, 1875-05-08
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
IFpoM OUR ows ooKrrsroSDrSrl

/ EDITOR SIATESMAN Those OF your read
ers who are flattered by the title Of Argo-
nau;s," and who are ever in search of the
golden fleece" viii be pleased to learn that
the Government Is negotiating with the
/ Sioux Indians for their relinquishmeut Of the
Black Hills country; and the prediction has
been made that within a few weeks satisfac-
tory arrangements will be made whereby
miners viii he permitted to occupy the conn
try. I trust that This prediction may prove
true, as it viii relieve the Government of a
serious difficulty. The men who usually
follow in the wake of all gold exeitemeuts
are enterprising and daring, and Judging
from the past, will leave no means untried 10
get to land which is represented ~ being
rich in vegetation, beautiful in scenery, and
teemiDe with the precius metal. II is inti-
/ rnsted that IN case the Sioux refuse to allow
Ini1ers and settlers 10 occupy
THE BLACK HILLS,
there will be an examination into the specif-
cations of the treaty by which they hold the
land. One clause Of the treaty stipulates
that the - Indians will not attack any per-
son at home, or travelling, nor wagon train.
coaches, mules or cattle and they viii never
capture nor carry eff from the settlements
white women or children and further they
VIII never kill nor scalp white men, nor at
tempt to do them harm" It Is we'll known
that the Sioux have been the most trouble
some INDIANS with whom the Government
has had rG deal Every summer for years
past has fcg!d more or less Of them on the
war-path, and theic line Of march has been
marked by burned houses, murdered men and
children, and stolen women. As these In
dians have 50 persisteutly violated the stipu-
lauons Of the treaties. they cannot claim 10
/ be deeply injured if the whites set the entire
treaty aside. The Indians must give way to
! those who viii cultivate the land, work the
mines, and open up the country to peaceful
settlers The Government, to a very great
/ degree, Is responsible that the Indians long
/ ere this have not become a civilized and use-
/ tUl portion of the community. They aye
sava2es, Int the Government has made tret-
/ ties with them though they We're civilized
men, aud then handed them over to the cafe Of
RATACIoUs INDIAN AGENTS.
In my opinion it is about time another
theory be adopted Tor reducing the Indians
to good behavior Instead Of driving them
from place to place they should be as far as
possible, instructed in farming and taught
trades, and then left 10 take care Of them
selves. Then, if they Will not work, lei
them StaTve- Ii they Will not behave them
selves, LIT them he punished. \ firm believer
in Fope's apo,hegm that education forms
the common mind, ~ think it possible that
the Indian can be turned INTO Il good and
useful cItz.n by firm and Judirious training.
President Grant has determined 70 take such
aciion rs Will put an end TO
THE MEXICAN RAIDS
with Texas. Our Government will demand
a money indemnity from MexicJ FOR life and
property. This reparation will be insisted
on, and if the Mexican Government hesitates
to grant our demands, the American border
line will be strengthened by attaching there
10 another stretch Of territory. General
Mckenzie has been ordered 10 take charge OF
the troops on the Texas border. 1t will be
rememembered that General Mckenzie Is the
officer u ho yut an end 70 the raids OF the
hickapoo Indians IN Texas, about two years
ago. He ATTACHED raidiug party Of Indians
and pursued them into the Mexican Terri
tory. ~ the time he was c.nsured for over
stepping his orders, while he Was loudly ap.
piauded by the people Of Texas. Since that
time there has been 40 more raiding by the
Kickupoos. With a nation ike Mexico
there Is but cou-se 10 prrsue-that Is, the
strict enforcement Of international law; and
if the Government of tLat country Is too
weak to keep it, citizens from disturbing the
peace Of neighboripg nations, the disturb,
ing eIememeut must be crushed out. II
Mexico would avoid war along its border,
it must act with energy in REFRESHING the
baaditti who have committed outrages upon
our soil The Mexicans understand the
meaning of hard blows better than they COM
preheri the meaning Of justice and right.
The President in a few days leaves for Mass
achuse;ts to participate in the Concord and
Lexington centennial On the Goth Of May
North Carolina celebrates the Necklen-
burg declaration Ct Independence, which pre-
ceded by more than year that proclaimed
by the American Congress On the 4th Of
July, the
GREAT AMERICAN CENTENNIAL
will be celebrated at Philadelphia And en-
gaging in these centennial celebrations OF
events which led to our political existence as
one people, it is TO be hoped that their success
aIll be based upon that broad and compre-
hensive charity and unity of character and
aspiration which ought to distinguish the
same people. Neither political forms, consti-
tutional amendments, nor statutory enact
ments can create nationality or obhterate the
znimosity which the late war eugendered.
The cordial spirit Of fraternity, Of confidence
and of COED feeling among men Of different
sections must be restored before the great
American centennial celebration in 1916 can
be made TO represent national and Psrma-
neut triumph Of the principles v bose an
nouncement it commentaries. Al the tro,
phies of srt and industry. all the products OF
the soil and the mine, evidencing material
progress, which viii be displayed on that
occasion Will fail In significance, appropriate
ness and grandeur, unless over all IS thrown
the crowning glory OF the bow OF peace ard