The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-03-29
The Indian Question.

w ltn Hu2e waving OF EfOaQhrlHlS
and shaking of shadbelly coats. We were
told at the inception of Mr. Grants ad-
ministration that all was to he good
treatment, fair words, justice, and peace
upon the Plains The broadbrims de
parted to the border; the shadbelly coats
were smoked in the smoke of many
"talks;" and the upshot was a fine crop
of treaties between the United States,
per Broadbriln, on the one side, and, on
the other, Big Horse and the Wiggling
Bear. 1t is not claimed that this Horse
had kicked the traces or the Bear wig.
gled out of season; or, in less poetic
terms, nobody charges the Indians with
with haying first broken their side of the
treaties; and yet this year opens with SO
many indications of general war upon
the border that Mr Grant is compelled,
on the Sth inst, to send in q set mess
age on the subject. Like most writings
of great men, it is brief, but still full
enough to say that it transmits,as clear
statement Of the case, certain commu-
nication from the Secretary of the Inte-
rior. This communication states that,
from the extreme northern border to the
Mexican frontier, the Indians are rest
less and even menacing; first, because
the government has not fulfilled its treat
les with them and second, because arm.
ed bands of white men are preparing to
invade and take possession Of their
country, on the ground that all Indian
treaties are now void. This curious view
probably originates in the remark of
Butler in the House that the Fifteenth
Amendment did away with the Indian
treaties but, come whence it may, 1t is
reported to be extensively entertained
on the border, and the result of such an
! impression it Is easy to see. Were it
only that the treaties were unfulfilled, the
Indians might satisfy themselves with
averring, as General Sully reports them,
that we have 'slied'' to them; but when
it comes to an actual invasion of their
territory, violence is almost a matter of
course. To avert this violence it is nee
essary to fulfil the treaties and restrain
the filibustering expeditions now fitting
out, and we are happy to find it to Nh.
Grants credit that these are precisely
the measures he recommends.
| With these as the main points in the
message and accompanying document,
we may say that Secretary Cox presents
! in his communication some subsidiary
matters of scarcely less interest. Thus
we find that the most experienced agents
and officers on the border report five
Indians killed for every white man; that
the statement of Mr.. Vincent Colyer, in
4 regard to the Piegan massacre, is a liter
al transcript from the official record ;
4 that the very capital Of Montana, where
4 the massacre occurred, is on ground to
\ which the Indian title has never been
extinguished. and that the estimated
cost Of a single year of 8. general Indian
war along the border is $4,000, 81
". r Forta. 8 sit,s = sl'' ---sesi 7
Seven Presidents. l
j Dom Piatt writes to the Cincinnati
i Commercial as follows: ~ N9s'9A r
j We have seven Presidents; Fish con-
) trolls the State Department, without ref
erence to any one; Boutwell, is lord OF
the Treasury Cox conducts the Inter-
! or, and Belknap the War Department
and so throughout The President is a
solemn, silent, smoking figure head, with
abundance OF time to put on a white
choker and swallow-tail, and attend ey-
cry entertainment to which any one may
invite him.
4 For the first time, i say, in our histo-
! ry, we make an approach to the bureau
: ocracy of France, under the monarchy.
| Such Government means routine at
home, and drifting abroad. In our for
eign affairs we have no policy, and, at
home, his serene Highness fires another
cigar and says: "Better move on with
!. out change for another year, although
the people are burdened to the death
:, with heavy taxation and hard times
We have had year Of this sort Of thing,
with the grim prospect of having, in an
; other, tie Democratic party intervene
and, whenit does, our excellent Presi.
'ldent will quietly swing over, and smoke
silently on the other side. ~