The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1876-07-08
THE WEEKLY IxTgIussENcER.
Mr.. X. q. WARD Is our daily au,hogizsd
Arcrat fnr The DAILY NlGR
Saturday, July 8, 1875.


From eastern Montana comes the
melancholy intelligence of a fresh
slaughter by the Indians on the
Plains, that outstrips in magnitude
the memorable Modoc massacre in
1873. Gen. Custer is the conspicu-
GUS victim in this case, as Gen. Can
by was in the former.
II seems 10 have been another IN
stance Of military laundering of
hot-headed yalor dashing rashly
against disproportionate numbers
and unequal advantages of position
and circumstance. Nearly 5000
Sioux warriors, acting on the defen-
sive, were assailed by Custer and
Reno with twelve companies of the
Seventh U. s. Cavalry, five compa-
Mes attacking on one side and sew
Ell on the other, with three compa-
MES in reserve. The result was
simply slaughter. The track of
Clusters advance was marked by
blood and line Of the dead. Him.
self and two brothers, nephew and
brother-in- law fell at the head Of the
column. Fifteen officers and every
man in the command persisted.
Reno's detachment was not so I'M
fortunate, but withdrew under cover
Of the reserve. The total loss was
3l5 killed and 81 wounded. The
ravine where the affair took place is
described as looking like a slaughter
pen, as il really was. What is special
ly noticeable is that the Indians
fought with the desperation of de-
mons, and were only forced to yield
at last by the superiority of numbers
that Gibbon brought to the rescue
the next day.
This sad affair brings up afresh
the whole vexatious question of In
dian management that has perplexed
and bafiled our statesmen more per-
haps than any other now unsettled.
1t recalls Prof. Seelyc's suggestive
figures, that every Indian killed, un-
der the existing policy, costs the
Government 100000, and every
one maintained alive costs it 1900
u year, that is, more than the salary
Of some State Governors. Besides
the enormous amounts required IN
the way of purchase money and an
nual qhit-rents for their lands, they
must have ample reservations re-
tanned in the midst Of the settle
ments with their expensive Access
soreis.
These Sioux have demanded as
the condition for the REIMBURSEMENT
of their ranging grounds, consid-
Grafton of many hundred millions of
dollars, besides the usual reservations.
The worst of it is, that the savages
after receiving their price and squan-
dcring il are not usually content to
abide by their pledges of peace and
good behavior, any further than they
can be restrained by fear.
The recognition al any right of
eminent domain in these territories.
- inhering iii the rowing savages,
when sifted down. appears to be an
over.nicesy. 1t is one of the fiction
Of the law-so-called. The rights, in
Justice, Of the Indians, in this case.
beyond the extension TO them of the
protective and restrictive power of
the Government, and the facilities
for Civilization, education and indus
try incident 10 American citizens
aud suited 10 their situation, are
constructive rather than real. By
the nature of things, il they will not
be civilized they must be extirpated.
II the form Of an indemnity must
he gone through with. il should hc
paid in such way. rs 10 give them
a start in civilization and not con-
tribute To their farther detrimen;.