Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-03-29

VI mleFQstacsory settlement, OF the In.
olAn question. There, must be while
lpdians exist . border line, over this
hnes far dixtaat from civilized cemmu.
mites. Law and order cannot be usiu-
tained; If treaties are. made, their stip-
glaf.ons canuot BE- ueAfctced, and the
Goyernnent is oblsed ss dsclass var
against atpfople who have taksn arms
g Profsct nights guaranteed to them hy
Shs yfkxlPlEer that punishes them for
ln e nalntl4 tie privileges = hich
t5e lishing pep(s - - {srrparr
z illln1u1ed n ~. pes3onf, -.
Which may sptly be termed the aBlsck
Hills war" Some two years ago .
treaty was made with the Sioux in
which it was stipulated that they should
hold undisputed possession Of the tract
Of couDtryI including the Black Hills.
This point was particularly insisted on
BY the Dakotas, as the region named
was their favorite hunting ground, and
they had ever manifested great unwil-
lingness for the white man to enter il.
They seemed TO have knowledge Of the
fact that gold existed there, and enter
tanned dread that in search Of il their
country would be overrun and the last
resort Of their race be taken from them,
their game driven away and their ma
tion destroyed by the tide of emigra-
ton closing in from the east, the south
and the west. With This dread Of the
future before them, they insisted that
the United States should promise to pre-
vent any intrusion on this TERRITORY
This demand was acceeded to. The
Government pledged itself by treaty
stipulation to maintain the Sioux in the
exclusive occupation of the Black Hills,
and to prohibit any white man from en-
tering there on any pretext whatever.
Some six years after the treaty was
made a column Of troops under General
Custer entered the country and an
nounced the discovery Of gold. The
existence Of & I'D being proved beyond
doubt excited the usual commotion.
All over the United States parties set
out for the new Ell Dorado. In vain
were proclamations issued to arrest
them; they went on by thousands, and
in spite Of the pledged faith OF the Gov
ernment invaded and took possession
Of the Black Hills. The Sioux took
alarm and expostulated; councils were
held at which attempts were made to
purchase the land, but all negotiation
was fruitless; the council was broken
up, the Indians were dissatisfied. and
the United States had done nothing to-
wards fulfilling its pledges. Emigrants
continued to arrive, and the Sioux COM
menced hostllities. On what ground
We can blame them for taking arms il is
difficult 10 perceive. At the same time
the General Government was placed in
a most perplexing position; on one side
was the treaty, but in the mesntime cir
cumstances had arisen which made it
'well-nigh impossible to carry out the
provisions OF the treaty. During the
winter thousands had moved to the
Hills" towns had sprung up ard large
amounts had been invested in goods,
ranches had been staked out, herds Of
cattle introduced. The population was
so well established that without Great
ing great hardship they could not be
disturbed; besides, the authorities had
made no opposition whatever to the nu-
merous parties entering the country du-
ring the winter, thus giving a taclt per-
mission. This being the condition of
affairs in the spring, when hostili,ies
were begun by the Sioux, the Govern
ment was in dilemma. Aside from
the objections above mentioned, which
made il difficult to proceed by force, the
military at the disposal Of the War De-
partment for this purpose was totally
inadequate to expel the large number
OF persons then comprising the popu-
iation Of all the mining districts. The
only alternative was TO allow the miners
to defend themselves and withdraw the
troops from the disputed territory. 1t,
however, would have been contrary 10
the most primary principles of good gov
ernment to thus permit the races to
contend with one another and allow all
the horrors and atrocities of savage war.
fare TO be perpetuatcd within the limits
Of the State and no effort made by SOW
ereign power to prevent it. When all
things are taken into consideration, one
course only was left to the choice Of
the Government. That was TO subdue
the Sioux tribe. II was impracticable
to drive the settlers from the hills and
restore them to the Indians, in conform
ity with the treaty. II would disgrace
the nation to permit savage warfare
within its borders without interference
on the part Of existing authorities. The
only practicable course to be pursued
was the one adopted-to subdue the
Indians, take from them the means of
prosecuting further hos,ilities, after
which endeavor BY all possible means
10 civiiize and Christianize them. The
end proposed by Bishop Whipple and
the peace party is good ore, but il can
never be attained by pursuing peace
policy as means. Before the influ-
ence Of civilization can be brought to
bear upon them they must be conquer
ed. The American Indian is a wild
man, his instincts sre those Of an ami
nal, rs are the instincts of the natural
man everywhere. While the Young
brave has a pony, rife and ammunition,
his sole desire is for fame. The scalp
lock Of his enemy is above all things to
be desired. His chief delight Is to
roam over the plains, making distant
excursions 10 the villages OF hostile
Tribes or settlements Of ffcntiersmen,
and return with trophies Of his valor.
This spirit can only be efadicased by
iorce. IL in pursuanee ofthe peace poll
icy he be supplied with blankets. arms,
&c. he win simply equip himself st The
expense Of sbe Government. end thus