The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-07-09

Clusters Massacre.

There must be rejoicing in the White
House over the tragic fate Of poor Custer.
1t is we'll known that his published military
criticsms, in which he ranked Mcclellan
far above Grant az o commander, did not
establish him as q pet with the President.
Besides that, he was an active and potent
instrument in the exposure and disgrace of
Belknap, and must have stood almost num-
Der one on the black list of executive dis
pleasure. When the truth Gomez to light,
1t will probably reveal conspiracy on the
part of Grant and his confederates by which
Custer was put in such position in front
of an enemy that he must either subject
himself to the charge of ignominious failure
or resort to come forlorn hope of despera-
ton, some rash essay of heroism like that
in this, we Offset ie against any one of
Grants villainies which we have never re-
corded.
As to the Indian side of the case, what
shall we sayi Waving the subject of
their judgment on questions of right and
wrong, it is evident that they shoot much
better than they used to. Some years ago,
an event of this kind would have been i'm
possible. Regulars were never considered
good Indian fighters, but in an open field
engagement, such as this appears to have
been, they were always relied on to dis
perse the red skins at almost any odds.
Where, however, great natural difficulties
of position abound, as among mountain de-
files, swamps, forests, etc., the volunteer
frontiersmen, from Braddock's day to this,
has always been the only effective foil for
Indian cunning and skill. As yet we know
nothing of the particulars of the fatal field
on which Custer and 80 many other brave
men fell, but, from circumstances, suppose
it to have been one of open fighting.
In that case the issue must have resulted
from a skillful use of good fire. arms on the
part of the savages. AS a general thing, in
their past conflicts with the whites they
have been poorly armed, often with bows
and arrows, short-range guns and con-
demned muskets, while their ammunition
would be very inferior in quality and in
sufficient in quantity. The probability is
that in this affair they outnumbered the
whites about three to one, and it would
have been impossible that they should SO
completely annihilate one wing of the as
sailing force, unless fully armed and with
very superior weapons.
OF course, the few scattering tribes of oul
Western wilds canno: carry on q hopeful
struggle with the United States. They are
doomed to an unhappy outcome, whatever
the beginning may be; but the sympathe
of the world will be none the less agains
the brutal and bigoted Administrator
which has driven them to desperation. /
has violated every compact with them ant
disregarded every natural right. 1t ha
turned them over, in their temporal affairs
to gang of plunderers, and, in their spirit
ual affairs, to set of mercenary hypocrite
whom they despiee. The Spauiards ant
French always gain the confidence ant
friendship of their Indian subjects and allies
Even the English have no trouble with ther
in Canada. 1t is only the United State
that knows how to aggravate them to mad
neas and destruction.