The New York herald., 1876-07-19
THE INDIAN QUESTION.
Wendell Phillips Arraigns
General Sherman.
HOW THE WHITES HAVE TREATED THE INDIANS.
The Red Man Will Cry Against
Us For Vengeance.
BosroS, july II, 1870
To GENERAL SHERMAN

Bosrox July II, 1870
To GENERAL SHERMAN
SIR--An American citizen entitled and bound to in
quire whether the officers OF the Republic
something below humanity, respectfully claim the
rish. to ask you the journals correct when they
represent you advising tho determination OF the In
dams? This charge has been made several times dur
ing the last three years II 1t be false beg you, for
the honor OF the nation and OF the service to deny IT.
While you neglect to do SO the press uses your sup
posed example to commend that Infamous course and
to create public opinion which shall approve and de-
mand it.
WHAT THE INDIAN COMMISSIONERS REPORT.
II the charge be true cannot but remember that
you aro better acquainted than most Americans with
the real relations of our government to tho Indians
You were, In 1867, the head of Indian commission,
and its report signed by yourself and printed by the
government, is one OF ihc most terrible pictures
drawn OF tho wrongs tho Indian has suf-
tered from this nation. This investigation
and your general experience showed you how
cruel and unjust has treatment of the Indian
for tho last 100 years. You know that we have
rounded him with every demoraIizing influence,
stepped him in intempcrance, incited him to ccntous
by the example Of those him, and tempted
him to every vice. You have yourself spread on the
public records the evidence that tho government has
robbed HIM OF his land cheated him of his dues and
uniformly broken faith with him. fany Of the tribes
are to-day liars thieves and butchers, they may right
fully claim to havo only copied, at humble distance,
the example We have set them.
HAVE TREATED INDIAN.
You not ignorant that the Indian has been out
ragged ami plundcrcd by the frontcrsmcn without stint
redress, and buchered by our soldiers, under the
American flag, with brutal and dctostable cruelty
the description of which in plain terms the press
better-that the worst brutality which pruricnt malice
falsely charged tho Indian with Is but weak mi
aton OF what the white has often inflicted In
dian men. women and children You know that on
the PLAINS have violated every rule of civilized war;
massacring women and children with than
savage brutality. Your career has not.shown you
instance where the Indian has lifted his hand against
until provoked TO it by misconduct part.
pared with which any misconduct Of his is but dust
the balance.
WHAT HARRISON SAID.
Your experience will fully indorse what President
HARRISON when Governor OF Indiana said 10 his Legs
laturo 1907 sthat the utmost efforts induce tho
Indians to take up would be unavailing If one
only of tho many persons who have committed murder
upon their people could be brought to punishment"
HARNEY's TESTIMONY.
You will not in the slightest degree doubt or deny
the grave charge which Major General Harncy after
nry years. service the plains, made to Congress.
sioral committee, 'that he had never known an In
dian tribe break its word to government, and ho
had known the government to keep its faith
with an Indian tribe" You are too much of a soldier
to confess that had you been placed In tho Indians
circumstances you would have been ashamed not to
have acted he has done.
rorE's EVIDENCE
You would accept, a every honest man does, the
statement of Major General Pope. in 1875, that the
army officer prevent wrongs which drive the
Indian TO On the contrary, at the demand of
every agent whose unfair dealing with the Indians has
brought difficulty he Is obliged to pursue and forcc
back to the deplorabe state and place Indians
whom he knows to have been wronged, and who havo
only done substantially what he would have done him
self under like provocation." You must be kcenIy
sensible what a reproach II is to religion and culture
that our multiplying millions, with all the resources OF
civilization and Christianity in their hands, have lived
200 years close this small and capable and
been abc give 1t only their vices-that all of good
the Indian has is his own; most Of his vices he
rightiuy charge TO the white man.
now HAVE MANAGED INDIAN
Except the negro will lift up at the judg.
ment seat such accusing hands against this nation as
tho Indian will We have subjected him to agents who
have Systematically cheated him. We have made
causcess on him. merely a prc,cxt to steal his
lands. Trampng under foot the rules of modern
fare wo have made his women and chdrcn
We have cheated him out of one hunting ground by
compelling him to accept another and robbed him OF
this las, by driving HIM frenzy and then punshng
resistance by conhscation Meanwhile neither pulpit
press political party would listen to his com
plant Neither in Congress nor in any city OF the
Union could his advocate obtain hearing States.
manship good sense and justice, from the Chief
Magistrate unavsing when they pleaded for such
Ions tlmc victims OF popular hate and piago as our
Indiap tribes.
APPEAL SHERMAN
Can It be possible, then, that with such nowlcdgc
and such experience you, sir the head of the army.
and bound to show at least outward respect to cvza
ton, have counsel TO give except determination
tho determination of these plundercd victims OF "A
greedy unscrupulous and cruel peopcg Can you ad-
wise profcssedy Christian people, stepped guilt,
no, to reform, but to consummate nswickedness by
such hdeous barbarism only the most inhuman
tyran,s have over attemptcdy The worst possible of
nnde's do you affirm that wise and powerful nation
is only when 1t sinks below the level Of savage
hlc to clutch towards peace by sweeping every man,
woman and child Of this insisnican, race In blood
from our pathy Wise men laugh at such tinid folly;
brave dcspse II. They that fair play is the
best teacher and justice always a sufficient shield
SHERMAN srsREPREsEyr THE ARxrY
II, indeed this Is tho counsel you give from your
high place then, for the sake OF that Christianity
which profess and that civilization claim wish
understood that one at least OF your fellow citizens
believes that you msrcprcscnt the army whosc best
officers have often protested against henous in
justice to these wards Of the nation and that you dis
grace the profession Of Du Guesclin OF Bayard and
Sir Philip Sidney, disgrace the post which Washington
filed and tho uniform that Thomas, Greene and
Hamilton have worn. Your fellow citizen,
WENDELL PHILLIPS
THE REAL CUSTER MAs5ACRE-ASoTHER LITTER
Ipou urrxrarII- puIr ING