The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-05-15


The history Of tbs SIodoc war begins to
remind one Of the bloody war Of the Semi
noles. Though a small tribe, and having
but two or three hundred warriors at most,
they have held a strong detachment Of the
United States army at bay for months. and
in this time the country ha.i been shocked
by the most successful attacks upon, and
bloody assassinations Of our troops. The
cause Of all of this is that the government
either misconceiyes the mode Of warfare to
be used against the Indians, or that it does
not take sufficient cOgnizance of the facts
to lead to a more efficient means of defense.
The probability is that the brilliant sue
cess Of Captain Jack viii incite the dusky
warriors Of the west to a general uprising
and trial Of their strength, and before the
year passes away, a hundred bloody assas-
sinations may be the result. The question
then arises, what course must the Govern
ment pursue to either reduce them or bring
them to submission. Certainly the mode of
warfare now in use will not answer the
the purpose. The dark and sneaking dispo-
sition Of the savage makes it folly to meet
him with opel and regular warfare. Stealth
and cunning are his resorts, and when these
are met by the brilliant array and open
attacks OF a regular army, the consequences
must be very serious to the latter. Such a
course is nothing more than a shameful
sacrifice of brave men. Civilized war
fare will never do for the Indian He
must be met in the same style that
he attacks, and with sufficient force the
results will be decidedly different. The
savages have tasted blood, and another
Seminole war viii be repeated unless differ
ent expedients arc applied.
Instead of regular troops there should be
bands of fearless men chosen, say from the
regular army, and each one accoutered in
the Indian fassion so as to be independ-
ent within himself of a eommissariat, and
these bands should be placed under brave
and discreet commanders, who would carry a
similar war into their settlements to the one
they practice upon the whites. The fact is
plainly developed that war is the only
means by which the white man can be
secured against the murderous invasion of
Indians, and soldiers sent against them
must learn to trail the savage, lie in secret
hiding places, waiting to pounce upon him
unawares, working together by signals,
and directed by experienced frontiersmen
and Indian fighters. There would be q
facination about such a mode of warfare,
and with good pay the quota for such ser
vice would soon be filled with the most dar-
ing and determined spirits from all parts
Of the world.
The New York Herald advises that lib
eral reward be offered to the troops for
scalps, and since the old adage says that
the Devil should be fought with fire, we
think the suggestion is certainly good one.
1t says: ''The offer of liberal premium
for the scalps of these hostile Modocs would
extirpate the tribe in a month, saving the
lives of the soldiers and settlers. This sug-
gestion is one which the government may
well consider and adopt. 1t ought to be a
part of the incentive to the organization of
the scout system of warfare so imperatiyely
demanded. 1t seems cruel position, but
this war with the 8Iodocs is a war of exter-
mination " The Herald also suggests that
other Indians are acting in conjunction
with the Modocs; that the Warm Springs,
who are employed as guides, are acting
in collusion with them. Such suspicion,
which is more than reasonable, must show
still more forcibly that it is only war of ex-
termination that will do the least good.
Even the Indians upon the reservations,
those supported by the United States gov
ernment, are all the while carrying on a
system of depreciation and warefare, and
through any civilized course it seems i'm
possibleto deal with them. The alternative
had just as well be met at once tits in
evitable.