Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1876-08-03

IT is said to be IAN ill wind that blows
nobody good" The Indian war now raging
along our southeastern border is likely to
prove beneficial to our country. 1t has oc.
casioned some uneasiness. and has to some
extent endangered our frontier settlements,
yet there lis no cause for serious apprehen-
sion this season. Judging from present APP
pearances, the war will be long and bloody.
Four thousand soldiers scattered over the
country occupied by the hostile Sioux will
only serve to stimulate the red men with a
hope Of victory, school their braves in the
art of war, arouse their wild, tiendish and
savage love for the excitement and glory OF
the war-path, harden them to fatigue and
priyation, and accustom them to the dangers
of the battlefield. But conquer them they
never will. Never did the American Indian
grasp fhe Ratchet with more determination.
Wheedled and cajoled by the Peace policy
until they tiatter themselves master Of the
situation, and at the same time swindled and
defrauded by the same policy until provoked
to battle, who can doubt but they are fight
ing in earnest for their last hunting-ground,
the only spot on the grand continent of
America, once their own, where their wig
wan fires could burn unmolested by the
restless march of civilization, and their only
refuge, may they not be expected to make
as determined an effort as did the brave little
band of Modocs a few years ago.
We do not propose to enter into detail as
to the cause of the present unsettled state of
the Indian question. The frauds practiced
by the Indian Agents and the bloody re-
venge wreaked upon unoffending settlers
and immigrants have been paraded before
our readers time and again. The total fail
nre of the Government to deal with them
even as it seemed to desire, fraud upon the
part of the agents of the Government, retail
ating treachery on the part Of the savages
has at last precipitated them into a desperate
strnggle-one that we predict will not end
tomorrow. Yet however just their cause
may be, their capture and utter overthrow
now becomes a necessity. Innocent women
and children, and the hardy trontiersmen
along our borders cannot and should not
any longer be made to suffer for the mis-
management of Indian Agents.
Many expect that the wal will be vigor-
ously prosecuted, but, from present indica-
tons, it is not at all likely that in i've years
from now the Sioux will be hardly any
more desirable for peace than they ara now.
Four thousand soldiers, if judiciously sta
toned would hardly be sufficient to garri-
car, onl Ena, ,,n com n,11ninntnn hatxraa, tho
supply posts necessary to carry on an III
dian war, to say nothing Of the number
necessary to vanquish this unciyilized child
of the prairie, skilled to arms since life be-
gan, now flushed with victory and painting
Tor the fray. General Terry may march his
and back again, but he cannot capture a ma
ton who live upon horseback and who re-
quire neither forage nor supply trains, with
a handful Of infantry. We doubt if the fight
is fairly began before 1t becomes necessary
tor the Government forces to go into winter
quarters. For which purpose several posts
will perhaps be built. Another year, another
will be ordered, q few battles may
be fought, a.few won, some lost, and the
may end with some slight advantage
in point OF position on the part of the army.
How many years this may be repeated, or
how soon the Indians may conclude to lay
down their arms to play another confidence
game is more than we can surmise. The
Indians may fight to the last and, if they do,
the campaign will be long and bloody.
Meanwhile we, of Montana, Will profit by
81. THE Indians, being interested Mt home