Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-06-25
GOLD IN THE BLACK HILLS.


ate great topic. 1t is trying time of year to
start fresh sensation, but there is this pecu-
lisrity about news, that when it comes regard
Iess Of the time, it proves TO be what has been
waited for and must be entertained. And GER
tainly there can be no more genuine and start
ling news than the announcement OF the dscoy-
cry of fresh gold fields. Such discoveries have
always formed epochs in the histories of nations.
The immediate. social excitement attendant mp
on the rush OF sanguine people bent on making
the short cut to wealth s but the beginning, the
first symptom of the resistless change which
gold discovery induces. Fresh sections
are opened up to agriculture, commerce and
trsde Emigration receives a new impulse and
while few enough OF the Pioneers are enriched
the result, when the balance s struck, il to the
profit side of the worlds account in means and
in ease Of living.
This is when it is true find" Whether
such will be the result in the Black Hills is yet
to be determined. The reports thus far re-
eeiyed are very contradictory. Bespatches
from parties with the exploring expedition sent
to New York and western papers are encourag
ing, and fully bear out the confident belief of
Gen Custer, formed last year, that there was an
abundance OF gold in the section, while the
conviction OF Prof. Janney, the leading Scien
tst OF the expedition, is that the prospect is not
such as to warrant "eXtended explorations III
mining and that the reports OF the yield are
greatly exaggerated. By rights tie views
Of scientific man should be received III prefer
ence to common report but Prof. Janneys opiu-
ion in this case stands opposed TO such variety
OF strong and concurrent testimony that the ger
eral disposition for the time at least, will be to
look upon the brighter side of the picture. The
Professors companions may not be as able III
himself to decide upon the technical questions
Of geology and mineralogy presented, hut they
are quite as competent as he to determine the
value of the work already done. They say thst
hundreds of men are at work getting out gold oi
good quality with very little trouble, and with ,
result OF from 20 to SO "pan." This elua
the river mining in California, though it il moi
What the result may be in that direction in tn,
Black Hills theie is no means yet Of detesnu
ing.
In the opposition OF these views. Therefore
the point to have settled is whether or 10 tn,
popular reports are worthy OF belief for if they
are the "New Eldorado" is fixture. 1t wouli
bo AaAN " say why tilSs rtbuu lOl Lt bC4ttNt GU
The only theory ON which We can pronounce
them lies out Of the whole cloth is that an cf
fort is making 10 induce a sudden emigration t,
the Black Hills. But this is opposed to the sen
timent OF self-interest which we may he SUE,
governs the people already OIL the ground. Il Il
to the advantage Of the miners now at work I,
have the field to themselves, and we are not t,
suppose they desire 40 until they have GOT nj
oat that they can carry. These reports o! r!ch
ness do not come from them, but neither 10 they
come from the towns on the border, supposed I,
be concerned in the fitting ont Of euigrani,,
Ihey come, rather, from army ul,cers ami utlie
government employees. who have, No mtere- :
as far as eau be seen, IN the other than (,
satisfy the reasonable demand for news.
The Indian question thus srsumes practica
snd determined shape The complication l. Al
unfortunate ne,and We need not be surprised i
we hear before summer is over OF savage ont
break more serious than any i'll the history .
the country. But what is to be done 1t Il
useless to talk Of government protection, 70
there are come things which government canno
protect-among them territory of Thousands 0
miles in wilderness If there is gold III lars
quantities i'll the Black Hills, all tile Laws IL, t
hofiu NouIu iot protect II. fNtn u We cON4d !C
ieve that the government could exert such a
influence as would keepits own citizens ont o
our Territory, people of all countries would pou
in, just as foreigners did into California
and as our own countIymen did int
Australia. For ourselves we hay
not hesitated to declare strongly that the Siou
are the rightful owners of this land, and to ca
upon the government to uphold those rights hu
We feel, too, the utter feehleness of all such al
peals in the face of the discovery OF no'
gold field. Such has been the history Of tn
world, and this 'fnd' if it be one can make Il
exception. The government saw tla troubl
coming and did what it could, but the Indian
seemed also to have growing inumations OF til
value Of their domain and refused to negotiat
for a removal. A conflict would he in ever
way deplorable, and all good citizens viii hoI
that it may be ayerted.