Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-05-01
TUE RUTLAND HERALD,
I'll yT0doe DiRficuity.

We trust we shall not tire the patience
of our readers in talking about the In
dams. We, certainly, wish there was
no further necessity for referring TO
them. But as long as they afford the
chief--if not only-burden of telegraphic
dispatches, so long will it be our duty to
comment on them, their affairs and the
measures of the government for repres-
sing their disorders and depredations.
II would seem that this little miserable
band of Modocs had, already, occupied
more than their due share of public at
tention, but by the latest reports from
their strongholds, it is evident that we
are not through with them yet. These
lava beds, as we have, heretofore, shown,
are natural fortresses, and, like the ia
nous passes of Thermopyle, can be de
Tended by handful of men against a
host. Yet In those ancient and almost
tabled times, the handful of men was
overcome, the passes secured and the
conquerers marched on, almost unob-
structed. Now, civilization is contend
ing against barbarism, and the forces
and power of the United States are pit
ted against some sixty Indians. We
have not made any computations or ar
ranged table of killed and wounded,
but, from recollection, we should say
that as many officers, soldiers and agents
Of the general government had been
killed or disabled as the entire band of
Modocs would number. We do not
mean to say-because, perhaps, we are
not a proper judge-that good general
ship has not been displayed, that proper
scouts have not been sent out, that ne
gotiations have not been rightly con-
Quoted, and soldiers posted in proper
positions, but we do mean to say that
there is something wrong somewhere,
in the management of this Modoc
trouble. If we can believe the regular
associated press dispatches the difficulty
dignity it with the name of war, if
you please-with these sixty Indians is
assuming vaster proportions, is of more
portentious magnitude, and is giving the
government more difficulty than was the
case with the outbreak of the rebellion,
in the early days of Linooln's admins
tration. The dispatch, published yes
terday morning, is of so peculiar a ma
ture and discloses, if true-which we
doubt-such a state of facts, that we re-
produce it, entire. The telegram is dat
ed at Washington, Tuesday, and states
that ''the acting Secretary of War is in
great tribulation over the reported escape
of several ModoCs from the lava beds.
and the appeal of General Schofield,
which reached here this evening via New
York, for reinforcements There are
nearly four regiments already Nnder
marching orders as an escort for the en-
gineers, to be employed in continuing |
the survey of the route of the Northern |
Pacific railroad, and this work must pro-
coed, as the War Department estimates
that great saving will result to the gov
eminent In the transportation of troops |
and supplies. Nearly all the available |
troops that can be concentrated in the
fight In Oregon are now on the ground
Acting Secretary Robson is willing TO
order the marines at Mare Island to re-
inforce General Gillem, but doubts the
right so to do. In an emergency, how
ever, he knows of no reason why they !
should not be ordered 10 land duty"
What position for great government |
like the United States to be placed in
We do not believe, however that any
such state of facts exists. We have
failed to discover any evidence of the
escape of several Modocs from the lava
beds, unless, perhaps, the possible elud-
ing OF our troops by one or more Modocs
may be construed into the escape Of
several" Considering the whole number
of Indians engaged, all taken together
they could not be considered, except by
a stretch of Imagination and language as
several" There is no doubt, unfor
tunately of the fact that these Indians
are causing us considerable trouble, and
killing and manning an undue proper
ton OF our army. That they can defy
the whole power of the United States is,
10 our mind, simply ridiculous. We
cannot, for moment, think that the
acting Secretary of War is Gin great
tribulation." He has at his elbow Gen
eral William T. Sherman, one of the
ablest generals of the age, with whom
to consult. General Sherman is familiar |
with war in all its phazes, both civilized I
and savage. He understands, thoroughly, |
the whole Indian question, the character
of the foe with whom we are contend
ing, and the men in command of our
troops. He knows-and the ''acting
Secretary of War" knows-that it will
not answer for the Modocs to even seem
to be masters of the situation. They
understand, because they are in a pos
ition to understand, the exact situation
of affairs in Oregon and elsewhere.
They know, almost to the exact spot,
the position of every United States sol
der, and they are in ''no great tribula-
tion," as to where to obtain reinforce
ments, or as to the final result. We
that they regret the loss of brave and
gallant officers, but as for any ''tribula-
ton felt by them, or either of them.
lover the reported escape of several
Modocs from the lava beds" it is, to our
mind, the merest nonsense in the world.
A temporary use of Mare Island marines
may be made, because Such temporary |
employment Of marines has been Gus
tomaryin the past, but it would be only,
probably, for the temporary relief of
other troops. Fhe government has the
power, also, to call for the aid of State
troops, as was the case with President
Lincoln in 1861. Does any one doubt.
do we not all know, in fact, that volun-
teers by the thousand would rush to the
rescue from all the neighboring States and
Territories of the west, to say nothing
of the east If there vaS -