The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-19

General Sheridan's Indian Policy.
We can never stop the wild Indians from muir.
dering and stealing until we punish them. II
white man in this country commits murder we
hang him. II he steals a horse we put him In the
penitentary. If an Indian commits these crimes
we give him better fare and more blankets. think
l may with reason say that under this policy the
civilization Of tho wild red man will progress
slowly.
The above is from the endorsement of Cen
eral Philip Sheridan upon the report to the
War Department of the murder by Indians of
three persons-an aged father and mother and
helpless child-at rancho in Texas, only
sixteen miles from Fort Griffin, and the carry
ing of the remainder of the family (three chill
dren) away as prisoners, and stealing num-
Der of animals. Scouting parties were sent
after these red devils, who slew their I'M
offending victims with arrows, on bright SUM-
day afternoon while sitting at their door, and
brutally scalped them, sticking many darts
into their bodies and cutting off the ears of
the venerable woman. High water in stream
to be crossed gave the Indians three
days start Of their pursuers, and it is
not likely they will be overtaken. If they
were, the "peace and moral suasion policy"
alluded to by the wise and brave General
would dictate that they should be gratifed
with presents instead of being summarily
punished. He does not endorse this policy,
neither does any sensible man, who knows the
facts. The wild Indians, numbering q few
thousands, occupy vast tracts of the territory
which white industry is rapidly invading.
Civilization demands the right to cultivate
these spaces and to use them in connection
with the great highways which connect our
communities. The scattered Indians claim
the right to retain these regions unproductive
and almost useless, because their ancestors
have held them as hunting grounds. Our
swarming millions claim them as the fields in
which they may earn subsistence by honest labor
and contribute to the comfort of humanity
These Indians have the option to adopt in
dustrious habits and be protected in all rights
of property. Their stubborn refusal to do so,
their constant practice of murder and theft,
forfeit any claim their peculiar circumstances
might raise for them. An unwise system has
grown up, under which our government, by
the advice Of well-intentioned but ignorant
and weak-minded philanthropists has fed and
clothed these inhuman and useless wretches,
who, during all the past century, have done
nothing for humanity. We have even fur
nished them with rifles and ammunition with
which to kill our settlers In winter they at
tend councils with our officials, make liberal
promises, and receive gifts of all that
they value, living upon the bounty of
their "whte brothers, When the grass
is grown so that their horses have
abundant food they amuse themselves by
killing and scalping any unprotected travellers
or settlers whom they can surprise. No pun
ishment, as general rule, ever follows
their crimes II is full time this
should be changed, and Sheridan is lust
the man to teach the savages that murder in
ours certain and severe penalty This same
Indian trouble is now perplexing Canada. The
Dominion government has begun system of
trans-continental railways. In British Column
ba the red men have declared war against
the railroad builders and driven them from the
line. Wherever the wild red men are found
they are Instructors to the march of civilized
progress. 1t remains for our government to
decide whether it will adopt the firm and Just
policy advised by General Sheridan, holding
these savages responsible for their crimes,
thereby either driving them from existence or
to adopt honest industry, or allow them to
continue in their evil habits of murder and
theft in the summer and of cheap promises and
beggary in the winter If we deal sternly and
justly with them we may change their habits
and save portion Of them. If we continue
the sentimental policy the resistless parOh Of