The Portland daily press., 1876-07-11
Our New York Letter.
The Fate OF Cusfer-Our Indian p.I;.
The Democratic PAIRING Process.
New YORK. ,Julv q 1a7G

cautions which are eDjoined by all received au-
thorities on the subject of Indian warfare
Daring is superb quality in man of arms.
| Dut wary watehfulnsss for the opportunity is
the essence of generalship. Sheridan felictous
~ describes this action in a terse sentence: "I
| lear 1t was an unnecessary sacrifice due to
misapprehension and a superabundance of
courage-the latter being extraordinarily de.
veloped in Custer
1t IS to be hoped that this appalling calamity
will have the effect of directing public attep
ton to the defects and Inconsistencies of our
method of dealing with the border savsges
The spirit of the age favors peaceful policy.
the experiences of those most familiar with
Indian character lead them to advocate violent
measures. There are strong arguments on
both sides. But it is exceedingly important
that one or the other should be agreed upon
and adhered to. To alternate between the two
is to make the difficulty interminable. It Is the
acme of folly to feed, clothe and equip an ene-
my that is thereafter to be encountered in the
field. And the inquiry forces itself upon us,
show else could Sitting Bull and his tribe have
procured weapons and ammunition except
by purchases from white traders with money
obtained from the federal governmeIt?'' 1t is
as impossible to avoid the conclusion that sew
eral hundred gallant soldiers of the Republic
have been murdered by such means, as it Is to
contemplate the fact with patience. The time
has come when we must give the hostile In.
dians over to the Quakers or the army. II the
former course is adopted, fighting must cease
altogether, and whoever settles in the terrific
ries must take his life in his hands. If the
sword is appealed to, the campaign ought to be
Short, sharp and decisive a, we'll in the
interests of humanity as Of economy. The army
is very small but the Lieutenant General says
its numbers are sufficient, and ne is the best
possible authority. Thank fortune the little
that is left of our soldiery is of the highest
quality. The wild distemper of dsparsgemsnt
and detraction which has swept over the coun-
try in these later years like pestilence, has
happily spared the heroes of the "March to
the sea-" aud the Winchester ride" Occa-
sionally some licentious tongue wags in sneak.
ing asperson of one or the other of them, but
that is nothing compared with the
foul torrent of groundless vtuperaton
which has been poured out upon the
illnstrious leader of the great trio, by partisan
slanderers. Their fate would have been tho
same, of course, If the exigeneies of political
controversy had required it, but it is satistac-
ton whatever the cause to find that the van
dalism of the age has not sought to defile with
its sacrilegious touch every object of popular
gratitude. 1t has done enough in this line
heaven knows, to bring blush of shame to
every manly cheek, but it is something to be
glad of that there are limitations to the coarse
ness and indecency, with which public men
are nowadays habitually spoken and written
of in too many quarters.
The cheese-paring affectation of economy
in which the lower branch of Congress mani.
tests determination to persist, derives
strength from the animosity felt by the con-
federate members towards the brave little rem
nant of the Union army. 1t is not surprising
certainly, that southern representatives should
feel rnkindly towards the men who laid waste
their borders and compelled their submission
to the authority of the government. But it Is
a pity that they have not the good sense,
as we'll as maGnanimity, to conquer their
prejudices, or at least repress them. The army
cannot prudently be diminished in size or in
pay. To attempt either would be very likely
to add recruits to the Repu blican cause, but
looking at the matter from the standpoint of
patriotism rather than of party the proceed
ing is to be deprecated As for the little saw
ing contemplated by the reduction of salaries,
it is mserabIy small business. Think of it
The two houses in grave consultation as to the
expedlency of chipping off enough from the
meagre salaries of underpaid department
clerks to amount in the aggregate to less than
a days interest on the debt created in sup
pressing the rebellion Cutting down $14O0
rate to $3.50, in other words making forced
loan from the employees of the government is
the great financial measure of the session. It
is Democratic statesmaninip answering the
countrys importunate demand for "reforml"
The other shavings planed on by this clumsy
piece of joiner work, SO far from evincing
economy, are positively wasteful, because they
sacrifice expenditures already made by with
holding what is necessary to render the pre-
ceding outlay available.
Then again the method devised of accom-
plishing this pretended frugality is as objec-
tonable as the aim sought after. To tack on
a legislative act to an appropriation bill may
be pardonable if both the House and Senate
agree to it, but if either body non-concurs, the
other is bound in common courtesy to recede.
If this principle were departed from we should
have laws made by coercion instead OF con-
viction. The freedom of the legislator would
be literally taken away. The threat to drive
the government into financial suspension, un-
less the Senate assents to certain measures of
which majority of its members disapprove,
is simply revolutionary and it would be pusil-
luminous for them to yield Every legislative
assembly is bound to maintain its dignity and
prerogatives. The least acquescence in an in
fringement of them helps to establish prece-
dent most dangerous to republican institutions.
We shall see by the emphasis with which the
country speaks next autumn in approval Or
condemnation of these anarchical proceedings
just how far the masses have been cajoled and
crazed by the somewhat transparent dema
gogism and clsp-trap which constitutes the
exclusive capital stock of the opposition to the
administration, as well of foes without as of
traitors within. Generally the sober second
thought" of the people is the safety of ths
state Sometimes madness rules the hour
and the multitude heedlessly and bewildering
ly rush upon evils which Ionly utter blindness
could have hidden from their view. These are
the chances of popular election. But il there
is a moderate degree of common sense remain.
ing among the masses the attempt to get pos
session of the government on the shallow pre-
text of "reform"-with such samples of the
article in full view, will prove ridiculous fail1
ure. YARMOUTH.
JNTERcoLoNIAL RAILRoAD.-July the first
train of the Intercolonial Railway was run
from Halifax, N. S., to Quebec. The entire
length of the roa d operated by the government
is 754 miles. 1t has been built by the Domin-
ion government at a cost of about $4,000, 900.
1t is we'll built and is designed to unite the up
per and lower provinces by rail. A large por-
ton Of the country through which it passes is
a barren wilderness. There is much good tim
Der in the vicinity ani some good settling land
but the latter is the exception. The climate of
the country for the most part is severe and the
SHOWS are usually very deep. 1t is not expect
ed that the business of the road will ever pay
more than running expenses, and the gov
ernment must provide for the interest on the
bonds which were sold to build it. The Do