The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-07-30

IessIy approach their victims; and it is only
when the savage wur-whoOp nngs out With
all its blood-curdling tones that the poor,
helpless creatures upon whom they. fan are
made aware Of their presence. Thus sud-
denly assailed, without anT preparation,
they are not in 3 condition to resist, with
the hope Of making the brutes bite
the dust From the well planned attacks
on the settlements at different points at the
same time, although each band may be
smaH, the utmost confusion usually prevails.
The poor women and children are stricken
with fear; and even the men, who burn to
meet the savage creatures, fear to leave
their families, and are thus prevented from
uniting and striking them down before they
can make their escape with the booty and
horses which they have gathered up. Now
their object is to get away as fast as their
horses can carry them, SO as to secure safe,
open retreat before the aroused and angry
whites can throw force between them and
their tribes. All now press on with the fixed
determination to slay all who oppose
them. So with their il.gotten gains and
the bleeding scalps of their victims dangling
by their sides, the wild savage hordes, like
beasts of prey, leave the settlements more
rapidly than they came in. And often
times before the communities are fully
aware Of their presence, they have passed
out beyond the pale of civilization and are
safe within their native haunts. There is
something SO horrible in their manner of
treating their victims that neighborboods
are more terror stricken by their presence
than they would be if they knew that
many wild beasts of prey were prowling
around. And it is owing to the suddenness
of their attacks, that it Is so difficult to
guard against them. Now what important
truth and lesson ought this to teach the
government 1t has been known for years,
ever since the country was settled; and
ought to have convinced the whites of the
utter folly of dealing with them as they
would with civilized foe. But it is truly
strange and lamentable that oftentimes the
most important truths fail to make a correct
impression upon our minds.
Why should the savages be treated with
more consideration and fOrbearance than
the wild beasts of the foretQ They are
more destructive, more barbarous, more to
be dreaded. But it is said that they are
| L.,,ov 1,o;,o, 81 ho,o ao,,I, - l..
saved. Grant it. What then9 In their
pesent condition what does it amount
tol Simply this and no more: either
compel them to act like beings with
souls, OF shoot them down when they
butcher and steal like brutes without souls.
To this complexion must it come at last. 1t
cannot be expected that the murderer and
thief viii be treated like good citizen. If
he resists the officers of the law and refuses
to be captured, they shoot him down, if he
attempts to take life. Is the Indian any
better9 Oh ! for the exercise of good,
strong, common sense. There are but two
ways to treat the Indian-either extermi-
nate him. or place him absolutely upon res
Iervations and make him work for living,
allowing him, occasionally, the liberty of a
school boy, to hunt around his tent
and emily for a time the pleasures of
the forest. If found off of his
reservation in times of peace, or accused of
being off, try him, and if convicted place
lim in the penitentiary, where he can safely
be made to observe, for time, the rules of
abor and reform. But if in time of
var, then let him be imprisoned for life.
Labor>is the only certain way of effecting
PERMANENT change in the habits of the
indian. When he learns to earn living by
he sweat of his brow, then he will feel in
dependent of the chase, and not till then.
This is the all-important fact for the gov
rnment to be guided by. So long as the
quaker peace policy is tolerated, so long
viii barbarities, which shock humanity,
pccur time and again. There is absolutely
Ao safety in any other policy.
1t is for the government to weigh the
worth of the lives of our citizens with the
liberty of the Indian in his native forests.
! is madness to attempt to reclaim and re-
orm them while they are permitted to wan
Ter over the earth and practice the same
iobolical art which originated with the ad-
ent of diabolism. The sooner the govern
lent admits and acts upon these facts, the
Dones will the butcheries cease, and our
| ,oY,kiaru ba eatfIad nm plooa Abann all
iithin common territory and divide it out
I the different tribes. Command them. at
te peril of their liberty, to remain at home
Assist and direct them in agriculture, and
hch them that labor is honorable. Let
t policy be firm but humane; and compel
tim to obey instructions. In no other
Wy win peace and security exist and be
Fmanently maintained.