The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-04-15

The treacherous and fiendish CONDUCT Oh
Capt. Jack and his followers in numbering
Gen. Candy and his associates Wilhelm ifienuy
council, will not fail to awaken intense ino's
nation and an imperative demand for 'he con-
lign punishment of the Modocs. capt. JACK
and, his accomplices, in their shocking Vioia-
ton of the security that has always oeen re-
saected nv savage tribes as well as by civilized
na.ions have made themselves the most
odious of outlaws and as such they must be
erterminated for the public good. The
wrongs they have suffered or the cruelties
they have inflicted no longer enter into the
consideration of the question.
Doubtless in the intense indignation that
this treacherous barbarity has evoked, thous-
ands will demand the general determination
of all the Indians, and those who have from
the beginning been opposed to any other poll
cy toward these unfortunate people than that
Of numbering them at sight, will be loud in
their denunciation of any plan that does no.
look to an incessant and merciless warfare
until the race is exterminated. Public journ-
ais too will ridicule the humane experiment of
President Grant and the "ration and palaver'
policy win be subjected to the bitterest sar-
casm.
The Modocs have been regarded as I'M
friendly to the whites since 1858. The first
treaty with them was made ia 1864 and sub
sequently twice modified before its ratifica
ton In 1870. Capt. Jack leader of one band
objected to the treaty most strenuously but
was finally induced to withdraw his OPPOSE
ton. He settled on the reservation but a
war soon followed with the Klamoths and the
Modocs were removed to another part of the
reservation. Here disturbances were renew
ed and that part of the tribe under Capt.
Jack has ever since been turbulent and dis
satisfied.
Last February in reply to an enquiry Of
Congress, the acting Indian Commissioner
reported on the authority of the Oregon
superintendent that the present defiant hos
tility Of the Modocs was in ''great measure
dueto the advice and influence of evil-dis-
posed persons living at or near Yreka, C.li-
fornia." The commissary in charge confirm
ed the statment that the Modocs were well
armed and were encouraged by certain
white men who profit by their trade. Captain
Jack said, in November last, in reply to re
quest for a talk with Mr.. Odeneal, the Oregon
superintendent, "Say to the superintendent
that we do not want to see him or to tall
with him. We do not want any white mai
to tell us what to do. Our friends and coun
sellers are men in Yreka, California. They
tell us to stay where we are, and we intend
to dot, and will not go upon the reservation.
1 ana tired of being talked to, and am done
with talkirg.'' Mr.. Odeneal gives copy Of q
letter written by prominent lawyer of Yre-
ka, showing his completely, and says that a
California State judge is implicated; he also
gives it as his opinion that nine tcnths of the
trouble with the Indians sis brought about
by meddiesome white men giving them i'm
proper advice, and dealing illicitly with
them"
In this case, as in many others, it appears
that white men who have frequently been
driven from society for their crimes and are in
tent on gain at whatever cost, are partially
responsible for this shocking crime. Is there
any reason why they should escape due pun
ishment for that spirit which they fosteret
and which eliminated in the atrocious muir
der of Gen. Candy and his associates? If tn
white men, who gain by warfare and who in
cite the Indians to their shocking deeds coul
be made an example Of, it is very probabl
that there would be much less complaint Q
the outrages of Indians.