The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-07
The Li,tle Big Horn Massacre.

The report OF the massacre by the sav-
age Sioux OF Gen. CUSTER and his entire
command of 3l5 men has caused the ooun-
try thrill Of horror. IL is another sacri-
fice offered up to our wretched, imbecile,
and dcceitful Indian policy, aud the feel
ing of sadness it excites should be supple
the corruption and mismanagenent which
led 10 the slaughter.
Any one who knows what Indian war
fare is, shudders At the fate that befell
these gallant men. The report says the
Seventh Cavalry fought like tigers. No
wonder. Defeat at the hands of Indians
means torture, nameless outraees and sure
death. There is no mercy for the wounded
and the captive, who furnish for the saw
ages victims on whom they can spend their
ferocity and satiate their love of cruelty.
When we get the particulars of this mas
sacre they will chill the peoples blood and
sicken their hearts. The atrocities which
were committed in that ravine on the 18th
Of last month were appalling, and the suf-
ferings of those doomed troops beyond
realization.
Yet we are celebrating the Centenary Of
our national existence, and priding our
selves on our progI ess in civilization, reli-
gion, and wisdom. Meanwhile we find 1t n
task to deal with few thousand Indians,
which requires 80 wholesale sacrifice of
young lives. 1t is disgrace to us, a blot
on our civilization, dark cloud hung
over our Centennial festivities. For these
lives were wasted, and the sufferings OF
our gallant cavalrymen unnecessary
The event justifies our foreboding. We
saw in advance that this Sioux war would
be long and bloody, as 1t was needless ana
stupid. Under wise and honest manage
ment, our Indian Bureau could have pre-
vented 10; instead of this, IL fomented it.
This bureau, by its corruption and rob-
berry, incites the savages 10 bloodshed, in
vades their rights, and violates its agree
ments with them. Then, having reused
them to vengeance, 1T calls in the aid of
the army. The Indian agents welcome
war. for it swells their profits and exag-
gerates their Importance. When the Seq
rotary OF War sells post traderships, the
brother of the President engages IN the
traffic, and the President himself punishe s
n brave General for testifying to the facts,
what wonder is 1t that the savages hate
and dstrust the whites and concentrate
to wreak their revenge on themi
We hold Gen. GRANT responsible for this
horrible massacre, and arraign HIM before
the people on account OF IT, 1t is the
direct consequence and fruit of tho vile
system OF piundering the Indians which
has grown up under his patronage, and
the greed of money which he has en-
Outraged in the agents of the Government
who deal with the outraged savages. There
was no need OF it, These slaughtered sol-
diers were the innocent victims OF an In
dian policy which created DELANo and
enriched ORYIL GRANT.
Gen. CUSTER was gallant soldier, deo-
GRATED with the scars OF continuous and
faithful service during the war of the re-
beliion. He had also distinguished him
self ON many occasions in fiehts with the
Indians subsequent to that great struggle;
anu, moreover, what is unusual In the
profession OF arms, he was man OF self
control aud rigid temperance, He showed.