The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-14

Candy and at least one Peace Commissioner
lost their lives, has caused sorrow and indig-
nation throughout the United States. 1t is
one of those distressing events which appeal
directly to the heart of every human being
and light up the coolest nature with the fire
of resentment. There is something unusually
sad in the thought of gallant soldier, who
has fought with honor on many battle field
and passed through all the perls of war; be-
ing shot down by an assassin, without chance
of defending his life. There is something ssi-
premely revolving in the treachery which vio-
lates the sacredness of peace conference and
entices an enemy into parley for the pur-
pose of numbering him in cold blood.
Thousands of persons who are entirely
unacquainted with General Candy felt when
they read the distressing news as if they had
lost near and dear friend. Thousands who
are ordinarily men of peace would gladly have
gone forth on the instant to take revenge for
the cruel massacre. The cry from one end OF
the country to tho other will be for vengeance
on the murderers, and whatever sympathy
may heretofore have been felt for the Modocs,
the peace policy will find few advocates now.
Our latest special dispatches from the scene
of the dastardly crime represent that the mas
sacre of the whites by the Indians and the
simultaneous attack on Colonel Mason's
camp were preconcerted About the time the
conference which terminated 80 fatally was
being held, some Indians appeared be-
fore the camp, waving a white flag
as the signal that they desired
friendly parley. In response to this
peaceful invitation, Lieutenants Boyle and
Sherwood advanced to meet the Modoc party,
and were Immediately fred upon, the former
escaping and the latter falling. wounded in two
places severely but not fatally. The Indians
then fed. The troops were to move yesterday
and to take up position close by the camp of
Captain Jack /; but we are as yet without any
intelligence as to their operations, their success
or failure. If they follow the instructions
sent out from Washington they will make
quick work with the miserable wretches with
whom they have been tampering too long.
General Schofeld, who commands the
Pacific Division, has been instructed by
telegraph that there must be no more par
leys, and that whatever measures of severity
may be dealt out to the murderous band by
the forces in the field will be fully sustained
by the administration. These instructions
mean the determination of Captain Jack and
his followers, and, although they have been is
sued too late to save the life Of General Candy
and DR.. Thomas, they will probably secure
the punishment of their assassins The
troops who served under the gallant officer
will not be slow to follow the hint thrown out
to them, and will take terrible vengeance on
his murderers. There will be no desire to
stay the hand of retribution. The Indian
agents, commissioners and political philan-
thropists who met in Washington last night
may do their best to excite sympathy for the
! treacherous wretches whose hands are red
with the blood of the victims and to save
the peace policy which has proved so profit
able to many of its advocates but the people
will approve the sentence Of determination
| that has been passed against them, and which
is the only full measure of punishment for the
crime they have committed
| It is distressing to think by what a compli-
| cation Of follies and blunders this dreadful
tragedy has been brought about. There has
been no judgment, no forethought, no firm
ness no settled purpose in our Indian policy,
and in this particular difficulty with Captain
Jack and his band the action OF the authorities
has been even more than ordinarily inju-
dicious. We are told now that the War De-
partment has all along known that it was
unwise and dangerous, after the Indians had
succeeded in checking our troops in the lava
beds, to temporize with the savages or to
yield to any of their demands; yet we
know that the hands Of the murdered General
were tied by the intrigues of the peace party
at Washington and that he was forced into the
action which cost him his life. An apology is
made for the very temporizing policy which is
admitted to have been dangerous, on the
ground that the lava bed camp could not be
stormed without great loss of life, and it was
feared that in the event of another repulse of
our troops the Indians might escape and
ravage the settlements. But now that two
valuable lives have been sacrificed to the
attempt to make meek and loving Chris
tians of Captain Jack, Bogus Charley,
John Schonchin, Shack Nasty Jim and
the rest of the red-slinned rascals, we
are assured that quick work is to be made of
the band and that General Schofeld is to
take the field himself, if it should be neces-
sary, to aid in the work Of determination. If
poor General Canby's force was too small
for the task of dislodging these wretched
savages from their stronghold why was
it not doubled or quadrupled? Why wait
until this miserable treachery which was all
along suspected, came to head and struck
down two valuable lives, before the necessary
steps were taken to uphold the authority of
the government and to protect the lives of its