The Benton democrat. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1871-18??, 1873-04-19
THE MQDOC ASSASSINATION.

Inc kllilng OF Gen. CanDy and ReV.'
Eleazer Thomas, of the Peace Commits,
sion, by Captain Jack and his band, is
the al-absorbing topic, and has aroused
a feeling of deepest indignation from
one end of the country to the other.
Meetings of indignation and coincidence
have been held; determination is de-
manded on all sides; military COM
manders have ordered vigorous move
ment against the Modocs, proclaiming
that "nothing short of their prompt
and sure destruction will satisfy the de-
lnands of justice or the expectations of
the Government" The peace loving
President, who SO lately was determin-
ed to make peace with these red devils
" no matter on what terms," has, the
telegraph informs us, unreservedly
expressed his sanction of the severest
measures now necessary to properly
punish the Modocs, and his views on
the subject have been fully stated to
the War Department" When we read
the words of Mr.. Dyar, uttered but
short time before the massacre of the
Commission, but after the cold -blooded
and unprovoked murder of the settlers
ON Lost river, we can but look upon the
whole movement with execration. A
letter written from the Peace Commits
sion headquarters, few days before
the assassination, by J. NJ. Sutton, rep
resents Mr.. Dyar as saying: 60 1t makes
no difference what the people of Ore
gon say or do /; the Government is de-
-termined that peace shall be made, and
peace wiU be made, no matter on what
terms!" DIR. Thomass who was mnr-s
dered, was said to have strong sympa-
thies for the "poor, down.trodden Mo-
docs,' and would accept the testimony
of a"Digger Indian, rather than that
of the most respected citizen of Oregon"
He felt, and so expressed himself, that
the Modocs, if not justifable, were at
least excusable for their outbreak. The
Commission, when Captain Jack sent
word that he was out of tobacco, issued
a requisition, and forwarded all in the
suffers quarters, the soldiers being COM
PEELED to do without. Indians repeat
edly rode into the Commissioners camp
mounted upon fine horses which they
boasted of having stolen from Boldly
and Brotherton, whom they murdered,
and whose widows and orphans are
even now in want Blankets were fur
nished the Indians, when the poor SOL
dier was suffering with single one.
Mr.. Sutton says scarcely day passed,
while he remained in the camp, that one
or more of these g Modoc braves were
not feasted by the Peace Commission
Here was a party of men, appointed
and seconded by the Administration,
insisting upon peace, at any price, after
seventeen innocent settlers had been
ruthlessly slaughtered. Their murder
could be overlooked but now, how
changed! Gen. Candy and the Peace
Commission have fallen victims to an
overweening confidence in Meacham's
/" honorable man. The war must go
on /; no peace; no quarter. While we
deeply deplore the loss of a gallant com
mander and Christian gentleman, and
sympathize with those whose grief is
so poignant, we cannot but-feel that
the lives of those murdered pioneers
were as sweet to them, as valuable in
the sight of God, and as worthy sub
jects Of redress as if their possessors had |
been kings, generals, or holy men of
God, instead of honest tillers of the
soil. We opposed the appointment of
Peace Commission from the beginning,
and its awful and tragic end has shown
its futility and tie correctness of the po-
sition assumed by the majority of the
Oregon press. Yes, in Gods name, let
the war go on, and may another con-
ference not be held, except it be by the
light of the burning wigwam of the last
numbering Modoc that mocks the |
shape of man.
s WITHDRAWN.-The Central Pacific
Railway Go. have Withdrawn their ap-