Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-08-05

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celve as DECISIVE and final settlement
as did the slavery contest in the late
civil war, if The recent kilograms of the
slaughter of Crooks forces, are con-
firmed. The butchery of Gen. Custer
and his gallant band has doubtless in
cited the Indians to pitch of entha-
siasm which anything short OF annhila-
ton will fail to subdue, while it has eff
fectually disposed of the mistaken phil
anthopy which has ever actuatea people
unacquainted with Indian character.
All intercourse with the warlike tribes
which inhabit the Plains has proven
that they Can only be kept i'll check by
wholesome fear of the consequences
of their misdeeds. and now that they have
set at defiance the power of the Govern
ment, the Rubit on is crossed, and they
are aware that no retreat OF evasion of
is possible the consequences. Any COM
promise on the part of the Government
is now out of the question. The blood
of the slain must be avenged, or we will
sink in the estimation of even the savage
foe, and secure at best peace broken
by frequent hostile incursions.
By the terms OF the treaty made in
1868 with the hostile bands, they agreed
to surrender their claims to the vast
region which lies west of the Missouri
and north Of the Platte rivers, and res
trict themselves to tract Of territory
bounded on the east by the Missouri
river, Oh the south by Nebraska, west
by 1O4th meridian and north by the
46th parallel territory as large as the
State of Michigan While the larger
portion of these ban ,ls have respected
the treaty stipulations, there were some
who have never recognized it's binding
force and have constantly committed de-
predations on the scattered settlements
of the frontier. These, it appears, Sitting
Bull has united, and assumed command
over them. They have for years wasins
war against the weaker tribes and from
tier settlers. Early in 1876 the Depart
ment of the Interior, after giving the
Indians notice to remove to the reser-
walton, finally turned them over to the
War Department. An expedition was
fitted out during the winter, but in con-
sequence CT the severe weather, was
incapable of making an effective cam
paign
The recent disaster is probably more
owing to the confidence of The officers
in command than any acknowledgement
on the field of battle. They were sim
ply overpowered by Il superior force OF
athletic warriors, most Of whom were
skilled horsemen, supplied with im,
proved firearms and plenty of a,nmu-
milton. Had Custer not detached Gen.
Terry's command, the force would pro.
badly have been sufficiently large to
have won different result. This force
did not arrive until the day after the
battle and massacre.
The effect of the disaster will doubt
less be to arouse warlike spirit among
those who had accepted the terms Of
the treaty, unless it is followed by (
speedy punishment. This lesson, i
yesterdays dispatches are true, the.
have not yet received, but another de
feat of our forces is chronicled, almos
as disastrous as the one previously an
nounced. Every such result only servc
to prolong the contest, but it may ter
inmate in more lasting peace, secured
by the utter annihitation of the savage
warriors whose footprints on the plain.
have been literally marked with human
gore.