The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-06-05

Gen. AAaruey's amtiys
There are about thirty thousand members
belonging to it. They are as bad and unman-
agable as they can be, and if the Generals life
isn't as unhappy as that of the historical old
woman who lived ia the shoe, he must be as
calmly philosophical as Socrates, besides haV-
ing the chivarous courage OF Bayard 1or
which the world gives him credit But the
parallel between the General and the old lady
is extremely imperfect in one respect; instead
Of having narrow quarters for his family, the
Teton Indians, the most warlike of the Sioux
race he has territory as large as the State of
New York on which TO subsist it. The Mis-
souri, river forms the Eastern boundary line of
of this Northern Reservation, and the route of
the proposed Northern Pacific Railroad skirts
it on the North. The way that Gen. Harvey
came to have this large family was by reason
of the doings of the Peace Commission OF
which he was member. That Commission
gave part of the Sioux into his hand. The
new Indian policy initiated by Gen. Grant
AID supported by Congressional enactments
may change his field of labor, or relieve him
altogether from his work among the Indians.
We have no precise information on that point.
But the experiment he is trying is an interest
ing opeasaNfts salient features are concsely
ST. this epigrammatics sentence which en-
( - the popular idea of his relations with
the RedsIins HE is tie man who fought the
Indians, bat neUer told them a lis" His former
campaigns in the Indian country cause him to
be feared; his kindly, patriarchal rule in his
new relations with his savage wards causes him
to be loved. He restricts the hunting expedi-
tons of the Sioux within the limits marked
out by the Peace Commission, and there has
been no instance in which they have gone be-
You'd their reservation. He makes considera-
be expenditures of money in procuring for
them seeds, agricultural implements food and
clothing, but any charge of extravaganza
against him is we'll met by the statement that
he has devoted his own private property to the
good work, and that he has saved the govern
ment the expense of military expeditions.
The results OF the labors of Gen. Harvey
who in old times fairly won the reputation of
being the best 'Indian fighter" in the coun-
try, ought to teach a valuable lesson Indeed,
we are plainly on the eve of radical and prob
ably most beneicent changes in our Indian
policy The idea that no faith need be kept
independent nations with whom treaties may
be made in secret sessions of the Senate, only
to be broken, is now regarded by almost uni
yersal consent as an exploded one The idea
that they are human beings, and that wrongs
inflicted upon them inevitably react upon the
perpetrators is gaining almost universal Gre
dence. just North of us, separated from us
only by an arbitrary line of political geogra-
ply, are Indians, of races closely allied to our
own, who never imbrue their hands in the
blood of The whites. Toward them the same
attitude has always been assumed that is
now beginning to be regarded as the proper
one on this side of the line. They have been
treated, as Gen. Harvey treats their brethren
here, with good faith. They have not been re-
garded as foreign nations and pushed further
and further into the wilderness each success
i've advance of white settlement, but have been
surrounded and absorbed, as it were, by the
whites, in their advance Westward Millions
of treasure and rivers Of blood have been saw
ed by conduct that is equally consonant with
the rules of ethics and Of sound political econ
omy. The only adverse interest that makes
resistance to the new id cas- that are forced up
on us by the uncomfortable experiences of the
past is that of heartIess SPECTATORS and famil-
lars of the Indian Ring, who are alike reckless
of honor, Justice and good faith, and Of the
best interests Of their country.
II we may be permitted with all due defer
ence and modesty to make suggestion to the
Directors Of the Belfast & Moosehead Railroad,
we would advise them to play the part of the
+sal, 4 LII
cial preference for either of the corporations,
that, all soulless as they are are soliciting the
honor of an alliance. There are several rea-
sons why this course would be wise one. An
ambiguous and inoonclusive mo" to both par
ties will only make both more eager in pursuit
This healthful rivalry. between the suitors
must inevitably result in much that is pleas
ing to the Belfest & Moosehead Directors in
their individual capacity Already we hear
of their feasting and revelry all along the line
Of both roads and on the projected connecting
roads. Now they enjoy the hospitality Of the
Portland & Kennebec raod at Skowhegan, and
anon we find them the guests of persuasive
and obliging Maine Central managers, at Lew
iston. They will be obliged to listen to good
many speeches, to hear much of broad gauge
and narrow gauge, to have their heads confus-
ed with innumerable statements of relative
distances between Belfast and all the rest of
the universe on the two lines, to be stuffed
with facts relating to the resources and bust
ness of fifty towns, and all that; but they can
listen as little and eat as much as they please
A shrewd boy, who properly appreciates oys-
tiers, genial company and warm personal friends
is always excusable if he "cant make up his
mind which secret society to join for one or
two terms after be enters college. Those days
in the 'tpiscatorial department" are delicious
The LATEST ON THE GOVERNOR QUESTION
The Eastport Sentinel removes all doubts as
to its views, by answering an article in the
Ellsworth American and coming out unequiv-
oeally for Chamberlain.
The Somerset Reporter continues its vigor-
our support of the same candidate and pub
fishes communication from a temperance
man who adiures his associates not to abandon
the Republican party, but to submit to the will
of the majority.
The Belfast Progressive Age expresses views
in harmony with the above, and says that the
contemplated action of the tenn peranee men is