Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-05-12
THE TRADITIONS OF THE WAR
oFEIoR.

S184S0- ~
The alarm has been sounded for an
other Indian war, and this time it Is to
be of gigantic dimensions, there being
already no less than two thousand
Sioux ON the war path. 10 meet this
large force Sheridan has called for ad-
ditional troops, and he and they are
already on their way to meet the en-
envy. If all means have been vainly
tried to conciliate the Indians, this
newest attempt to crush them out is
all right /; but if it is only another eff
fort Of the brutality of strength against
against notorious weakness, as 1t GER
tainly appears to be, 1t is all wrong.
The policy of ind!scriminate exter-
mination, so long carried on by the
Government against the indians, has
not been fruitful Of happy results.
The savages in all TIE centuries of the
occupancy Of the soil by the whites can
look back with no overwhelming feel
ing of gratitude toward the invaders.
The history Of the white men in this
country, 20 far as it bear relation to
their treatment Of the Indians, is one
of unmixed injustice, cruelty and
wrong. In these bloody acts Of the
savages, perpetrated upon settlers time
out of mind, we can only recognize
the inevitable sequence Of the outrages
the Indians have endured from the be-
ginning. Wrong begets wrong, and
no ono should be surprised to find the
savages paying back their debts Of
bloodshed in kind. They r undoubt-
edly cruel, vindictiye, merciless in
their revenge whenever they find their
opportunity but, we repeat, these are
habits taught them through all the les
sons Of injustice they have learned
from the whites. 1t is a serious matter
Of surprise that there should be In eX-
istence any friendly Indians; but there
are thousands Of them, who not only
do not give the Government any
trouble, but who till the soil and edu-
cate into good citizens their children.
Human nature Is the same in all sorts
Of men. The dissemination of learn
ing, justice aud religion among wild
tribes has never failed to elevate them;
nor would it fail if properly tried
among the Indians of this Continent.
We entertained, 4 little while ago,
great hopes of success following the
appointment Of what was termed the
Quaker Commission. 1t certainly had
one good thing to recommend it. Its
passwords were Peace and Good Will
among men. These words in the
mouths of the old Indian Agents had
little meaning, little worth; but when
the eminent citizens of America, com-
prising the Commission, uttered them,
they were significant Of a better day
for the red man. 1t seems, however,
that no good can come of this Commits
sion, strong as it was in energy, phi
lanthropy and Intelligence. Its men,
bers have been met at every turn by
the military authorities and rudely
thrust back. The Government has not
supported them as it should have done.
The army on the borders have been the
real arbiters of this trouble, and no
one need be surprised that with the
sword in their hands they have drawn
it as the easiest way to hew down the
party to the other side of the argu-
ment. 1t is the very old story Of the
strong white man exterminating the
weak red man. AS they were always
before, so will they be now, barren
victories. History cannot mention en-
cept to ~reprobate such warfare, and its
darkest page will be that in which it
tells how under the sword the Indians
were swept away. The noble Quaker
Commissioners will have no chance in
this struggle. They are weak as the
Indians whom they would succor, and
the traditions of the War Office recog-
nize but one way to treat with the
original owners of the soil, and that Is
to syterminate them. These old ira
are part Of the equipments Of
the army marching against the Sioux,
and they will undoubtedly prevail.