The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1870-07-23
EIIch AND nAWES.

Hon. Tom Fitch had a very sensational
bout in the House on an item in the APP
priation bill of $50, 900, to defray the ex-
penses of the visit of Red Cloud, Spotted
Tail and other cutthroats to Washington.
Fitch, after complimenting Dawes on his
strict economy in all previous ~appropria-
tons, and wondering why he should
have been SO particularly parsimonious
in the past and SO suddenly liberal now,
said:
Sir, l think l have now the key to the
whole matter. The gentleman from Mas
sachusetts was saving up the money for
Spotted Tail and his squaws. If it had
not been for that, ! am sure my friend,
instead of endeavoring to secure the pas
sage of this joint resolution, would have
raised his voice in denunciation of the
| policy that proposes TO take $50, 900 of
the peoples money and expend it upon
O lot Of squalid and murderous savages.
He would have denounced loudly the
idea of taking money from the public
Treasury to furnish champagne cocktails,
boxes at the opera, strawberries and
cream, and all the Injuries of the season
for these savages, who were entertained
by the President as distinguished guests,
and to pay attention to whom Senators
and Cabinet ministers We'd in their eff
forts.
If the gentleman from Massachusetts,
Mr.. Dawes had understood Indian GUS
toms he would have known that every
eagles plume in the red head-dress of
Da1 G1Oa1 -.I;a1 oAtraata1 kha affanfsAp
of the Country and excited the comment
of the reporters of the Press, signified
a scalp taken, perhaps from the head Of
some White man or woman. Had that
been understood by those who waited
upon these red brethren and sisters, l am
sure no Senator, or Secretary, or Repre-
sentative would have pressed forward to
take the hand of the distinguished horse
beggar and scalp-gatherer, Red Cloud,
or that of the distinguished Spotted
Tail and his lovely and accomplished
squaws. 1 know my friend from Mas
sachusetts could not have understood
that, or we would not have him here to-
day pressing for an appropriation of
$780, 600 for the purposes indicated in
this joint resolution.
l suppose the House will vote this
money; but I would rather it were an
appropriation to furnish rifles and am
munition to the people of Arizona, who
are murdered and scalped at the very
thresholds of their houses in the very
capital of that Territory, while economy
forbids that they should be defended by
u Army, and red tape refuses them an
opportunity to defend themselves. L
am informed that when the Governor of
that Territory, failing to get the requi-
site authority from here, and being prac-
tically denied protection from the troops,
undertook to issue the bonds of the
Territory, or by private subscriptions to
raise companies to go out and fight the
Apaches, who have murdered our citi-
zens and practically driven them out of
Arizona, the order came from the Wa
Department that no private expeditions
against the Indians could be permitted.
1 say it is an unwise policy; for those
Indians, instead of being impressed
with the magnitude and power of this
Nation, as the gentleman from Massa-
chusetts (Mr. Dawes suggests, derive
the impression that when you bring
them here to feast them and cajole them,
you are afraid of them, and are trying to
conciliate them. Why, sir, so useless
was this expedition for which we are
asked to pay $4,000, that even while
Red Cloud was on his way back to the
Indian country his associates attacked
and fired upon passenger trains upon the
Union Pacific Railroad.
l say that this is a mistaken policy. /
suppose that those who have incurred
these expenses will be placed in an en-
barrassing position if we do not vote this
appropriation. But no vote of mine
shall ever be given for it. With due
regard to the gentleman from Mas
sachusetts Mr.. Dawes), whom | do not
intend to criticise personally, for l know
he can not be aware of the facts of the
case, l say that when l go back to my
constituents I shall be able to assure
them that 1 did not participate in the
general rush of Senator's and Represen-
tatiyes who crowded forward to visit
these savages and clasp hands red with
the blood of the emigrants they had
scalped and murdered on the plains; |
shall be able to say hat no hand of mine
was offered to them, and no voice of
mine shall ever be given for an appro-
priation out of the public Treasury to
supply them with presents and surround
them with luxurious appliances.