The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1876-05-04
Gov. Osborn,s state Policy.

One characteristic worthy of note that distin-
guisbes the present executive of Kansas, Gov.
Thomas A. Osborn, is envinced by his recent trip
through the northwestern portion of the State,
putting arms into the hands of the settlers,
quietly organizing under bis own inspection the
militia of Norton and other Counties of the
frontier, to protect the settlers from the threat
ened invasion Of savages in that part of the state
Such prompt action by the Governor commends
itself to the public, as being policy alike hu-
name, far seeing, and by far the most economic
al to the State, and in striking contrast with the
usual policy of the general government, in walt
ing until the bloody work of the sayages is CON-
pleted the settlers murdered or driven from their
homes, and then, after sending committee to IN
vestgate and if possible ascertain, if the settlers
have not, by some indiscretiOR, provoked these
petted wards of the nation to these Outrages.
And when il is found that the redskins are alone
to blame, heavy train, capable by a forced
march of travelling fifteen miles day, is started
after the supple savages, who are hundreds of
miles away from the scene of carnage seeking
new victims We say that the policy now be-
ing puFsaed by Gov. Osborn, although performed
quietly and without bringing himself prominent
ly before the public, is the policy that will he
appreciated by western men, and women too,
who know, (many of them by experience), the
swift and sudden assaults to which they are so
often exposed when not provided in advance
with weapons for their self-defense. We are
sorry to differ with our humane eastern friends
on the question, but experience has proven that
the only safe way to deal with this Indian ques-
tion is to thoroughly arm the resOlnte settlers on
our frontier, and the fact of their being thus
armed alone prevents the attack from being
made upon them; for these murderOus sayages
have been so long and continually petted by
the government, that an Indian considers his life
of far more value than that of white man, and
will not make an attack upon them when known
to be armed. Governor Osborn has done the
State of Kansas good as Governor for over three
xvh ha has hold hat, ,,nsition IL
when the Sioux Indians made raid on the set
tiers of southern Kansas, the Governor at once
armed the militia aud drove the Indians from the
State before they had secured more than half a
dozen white scalps as trophies and long before
the U. s. troops had made a move to aid the set
tiers; and because this had not been done in the
slow, regular way, the Governors action was Sc
verely criticized by the war department at Wash
ingtOn, and an investigating committee was sent
to Kansas to ascertain if some Indian blood had
not been shed in this irregular way. But the
Governors course was found to be sustained by
the people unanimously, and he finally succeed
ed by repeated prOtestations to the Indian de-
partment in having the Sioux entirely removed
from the southern border of the State. At the
beginning of Governor OsbOrn's term of office
over $4,000 worth of State scrip afioat
worth 80 to 81 cts. on the dollar, and all Oblga-
tiOns of the State, including the expenses of all
the State institutions, were paid from the State
treasury at discount of from eight to twelve
per cent. But in very few months all State
scrip was at par, and has not been discounted
since, and now Kansas State bonds are in de-
mand in New York at premium of five per cent.
above par. ,.... ......-. ....
Soon after his election to Office, his first term,
he collected from the general government over
100000 which had long been due the State at
five per cent for the sale of lands sold in Kansas
by the United States, of which none had been
collected to this time by previous Governors.
We are glad in these degenerate times to re-
aoffh fha nf fa.t ,I
and to congratulate the citizens of our sister
State upon having an executive who is capable,
honest and vigilant in the discharge of the duties
of his high office.-St Joe Herald.