enough of military rule to appreciate its
beauties, we, of the Pacific Coast, have
been favored with very few manifestations
of its power. The cause Of this doubtless
is, We arc too insignificant to require the
use of this favorte Radical party cXpcdi-
dent. Nor can VIC see the necessity now.
that the election is over. and money has
done for us what bayoncts have done no
better in the South.
But newcomers of course bring with
them the opinions formed by their sur
roundings elsewhere, and it is not there
fore surprising that they should endeavor
to make things run in the same grooves to
which they have been accustomed. We
were by no means astounded when shown,
few days ago, a copy of Il proclamation
issued by the new Superintendent of lndi-
an Affairs, nor surprised that it should
rartakc of bothacivl anda military nature
considering the fact that Col. Ross holds
both civil and a military Office, and that
while the integrity Of the one must be OBJ
served, to support the dignity Of the other
is a no less imperative duty.
With the oLjrcto of the Coloncl's proclaim
alton we find no fault. 1t is one in which
nine-tcntlis Of the people will give him a
cordial support But the manner of per-
forming very simple duty, and the grand
flourish of trumpcts, is a novelty that has
been no less amusing than it was uncx-
rccted. The document, which is published
in full elsewhere. reads 81, Samuel Ross.
Brcvct Colonel L. S. Army, Surcrntcnd-
cnt Of Indian Affairs of Washington Terri
tory 1t will be at once observed that
Col. Ross does not issue this manifesto as
Colonel, nor as a Superintendent of Indian
Affairs, but as an officer partaking of the
nature Of both. 1t is well known prin-
cipal in chemistry, that the union of any
two of certain substances produces third
differing wholly or partially from the in
srcdicnt parts. So it may be presumed
that under the new regime, new Office is
created, the like of which our people have
never seen before. The Colonel first pro-
cecds to "cxrcl, GUST, eject, and turn off,
all trespassers, singlc-handci and alone.
Now this is military; words with the bark
on, and puts us in mind of the brave gen
cralisslmo who proclaimed:
9 He who darcs these boots displace,
Shall meet Bombastes face to face
If this facile method of clearing the res
crvation could be made to result in practi-
cal rather than imaginary effects, g Lo, the
poor Indian" would ere this have been
hasking in the wigwams so lately jumped
by the Jumpers. But the "bull," unfor-
tunatcly, has scarcely had more effect than
that Of the Pope against the comet, and
the Colonel appears to have anticipated
such result, for in the succeeding SEN
tcncc, he calls upon all officers, military
and civil, Federal and Territorial, of every
county and township, to aid in doing pre-.
ciscly what he declares that he, alone and
unaided, has already done, namely, elected,
ousted, expelled and turned off, certain
trespassers. This is the cirH view of the
case, as seen from military standpoint
The warning is then given to tresspassers
that they will be arrested and bound over
for trial. This we believe to be in accord
ancc with common sense view of the
subject. To illustrate by smile: We will
fancy that the Indignation at the wrongs
of Tie poor Indian stood at 1000 when the
Colonel proceeded to GUST and eject; tina,
II sober second thought discovered diff
ticutics in the way. aid is solicited and
Indignation falls to 6u0; that after the
proclamation is written still cooler view
is taken and the notice i~aprcnlcd givin.