Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-05-11
TIE pltGAN INDIAN BUrCHtRY.


Indian massacre, ho will be most sad
y disappointed, and soon find, II ho
has not already learned the fact, that
he has much mistaken It's temper, and
greatly undcrratod the standard ofits
moral and christian sentiment
The press OF tho country, with al
most entire unanimity, reflects tho
opinions Of our citizens in the dis
graceful transaction, and By the Just
rcprobation visited upon the actors, is
nobly yindicatiug the general senti-
ment Of the country from the guilt,
either Of sanctionipg the crimo or
screening the criminal. There are, it
is true, iew partisan sheets which
have attempted feeble vindcation
Of Sheridan and his sanguinary subor-
dinatc, Baker, by prating the savage
old theory OF determination, and by
blending tho lackneyed apology Of
dcspotism aud cruclty--necossity.
But these efforts will do little TO
palliate the honousness Of crime,
viewed by almost every respectable
journal of the country, as ranking in
the records Of human atrocities beside
the deeds of Haynau, the woman
butcher, and the wholesale slaughter
ing Of the Sepoys Of India.
Ii ..4 l.~.-. si.~ nsVe5 VI sLi.s a.. iIIi....s
military achievement as they have
thus far been received. Some of the
Piogan Indians in Montana, had been
committing dopredadons during last
autumn, and General Sheridan conceiv-
od brilliant idea Of finding out whero
they located for the winter with their
women and children, and, in his own
language, "about the time Of heavy
snow to send out a party and strike
them"-to "givo them a good, hard
blow" His scheme for the total des-
trnction was certainly well planned,
ard especially as at the time selected
for the butchery, the poor victims
were scourged with the small pox,
beside being chained to the spot by
the icy iettcrs Of that rigorous eli
mate.
Men, women and children were in
Discriminatory slaughtered, and their
homes, the simple wigwam of the In
dim, burned. Then came the eostatic
moment for the Colonel "Tho mo-
ment when the sword of the hero
wins the battle for the free = and ia
order that no item of tho brilliant
achievement might be lost 10 history,
be proceeds to collect the minutes tor
his official report.
A delicate task this, too, must have
been to brave aud compassionate
heart in tho service of human pro-
grcss, as the last shrek of the sabre.
hacked mother and the hool l-troddcn
infant was lost ia the surrounding
wilderness, be commenced his tramp
through the blood-stained snow, num-
bering the Charred and mangled bod
ios OF bis victims with all stern pre-
cision Of military discipline.
And here We have his count:
hillod-90 women 80 children
none Of them twelve years of age, and
many Of them in their mothers arms;
Is aged men, and Is young, or fight
ing men. Toial-killed. i73.
One hundred and seventy-three hn-
man beings Of all lagos aud sexes butch
Gan Gan bMaiion Nation fink Of Of it, { friends IDS Of
the missionary cause, you who givo
your money to christianize the heath
en-, and you who surrender the COM
forts and blessings of civilization aud
spend your lives ia voluntary exile
among savages for the Same noble
object Think of IT, American faith
ors and mothers. Fifty children
"none Of thom twelve years of age
aud most Of them in their mothers
arms'-slain in cold blood for the sins
of their parents. Think OF it, aud say
whether, leaving all other consider
ations out Of the question, humanity
alone, and our character as q civilized
people, docs not demand that an i'm
mediate and thorough investigation
be had, and that responsible authors
of the outrage be brought to Justice.
BE this, however, us il may, the
deed is done, and the "base dishonor
which blurs the names" of its actors
can never bo removed. Partisan fa-
voiitism may attempt TO suppress tho
facts or palliate the oifense, but histo-
ry is stern and incxomblc IN its sem
tonces Future ages viii view the
deed stripped OF all its ialse colorings
and with its atrocities intensified by
the increased light aud refinement of
their times "Ihe evil that men do
lives after them, while the good is Of
ten inferred With thor bones" Crimes
that were considered virtues in other
ages have come down TO us exhibited
by the faithful chronicle of human &C
tions In such hideousness as to rob
them of even tho slight paliatiou due
them; aud no sublertuge or apology
of This or any past age has ever yet
boon able to hide from the keen gaze
Of posterily The true character Of its
actors.
The Earl Of Essex yainly tried 10
rid himself Of The odium Of the mas
sacrc OF The Irishpeasantry on the Isl
and Of Rathlin, by recommending
John Noris-tho miserable instru-
meut used for tho purpose--to Queen
Elizabeth ion promotion and Goner-
al Sheridan viii fan as signaily II his
Recommendation OF Colonel Baker for
promotion is intended 10 serve tho
same purpose.
Gonoral sheridan has been good
soldier, and has served his country
earnestly aud faithfully, for which VIC
thinl, We give bin dao credit but tho
records OF tho past arc replete with
instances which teach the warrior as
well as The statesman that past use
lulnoss, or even a great name, willnot
purchase present or future indemnity
for all acts, aud especially for those
which triilo with tho iuahonable rights
of men, or treat with impuuily tho
just sentiments Of tho age; aud Tho
hurois OF Winchester well earned as
they are, may be changed to lho will
lows OF the Plains.