New-York tribune., 1873-06-21

worthy OF admiration, IL their fighting caail'res
only are considered At no time has Capt Jack hau
more than 6j warriors under his command; tho day
of the massacre he had but -. Yet this ttte hahu
held out against 800 troops armed with All the appn
ances of succossful warfare, and during tue wh''e
of tbe first three days conflict kept n passage opon
for retreat which even the Warm Sptng ln6iah
scouts eonld not close. Thc Modocs have killed aad
wounded dnrina the war abOut three soldiers tnr
every warrior in their force, and dunng that TINE
Commissioner Meacham asserts that not more
thAn % warriors have themselves fallen Inc
story Of the massacre Of bIodocs by Ben Wright and
his followers, more than 20 years ago, !he de-
tails of whioh have been given in full in The IRiR
UNE is still ranking in the hearts OF their de5cen
ants Capt Jack spoke of ita number of times 70
Mr. Meaohaln I'M their talks. reminding him that he
had no assurance that the promises OF tac WHITE
men would be kept, recalling to his memory tho ihe'
that Al out of 40 Modoc warriors per'shed IN that
cold-blo6ded massacre One Of the five who escaped
was the very Schonchin who leapcd with piston ana
knife upon bleacham. Aud while the memory oI
this no doubt has fed tho flame OF batred' nv
Meacham denies that the MOI cs tia'e
ever been il-treated robbed. They haNe
been on a reservation only eleven we; Ss during
their whole history, that period being from Dee 81
1862 10 March 1G. 1870. They lave had but cue
agent, Capt. O. G. KNAPP, who was appointed nY
him while Superintendent of Indian Affairs for
Oregon. Capt. Knapp WAS considered homes. and
humane. and there is nothing alleged against his ad
ministration. Mr.. Meacham has IN his possession
afidavts of disuterestcd persons who were present
ct the Issue of supplies so the Modocs w}fch state
that the supplies were ample and satisfactory ihe
idea that tnev were robbed or starr "A tao stigmaizes
as preposterons.
DISPOSAL. OF THE CtPITrts.
Among the plans Of punishment pcposed IS one
TO the effect that the Modocs shorN be separated
from one another and distributed over reservations
living far apart This idea, Mr.. Ati,ham thinks,
must havo been originated by SOHO person not
familiar with the facts of the case. The MOdocs
who carried on the war less than half the
tribe the larger remnant 100 or lIO souts belh2 On
the klamath Reservation under old Sohonchin'
who is the legitimate Chief and has always boen
loyal to the Government. F0ur years AGO the
united tribe consisted Of 40 souls but the number
is now reduced TO less than 500, including the cap
tives Even should Capt Jack escape, it is utdcr-
stood that his tribe viii depOso him. MT. Ncac am
thinks the best disposition that can be made OF the
captiyes is t0 remand those who arc no. found
guilty of participation the massacre to The rcser-
walton with the rest of TIE tribe. To distribute
them, as was proposed would be punishment 10
some but not to others. The Indians love of his
country is proverbial, and punishment would seem
harderfate than death tOInauy. SUN, Notwithstanding
his affection for his homo, the Indian disli.es to
settle in any one spot but follows nemadic life
which, however is generally in a circle, and covers
always the same points in succession. But while
to many Indians such beHishment WOMB be-
humiliation and torture, by many IN whom the
vagabOnd instinct ia Uppermost 1t would not be
considered penalty. But any punish
Inent of a tribe for the misdeeds Of a few
of its members would he, in his opinion utterly
unjustifable. And even the ruity should be treated
with all justice and consideration. The Indian has
no defined notion Of justice but thinks the deed Of
white man can be eXpiated by the death of, any
other white man. Whatever may DO the disposition
made of the MOdOcs, he expects no further trouble
from them. Their desires for war aro thoroughly
satisfied He holds that there need be and will bo
no change in the Government policy on account of
this war. II must ard win still pursue a humane
and forbcariug policy with the Indian. His own
idea Of the best policy for the future ig that all
tribal lines be abolished All The treaties made with
Pacific Coast Indians contemplate the ownership
by them Of lands in severalty Whe' that is finally
accomplished, when AL treaty stipuftions ore faith
fully observed when tho lnuidns arc made amcGable
10 the laws, and placed on the same footing IN
every particular with other members of the comma
nllY hls OPuOh j. t'tU 'h"i'" 'io"'''s w" '''''"
forever.
Perhaps the most remarkable fact 70 be noticed IN
Nj. Mcachauls bearing is tho alb cncc Of anything
like a reyengctll feeling toward his would-bo as AS
sins. Although tley bad Inflicted nearly half
score Of wounds upon his body, and had ltt him for
dead Oh the ground OF the massacre he expresses no
desire for anything but justice as the issue, and
speaks of the A0docs HItn ,almncssan moderation,
while the wounds of their knives and pistols
are hardly healed. lie said repeatedly and yigor-
ousy: 81 am Just as rood a friend of the Indian TO
day as ever was" Having had ample opportunity
to study him ae la ' lo knows bis real or ncicd
grievance AID dos, not allow his sense Of personal
injury to interfere a.tl lis opinion Of what should
be their tIeaI1, t, oI cyc. with his admiIaton 1or
What he considers souIs OF the heroic quantities OF
their nature.
THE WHITE MEMS RETALIATION.