Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-03-09

The country, especially the religious
portion of IL, were rcjoiccd to hear, n
year or two ago, that new policy
was TO be pursued in dealing with the
remnants of the Indians. Men Of
peace was to be sont among them
Quakers wcro TO be mado Commis-
sicners. Such Christian citizens as
William Il. Dodge, George II Stuart
and Nathan Bishop, with others, were
to go, and some Of them did 90, away
beyond the pale Of civilization, 20
look into their condition and suggest
notifications of the course hitherto
pursued.
These were wise and humane un.
dcrtakings, and we have not n doubt
they will result in great future good
to tho Indians. We have been look.
ing with anxiety for the report of the
Commissioners who went out last
summer, to the Indian Territory, and
we hope il will soon make its appear.
ance among the documents from the
Department Of tho Interior.
In the midst of these new and prcm.
ising measures of pacific and Chris.
tain character the Country was start.
led, few weeks ago, by the intelli.
gcnce that an Indian village had been
surprised by United States troops un-
der Colonel Baker, and men, women
and children massacred in orc awful
night. The facts, as they have sinct
been ascortained, confirm the worse
Of the first statements.
Mr.. Vincent Collyer writes, rs Sec.
retary of the Indian CommissiQg, to
Mr. Brunot, the Chairman, that, Of
the l73 killed in Colonel Bakers at
tack on The village of the Piegans, in
Montana, on the 23d of January, only
fifteen were what might bo called
lighting men, that is, men between
the ages of II and 81 years. Ten
were from 81 to 60 years and eight
additional were over 90, in all thirty
three. There were ninty women kill.
ed, fifty.fve, or over one-half Of whom
were over 40 years of age, and the
remaining thirty five were between
II aud 40 years. Lastly, there were
fifty children under II years Of age
killed many OF them were in their
parents arms. The whole village had
been suffering for over two months
past with smallpox, some half.dozcn
dying daily. These facts were rccciv-
ed from Lieutenant w b. Pease, U. !
S. A., the agent of the Blackfeet, and
are endorsed by General Sully, US A.
Whom we published the first reports
we asked if there could possibly be
any justification of such hatchery p
And now that the more full details of
the affair are revealed, we are free to
say that the United States Govern.
ment will be dshonorcd in the sight |
Of mankind, If il does not express its
marked disapprobation of such hor.
rid atrocities. We cannot conceive
my circumstances to mitigate the
OF such brutality. II In.
iians are savages, may our officers be
'avages also! We may say of Indian
as Watt says of bears and
ions, "tis their nature !" but the sol.
Tiers Of nation like this ought to
blush for shame at the preparation OF
'uch outrages as Colonel Baker and
'is men are now responsible for. We
rave strong hopes that the Indian
Commission will take the matter in
land, and press its attention upon the
Government. Humanity revolts at the
dea that such things can be done, un.
Ter oil the influences of philanthropy
nd religion, that are now introduced
nto our mode Of dealing with the lit
lc remnant of the race that were once
ords of tho whole land.-N y. O6-
errer.