New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-25
prn cLnrmS NrGorLATIONg.

RED CLOUDS NFG DTIATOAS
We are very much gratiiicd with the news
of Red Clouds conduct which we have re-
cciyed from time to time since lbs return to
the Plains He has laborel constantly and
faithfully TO avert The extensive Indian wal
with which we were threatened two or three
months ago, and his efforts have been crowned
with unexpected success. When he set out on
his remarkable journey to Washington as
negotiator CT peace, there were unn.istakable
signs that we were on the eve Of the most eX-
tensive war we have ever waged with the
wild tribes Of the Sioux. The military author
tiles had made preparations for the outbreak
of hostilties by sending ali Cur available cav
airy to the Plains, and by disposing Of the
forces in such a way as at once to protect the
frontier settlements and carry terror into the
camps OF the savages Gen. Sheridan, who is
in military command Of the Department of
the Missouri, gave ii as his opinion, when he
returned from visit 10 The different points OF
his extensive command, that war with
the Sioux during the present Summer could
not be avertcd and ne urged the War De-
partmcnt to provide for its being carried on
with all possible energy and determination.
The same views were entertained by Gen.
Sherman, and by most of our high military OIL
GERS. Dispatches confrmGtogy of them came
thick and fast from the Plains. The news
papers Of Omaha, Cheyenne and Laramie, of
Lcavenworth, sheridan and Denver, gave us
daily reports about Ogallala or BrulG, Red
Cloud or Spotted Tail being on the war-path,
and threatening the whole country, from the
Black Hills TO tie Missouri, with devastation
and outrage.
1t was under these circumstances that the
Indian Commission were struck with the happy
thought of approaching the warlille leaders
of the hostile tribes with pacific propositions,
and inviting them to visit Washington to hold
conference with the President. To the surprise
of the whole country, the invitation was ac-
ceptcd by Red Cloud himself, as well as by
Spotted Tail and other war chiefs. Without
trepidation they accompanied their friend Gen.
Smith to Washington, where they had inter
views with the President, the Secretary OF
War, the head of the Indian Bureau, Gen.
! sherman and other civil and military func-
tionaries In plain language they told their
! eriovances-showed how in one way or an
! other they had been wrongcd by the violation
| of their treaties, the invasion Of their lands,
! the plumber of their annu.tes, ard the
| killing Of their people. In regard to some
matters, they were promised redress; but III
| regard to others, the Government refused to
/ agree to their terms, and Red Cloud lett " ash
/ ington dissatisfied. When his party came to
this civ, the Indian Commission treated
them with consideration and magnaninty;
| and when Red Cloud consented to appeal t.
the white mans sense of justice, h had
great audience in Cooper Institute, which not
only responded TO his words, but determined
to make an effort to remove the cause OF bis
complaints. When finally he left Newly ok,
! he was very much better satisfied than he hal
been on leaving Washington, and when he set
out for the Plains he promised that he would
do all in his power to secure peace. Some OF
our military men smiled at the simplicity Of
the Indian Commission and the huInanltali-
ans of New-YOYk; and many OF tine West
ern newspapers particularly those west Of the
Missouri, ridiculod the whole affair as one in
which a willy and bloodthirsty savage chief
had pulled tie wool over the eyes of the
"philanthropic greenhorns" OF the East. We
were told that he would certainly begin the
long-promiscd war as soon as he got back to
the Sioux country, and that he had no in
fuence whatever with the war chiefs of his
own JIlDc. W Cll, nc Has INV, III WV iA4'H'ii''
been back on the Plains among the Sioux.
We have heard again and again OF what he
has been doing to secure peace. We know for
a certainty that there has been no outbreak OF
war. He has kept his promise and he has
done more than this, for he was very cautious
about making hasty promises. He has used
his influence with the war chiefs, and with
the almost understandable young braves of the
Sioux. The consequence has been that none
of them have gone upon the war-path since
his return, and we have been saved from
troubles which would have wrought havoc
among the settlements of the Far West, and
death and wounds TO many of our soldiers,
and would have cost the country millions of
dollars.
There are several important lessons con-
nected with Red Clouds mission and its sue
cess We learn thereby that Indian wars
may at least sometimes be averted by peaceful
efforts and by just dealing. We learn that our
military leaders may sometimes be mistaken
in regard to Indian matters. We learn that the
newspapers of Cheyenne and Laramie are not
always TO be trusted in their reports about the
Sioux. We learn that Eastern philanthro-
"pistsn may sometimes know how TO deal with
Western savages. We learn that justice has
an effect, even upon the Indian. These things
are worth remembering and thinking of, and
it may be useful to bring them to mind here
after, when we are again threatened with In
dian troubles