The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-04-16
COMMENTS ON THE MoDoo MASSACRE.
All the New York morning papers OF the
18th comment on the Modoc massacre.

14th comment on the Modoo massacre.
The Herald says the instructions given
to Gen. Scho6eld >mean; the utter exter-
mination OF Captain jack and his follow
ers, and there will beno desire to stay
the hand of. retribution. The Indian
agents, commissioners and philanthro-
thy for the treaoherous wretches, and to
80 profitable to many of it's advocates,
bpt the people will approve the sentence
of determination. There has been no
judgment, no forethought, no firmness,
no settled purpose in our Indian policy;
and in this difficulty with Captain Jack
and his band, the action OF the authori-
ties has been more than ordinarily y-inin-
dioious. We are told that ~the War De-
partment has long known that it was
invite and dangerous to temporize with
these savaRes;. but the hands Of the mur-
dered General we're tied by the intrigues
OF the peace party at Washington, and
he Was forced into action that lost him
his life. The Herald thinks the peace
system is OF questionable expedioncy,
and believes that much OF the evil can
be traced to corrupt influences connect
ed with the IndiRn Bureau and the mer-
oenary character OF onr Indian agents.
The Times says that those who think
that the murder of General Candy and
his associates should be followed by the
abandonment Of the peace policy, would
do well to reflect what that policy is. It
reviews the principal features OF that
policy and defends il. saying who shall
say the idea was not as amiabio as IL was
humane2 ALI the agents OF the Govern
ment have taken their lives in their own
hands in dealing with the Indiana.
They have known this fact and accepted
III It pays q tribnte to General Canby's
bravery and experience, but says: "Shall
We ask the Government to Immediately
retrace the steps taken towards the paci-
fication Of the Indians, and drive those
to arms who have taken up the plow and
spade? Nothing would be easier; but
nothing would be more unwise, more
wasteful Of the lives of our soldiers and
OF the people on the border"
The Tribune thinks that Fridays ca
tastrophe is the natural, legitimate result
OF the conduct OF the Government dur
ing the whole progress OF the Modoc
war. Every step which has been taken
BY orders from Washington since the
first outbreak has been ill.taken. It
l SA"so oSS SAos NA0Ab 4aulhu pOliCy HAS
disastrously and utterly failed to keep
peace on the frontier.
The World strongly condemns the la.
dian policy, and says that the news OF
the Modoc massacre puts it to shame.
The perhdious assassination Of General
Canby and his associates will stir public
feeling to its profoundest depths.
The Washington National Republican
says: "Of course there is only one plan
to be pursued by the Governments. Nc
matter the cost or the consequences
they must be e1terminated, root and
branch. SO far as they are copcerned,
the pence policy is all nonsense. TIC
dream Of oivilizing them, is tho sheeresi
absurdity. To think Of conciliatine
them with trinkets and presents OF beads
and blankets, is pure sentimentalism.
The whole power of Government should,
If necessary, be exerted to capture and
bring to condign punishment this
savage outlaw and his $50 partners in
crime, who have put to the blush the
Widest tale of Indian savagery, du.
piiolty and treachery. To be sure, the
lives OF these worthless creatures will be
poor compensation for The loss of the
gallant soldier who now lies dead upon
onr Indian frontier, but it will be some
satisfaction to the country to know tba,
the perpetrators of go dark deed are
forever removed from the possibility OF
committing similar outrages in the
future. A. stern demand for justice will
go mp from all the land, which can only
be Satisfied by making the Modoo name
memory and q tradition"
The press and people. as evidenced by
the above extracts, are free in the ex
preston OF opinion that war of exter.
mination should De waged against the
hostile bands OF Indians infestiDg the
frontiers Of the West. While it is az
open question as to whether revenge fo,
the death of two citizens should be
sufficient CAUSE ior policy that viii
probably involvs the massacre of nearly
every family that have settled in the ia,
West. there can be no doubt that more
severe measures should be resorted ia
than has hitherto been used toward
"Poor Lo."
a WoNDERFUL D1soovERY.-If the