Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-04-17
SPIRIT OF THE AGE
Thursday April IL, 1873.
The M0dOCs East and West.


invited to sit down in humble faith at
Il Quaker repast, and regale ourselves
politically with the Indian Peace
Policy Of the hero Of the Wilderness.
The Penn policy had become wonder
fully superior to the Scord policy, in
the treatment of the painted savages of
the Great American Desert. We
were assured that the aboriginal in
habitants of these desert wilds had
kind hearts if not wise heads. The
pulpit and the press teemed with lau-
dations Of the era OF peace and good
will toward 10 e Co.. primeyal pro-
pmetors of the plains. And this was
well. The Democracy which always
tried to keep peace with the descend
ants Of the Sumpters, the Lees, the
Rutledges, of the South, could not
object to Pacific Policy toward the
descendants of the Pocahontas, and
the Tecumsehs, and the mild Massa
soits, in their new homes ofthe West
homes albeit unsecured by any Home
stead Acts. The Democracy were
willing TO confess that since the for
nation Of the government, during
Wing, and Federal, and Democratic
primacies, the Indian had been villain
ously outraged, his pensions squander-
ed, his rum poor, his Past melancholy
with decline and fall Of original
dominancy, and his Future obscured
by the prospect Of utter humiliation.
The Democracy were glad to learn
that the lands Of the Public Do
main. were no longer to be squander-
ed by corrupt Congress, infatuated
with the meretricious wealth o. the
Credit Mobilier, upon Boated Aristo
Gratis, incorporated into gigantic
monooolies, or meted out in rewards
10 political servitors, but made over to
the Poor Indian in magnificentroserva-
tons, where he might rear the humble
cottage, upon which the woodbine
might delightfully."- entwine itself, in
happy symbolism Of 3 reclamation to
Edenic civilization and peace and
where future generations tof red men
might read the gospel of the Republic
can party, and like their black brethren
of the South, learn to vote for ''Great
Moral Ideas.
We were g'ad Honesty had brok-
ed out in new place. The Custom
House at New York, Brother-in law
Casey, the plumber OF ten States, the
San Domingo fraud-that unkind cut
at friendly Black Power-for the
moment became quiescent. The load
ed dice of this latest political throw,
came down gloriously in time and
tune. Men who could hardly pro.
nouncc an Indian name before. now
busted themselves with Indian anti
Duties. Schoolcratt, no doubt would
have been "franked" through the mails,
for the laborious study of anxious
officials. Whatever else might be
said the sorest Liberal or the most
metallic Copperhead could not say
aught against the Indian Peace
Policy" The tomahawk was to be
turned into pruning-knife, and each
several Indian, sitting under his own
vine and fig.tree, was to sing more
melodiously, in praise Of Grant, than
did ever the Mantuan Bard Of Augustus
But alas for the illusions Of hope and
the promises of Federal Officeholders
Just at the time. when Curtis and
Medill threw up their commissions on
the civil Service Reform the Mo-
docs, on the plains, go back on the
''Indian Peace Policy"-;just at the
time, when we learn of the re.appoint-
ment Of Casey, at New Orleans, and
the matrimonial alliance ofthe Houses
Of Grant and Murphy, the wild
ululation Of the savage Modoc sounds
out upon the vernal air. Is it possible
that Curtis and Medill are sore heads
and are going to join the Modocs and
and get up Il new Native American
Party Most certainly the hero Of
Appomatox Court House is all RIGHT
Now that Boutwell, is in the Senate,
nothing possibly could have happened
to the "Hole in the Sky" The pisca.
torial element in the Cabinet is GER
tainly quiet-indeed some New York
politicians think that fish is too much
of a fossil already.
The question now is, what is the
matter with the Modocs?
The Civil Service no doubt, is all
right, even if Curtis and Medill dc
resign Casey is immaculate even il
the campaign managers last fall did