The Benton record., 1875-03-01

THAT DANCE.
g In April last, young Piegan wa
compelled TO shoot and kill two white
whisky traders. This occurred at or
near Badger Greek, and hold the kill
ing under any code of laws to be entirely
justifable."
Tt is hardly necessary to dwell on this
occurrence. 1t was proved that these
men were not trading it was proved
and the special commissioner did not de
ny it-that May gave written permission
to the Indians to kill any white man who
may desire or intend to sell whisky to
them, and to divide among themselves
his effects. We all know the sanity dis
position of the Indian, we know that
more methodical or consummate liars
never existed, and with this authority IN
their possession they may come to any
traveller and demand his horses, gun, &C.,
on the plea that he intended to trade
whisky. "Give up your guns, pistols,
&c.-here are the papers to show why
or die" If justice had It's due, It would
not be very difficult matter to surmise
the true position that the writer Of this
authoritative document should occupy.
The above remarks are the sum and sub
stance of the whole transaction. I ask you
now in view of the following extract, what
you think Of the peace policy2
S'The great enemy of the Indian is
whisky. The only possible way of put
ting an end to this traffic, is for the
Indians to commence warfare upon the
traders by destroying all the whisky that
lis brought among them, and sending
these trafficking fends away on foot. |
have advised them to this course, but they
hesitate to adopt It for fear they might
have to kill the traders.
Dwell on the last sentence. Send May
Immediately to Louisiana, and II he does
not advise plan to solve the difficulty
a plan that will cause the hair Of Black,
White, or Yellow League to fy-it is a
caution. Even the Indians knew he was
crazy, and would not listen to his mad
advice. Query-was there method in his
madness? "The only possible way " is
the manner in which the Canadian Gov
ernment have taken hold of the matter.
Instead Of sending one officer to regulate
affairs on the frontier, they have sent a
host of oficers-they have sent small
army, comparatively Will the .. s.
government bear the disgrace much long
er, or will they cooperate in the endeayor
for the proper protection Of the Indian?
We shall see and we shall also see whether
the Government is really anxious to place
the Indian In desirable position, desir-
able TO themselves, and desirable to the
people whose lot may be cast in their i'm
mediate vicinity. Be it known, however,
until this change occurs, that to foreign
Government are we indebted for the care
of the gentle wards from frontier half
breed pirates, whose actions are placed
by May on the shoulders Of the white peo-
pie. One more passage from Mr.. May
demands attention.
"A separate treaty Of peace was enter
ed into between each Of those tribes (Gros
Ventres and Assinaboines) and the Pie
cans, and SO far, all concerned are faith
fully carrying out their treaty stipula-
tions.''
Shades Of the departed Gros Ven's,
Assinaboines, and Piegans' We who have
shuff1ed off the mortal coil in the attempt
to shuttle off some poor ranchman's horses
We who have met your fate while exchang-
ing ciyilities as provided by the deceitful
treaty Of the 18th Of May-hover not Ger
the inventor of the above statement, lest
visions Of the miserable past may arise
and crush him in his sins! This treaty
was violated in less time than it required
to perfect it, in fact it never was q treaty
Of peace. At the very time one Piegan
chief was playing the treaty game at Ben
ton, another chief was playing Il spy"
for the Gros Ventres and Assinaboine
deputation, on their return from thefeld
Of peaceful promises, to massacre them.
Luckily they were informed on the sub