The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-14
Christian Statesmen and Peace Policy
Indian Apologies i'm Council-The Mo-
doc Massacre a Natural Result.

doc Massacre Natural Result.
WASHINGTON, April 49, 1873.
A meeting held at the Congregational
Church tonight, for the purpose of upholdina
the Indian policy of President Grant, derived
unprecedented interest and importance from
the news received last night from the Modocs,
no such intelligence being expected when the
meeting was arranged and advertised, several
days ago. A fair sized and intelligent aus
dience was in attendance, and the strictest
attention was paid to those parts Of the ad-
dresses that promised any information or
opinions upon the tragedy in the lava beds.'
General Howard was the first speaker, be-
ginning with the relations and experience
Of the whites and reds towards each
other, as he saw them in Florida in his early
life; following with his experience in Arizona
and New Mexico last year, and ending with
his opinion that the remaining Indians ara
only to be saved from the borderers and from.
themselves by extending to them, as fully as
now to whites and blacks the equal protec-
ton and punishment of the federal laws.
FAIR TRIAL ASKED FOR THE CHRISTIAN POLICY.
Mr.. Smith, late agent in Minnesota and now
Commissioner of Indian Affairs, spoke next
and strongly for fair trial of the present
Christian policy, arguing that the Indian has
heretofore been treated with cruelty and
injustice by government and people alike,
that the agents and employees sent
among them have never until now been rep
resentatives Of benevolence or Christianity.
and that never till now have the promises
sanctfed by treaty been kept or the money
voted by Congress applied honestly to their
benefit. Commissioner Smith gave glowing
picture of the Indians on his own agency, re-
claimed in short time by truth and justice
from the war to the COW path, and raising the
thatch on comfortable cottage in lieu of lifting
the hair of the settler. He gave brief state
ment of the cause of the Modoc troubles, the
band being removed from genial, fruitful
country to a bleak and barren mountain reser-
walton. and the pittance Of ST, 600 promised
them discoverable only by the vouchers filed
in the Treasury Department to show the pre-
tended manner Of its disbursement.
BLACK ON RED WHITE THE PLAYER.
Frederick Douglass followed the Commits
sioner of Indian Affairs, setting forth his two
predecessors arguments much more eloquently
and effectively, and making q point against
the Florida war by attributing it to the deter
mination of the Georgia slave owners to break
up, at any sacrifice Of blood, treasure and
humanity the refuge and safe asylum which
the negro slave found with the savage Semi
mole when fleeing from his Christian master.
The climax Of the several arguments seemed
to be that the Modoc massacre was the natural
''outcome of the governing policy and pre-
vailing treatment of the Indian from the set
Element of the colonies to the present
time, and that, in giving up Captain Jack and
his band to the popular vengeance, as they are
willing to do, the Christian people OF the
country have the right to insist that the cry
for blood shall not be permitted to follow
those who are nov unoGending, and whom
the President, General Howard and the Peace
Commissioners are endeavoring to put to q
better use than setting them up as targets for
the soldier and the settler.
There was quiet murmur Of regret going
round at the absence of those doused glims ~
the Senate house, Brothers Harlan and Pome4
CONTINUED ON TENTH PAGE