The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-15


tom"
The official despat ches from Washington.
which we publish this morning in reference to
the shocking and inconceivably stupid treach-
cry of the perfdious Captain Jack and his
untamable band of savage cutthroats, an
nounce q decisive revocation of the peace
policy of brotherly love. costly presents and
the stated preaching of the Gospel to those
"noble red men" who appear at peace con-
ferences with the scalps of their white
brethren dangling from their Wristbands,
and with loaded revolvers deliberately
prepared for murder. Immediately upon the
heels, however, of the news Of this intolerable
BEDS it appears that certain champions of the
exploded Indian peace policy from Boston and
in Philadelphia have been petitioning the
President not to abandon his general plan of
Cancellation towards the Indians because of
this unfortunate but exceptional affair of the
| lava beds. These charitable petitioners
would, no doubt be pleased with the
pardon of Captain Jack Schonchin, Shack
Nasty Jim and their confederate band and
their establishment on reservation of
their own choosing, under the protection
of the government, and with liberal stock of
| provisions from time to time and clothing,
ornamental blankets, trinkets, hymn books,
revolvers, repeating rifles, scalping knives and
q good supply of ammunition to keep them
quiet. OF course these peaceful contribu-
tons to the Modocs would be considered by
them as embracing again the privilege of an
occasional raid upon passing white emigrant
train, and the indiscriminate slaughter of its
men, women and children but in the pursuit
Of this benevolent scheme of Indian subjuga-
ton by brotherly love its advocates will per-
haps tell you that in all great reforms in the
cause of humanity some sacrifices Of even
innocent lives must be expected.
We are gratified to know, Notwithstanding
this strange humanitarian view Of the ques-
ton, that, all other instrumentalities failing,
an utterly irreclaimable and diabolical band
Of savages have convinced the President, after
many weeks Of temporizing dilly-dallying and
childs play with Them that their extermina-
ton is the only remedy for their astounding
insolence, treachery and brutality. General
Sherman, in his army order to General
Gillem, touching the murder Of General Candy,
says ''the President authorizes me to instruct
you to make the attack ION Captain Jack and
his band) SO strong and persistent that their
fate may be commensurate with their crime"
and that 'syou will be fully justified in their
utter determination" In his despatch to
General Schofield, commanding the Military
Division of the Pacific, General Sherman says,
''the President now sanctions the most severe
punishment of the Modocs, and hope to hear
they have met the doom they have SO
| richly earned by their insolence and
perfdy." General Sherman has also directed
General Schofeld to consult with Mrs. Candy
and to see that all the honors due to worthy
soldier are paid to the memory Of him whose
! life was sacrificed in mistaken mission Of
humanity. Meantime General jeff. c. Davis,
who has had some experience among the red
skins OF our extreme Northern Pacific coast,
takes the place of General Candy, and this
appointment will be approved by the country
when it is known that the Indian policy of
| General Davis is the positive and decisive In
dian policy of General Sheridan.
But the essential point in all these de-
| spatches is the Presidents authority for the
utter determination Of the insolent and treach-
| erous Modocs. Our only fear now is that in
storming the stronghold of Captain Jack, Gen
eral Gillem may find that he and his band
have escaped. II is probable that these Mo-
| docs, in contriving the assassination of Cen
| eral Candy, provided also for an immediate
retreat, to escape the swift and terri
BILE punishment which they must have
felt would otherwise follow close upon
! their terrible crime 1t will not,
therefore surprise US if, with our next
news from the lava beds, we have the
humiliating information that Captain Jack
and his band have strangely escaped and mys-
teriously fed to parts unknown. But this
whole Indian camp, warriors, squaws and
pappooses, is said to number less than hun
dred or about seventy souls and as we un-
derstand the situation from our special CORE
spondent on the ground, they are sur
rounded by some seven hundred United
States troops so completely that escape is all
but impossible. We hope, at all events soon
to have the intelligence from General Gillem
that in pursuance of his authority from the
President he has stormed the den of Cap
tain Jack and his band, and that the
Modocs are exterminated, excepting the
women and children. STILL there is the pos
sibiity Of the escape even Of Captain Jack 1t
is even possible that he and his immediate at
tendants in that bloody peace conference with
General Candy were all that remained Of the
band at that time in those lava beds.
But assuming that their determination is to
be the next official report concerning the