Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-04-16
TIE MASSACRE or GENERAL CANB

ADfko.1xs&WN AoJotant SsneAai'
TIE MASSACRE or GENERAL CANB =
The massacre of General Candy is an
event to occasion profound sorrow and re-
greet. That 50 accomplished and worthy
an officer should be per6diously shot down
while in the discharge Of his duty. by the
hands Of savage desperate, is cause
enough for general sorrow; but when to
this is added the consideration Of the pos
sible effect which the tide of popular in
dignation may have upon the peace policy
Of the administration and the future of the
Indian race, the massacre is one to be
deeply deplored. So far as the massacre
itself Is concerned it was treacherous,
cold blooded act. General Candy met the
Nodocs by arrangement for a peaceful
talk over their difficulties. while they on
their part only used the meeting as a
means to get him and his party in their
power and assassinate them. No punish
ment Is too severe for their deed, no pro-
vocation can palliate It. They must suffer
a. the President has decided the sternest
penalty for such crime.
But the act of Captain Jack is no reason
why q war of determination should be
commenced upon the Indians. Because
. single white or party Of whites is per-
fdious and murderous few would think
the whole race should be hunted down
and driven from the face Of the earth.
Individuals should be brought to judgment
for their crimes among red or black men
~ among white, but the innocent and well
disposed ought net to suffer with the gull
ty, be the color of their skin what it may.
The Modoc tribe are of course implicated
with their leader in the massacre. and
must share with him to some extent in
the vengeance that will follow. There is
NO escape for him or them except by
GLIDING the arm of the government, but
other tribes are in no way responsible
for the acts of the Modocs and should not
be punished for them. .
That even this tribe believed they had
grievances and were defending their
rights there Is little doubt Nor does it
appear that the course pursued in dealing
with them has been the wisest. A de-
spatch in the Tribune announces that Sec
rotary Delano says "there is no doubt that
the whole trouble arose out of an indis-
Greet attempt to force Captain Jacks band
upon . reservation where it was almost
impossible for them to remain.
He had no doubt that Capt. Jack was
right in his assertion that neither he nor
his band was party to the treaty under
which the attempt to remove them was
made. The Secretary says that his atten-
ton was not called to the merits of the
case until after the trouble early last Win
ter occurred. Then the officers ofthe ar
my and people from Oregon, who were
familiar with the Modoc question and who
were in Washington, all advised q differ
ent mode Of procedure. Messrs. Meacham
and Apologize were then recommended
to the Secretary as proper men to consti-
tute two of the Commission. Secretary
Delano says that he did not know them,
but they assured him that they were ac-
quainted with these Indians, were COM
pletely in their confidence, and that they
could 90 into the lava beds and arrange
the whole difficulty. After they had been
for several weeks vainly attempting to ac-
complish something, the Secretary became
convinced that they did not have as much
influence as they had pretended to have,
and that they were evidently afraid to
venture into the lava beds.
He then discovered that Meacham had
been one of those who had recommended
the removal of Capt. Jack, and that rel
alive of Apologize was another. He then
telegraphed to them to act in concert with
Gen. Candy, and to do nothing without
having consulted him. Afterward, APP
plegate and Case. two of the Commission
ers. resigned, the former stating as his
reason that his relative had been connec-
ted with the origin of the troubles, and
that as the Commission was directed to
inquire as to the cause Of the outbreak, he
did not consider it delicate to serve. Their
places were filled by the appointment of
Dyer and Thomas. About the same time
Canoy was given complete control Of the
whole matter. The Commissioners were
ordered to send no kilograms, even to the |
Interior Department, without submitting |
them to him. and Gen. Candy was given
iuil power to remove any members Of tho
Commission and to appoint others in their
places. and, in short. commanding as he
did the troops, and being at the head of
the Peace Commission. with plenary DOW
ers. he was entirely responsible for every
thing DONE"
So It Is evident that the Modocs had