The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-05-01
RESIGNED
LETTER FROM DR.. THOMAS son.

The following letter is from the son of !
Rev. +. Thomas, lately killed by the Mo- |
docs
SAN FRANCISCO, April IL, lS73.
Hon. A. y. Sargent, United States Sena-
tor:
DEAR SIR Ii suddenly occurs 90 me
o write you few words. 1t was un-
doubtedy through you that father was
appointed upon the commission to the
Modocs, and IL may be that in spite of
your judgment TO the contrary, your feel
ings my condemn your aguacy in the
matter. Do not reproach yourself
neither for our sakes let the policy Of the
nation toward the Indians be changed in
spirit--in Obedience to the frenzy Of tho
hour. OF course they must be punished
and overcome, and made TO feel our power.
But read the Sacramento Record on the
subject of tho "Modoc Assassin
alton Of the Nth of April, which
! have Just read If the severest
punishment, he visited upon the hostile In
dsns, let peace and justice and security be
still sought for others. Fathers hear. was
In tho cause in which he gave his life, and
the cause is worthy and must be persevcred
in. We suffer for the ill.decds OF our own
race, and must still suffer, perhaps. But
TO perseverc. l hope you are with mo
still IN this. 1 hope Gen. Grant is. Tho
Indians must know our power, and tina,
mercy is not cowardice-they must know
our word is true. l speak for myself, and
. | I hope l may be- entitled to some consider
alton. l am not asking for false mercy, o,
4 that tho troniiersman be exposed to any
= uvoidablo risk of life and property.
Tho Indians are what they are, believe
because the whites with whom they are ia
contact have been what they have been
We are to blame; not the poor Modocs
, but the rapacious, lawless, perldous
no one for his death. Now that the Grst
. shock has passed away, We find more to
rejoice in than to mourn over. Ho was
ready, always ready. His heart was only
love. How any man or beast could meet
tho kind smile Of that face, and do the old
! man harm, ] cannot understand. In the
fullness of his power, in the ripeness OF
his manhood, when no WAS living every
= day SO near the heavenly world, and WA,
y always IN near communion with
the better land, God took him highe,
at once painless. TO few men, compare.
d lively, is it given to die like martyr, and
,, for your agency in thus securing the past
of II glorious life in the service Of The
| cNufcn ana MS lcllOW-nen, ana III heCnF
, ing tho future 20 him and as, | thank you
- We pluck up our hearts, and follow on Ill
: God grants is the blessing of death.
n This FURY will soon pass over. With
out saying anything now, lot the govern
G ment adhere 10 ia grand purpose to b,
d lust and true TO these children of the land
Don't let the precious blood Of the dead b.
y only the signal for an insane crusade fol
Il vengeance, ,et IL NOT be for war alone
They died who lived f,r peace. To b,
% sure peace will be gained through war
!, but not by determination.
Mother bears it well; so DO the children
u We are happy because he is happy beyon,
,. the chance of suffering. Ana he did suie
here, and suffering made him perfect. Ill
i WAS already beyond the resca Of ma ice T.
/ anger or provoke him, bu. not Of course
TO wound his soul And now his cup /
full of joy, Yours truly,
e. Il. &. THOMAS.