New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-17

4 y
! West Fur Company bear testimony that they were
wont to boast that their bands had not been
stained by the blood of white men. You
! NAV begin back 10 the massacre ~ Leut.
Grattan in 1883 and there few outbreaks which
| have not been the result Of our own oldnders OF
crimes Even those which cannot be traced 10 some
direct act of cruelty robheryas the Minnesota
| massacre, when took from these llanlans the
~ ais OF 500 600 acres of land and then Y'hne"i
their annuties for two months after they were u"e'
and at the eleventh hour took other trusD luhds 10
supply one-half of the annuity when Ead oeei'
wrongfuIly TAKEN are the outcome of policy which
leaves Indians without government. without per,
sonaI rights of property without protection, and
subject to every Influence which can change heaheh
men to savages Ihave asked scores of brave officers
who have grown gray in the service, If they knew
| of a single instance where Indians have been the
| first to break the treaty, and they have always
answered No.
| II amid the irritation of the present war some
officers speak with bitterness and hatred OF the III
| dian foes, we mnst appeal from fhlp druhk D
Philip SOBER After year OF searching nvestlea-
ton as to the causes Of the then existing Indian
| war Gen. Sherman Gen. Harvey, Gen. Terry and
| Cen Aucur wrote: "That the Indian goes to war Is
not astonishing he is often compelled to do go I;
wrongs borne by him m silence which never fall
| TO drive civilized men to detsls OF violence Among
civilized men war usually springs from Of in
Justice. The best possible way To avoid war, then
is to do no act OF injustice. When welearn that the
same rule holds good with the Indians the principal
difficulty is removed. But il il said that our wars
| with them have been almost constant. Have we
been uniformly unjust We answer unhesiiatingly
Yes- These,words were written before the last
great robbery OF the Black Hills and before the
seizure Of their property in violation of the phghted
faith of the President of the United states
The Sioux who believed in and trusted the late
Commission have made an agreement To cede tn us
the Black Hills but unless that agreement Is hon
esty and fairly carried out these Indians will lose
all faith in white men, II will be TO them another
confirmation that the name of d" white mem ~
SYNONYM for "liar" There il more reason 10 take
every means 10 again the confidence OF these
Indians which has been so outraged by the seizure
of their property in violation of law and the solemn
pledges which were made by the authority Of the
President. The GOvernmentOwe II to Its own repu-
taton that it should honestly pay these Indians the
iuI value of their ponies. 1t will dc money wisely
expended, even as precautionary measure to pre-
vent the continuance of this war. Unless some de-
cided steps are TAKEN We shall have war upon us
which viii cost millions of and thousands
OF lives.
Neither President Grant nor Gen. Sherman is re-
sponsible for the of the ponies of the friendly
Sioux. 1t was done without their knowledge. lt
shows the objection to placing friendly Ihdllhs
in the charge of subordinate officers OF the army.
The lives of some OF these poni,s were sacrificed 70
army roatine An officer was asked why he dld not
feed them He answered: Il had no orders to feed
them and if had fed them must have paid for 1t
out of my own pocket"
This Spring will see mighty exodus of our people
I'M iFr.b
leads there will swarm with its thousands and tens
of thousands and unless the is ended and peace
made, this nation Will hear such wall OF sorrow as
| never entered our ears from Indian massaere We
have tried robbery and know its fruit; let us try
iusice and mercy and reap its blessed. fruits.
vo-,Id not prophesy evil God knows our cup OF
iuiouity is full enough without prophesying more
do fear that the clGmOr to prevent few hundred
Sioux from going to the Indian Territory of whom
the SaDtces are civilized Christian men, and Others
are our friends is simply that white men have fixed
their greedy eye upon that Indian paradise and will
never give up their plans until It too shall be
wrested from its lawful possessors. Have
we learned nothing from the past There
was a day when the people OF Georgia
passrd a law torbidding any one to teach
an Indian. missionary-brave noble Worcester
was put in Jail as q feIon because he feared God
of the love of jesus CHRIST. The was appealed
TO the Supreme Court of the United states and the
Chief-Jnstices Marshall and story, declared the law
Of Georgia was unconstitutional The President re-
fused to execute the mandate of the court and in
i0uity trrumphcd. Bus IN the sure retrIbutiOn of
God he ordered that from the top OF Missionary
Ridge the home Of this martyrlzed servant OF God,
there should descend an avengng army 10 lay waste
that goodiy land and humble it in the dust. Has
there ever been a wrong which will not be avengedf
Not one and there never viii be until the cry OF the
moor ceases to enter the ear of the Lord God of Sa
bacth.
Ii is because honestly believe that these Indian
wars are unjust and unnecessary that do plead tor
a wiser and better policy. a crisis has come. We
SHALL sci tie the Indian question wisely and justly,
as to bear the scrutiny of God or we shall reach ont
our hands for self-inilicted curses upon ourselves
and children | should do wrong 10 my own heart
if did not say thN despite all the wrongs of an
Indian system which leaves Indians without YES
tige of government, without personal rights, with
out power TO protect the innocent to punish the
guilty, without power 10 prevent the violation OF
treatIes President Grant deserves the thanks of the
friends Of the Indians for having tried To secure
Justice in the administration of Indian affairs. His
efforts have enabled Christian to do much TO
civze and ChTistanize the Indian tribes. Hundreds
of Indians have been saved and men who eight years
ago were as wild and savage the Sioux are to-day
rejoicing in the blessings Of Christian civilization.
Pardon my long letter. If have written strongly
it is because | do feel deeply. | do not war with
individuals BOr do | blame the army. The power OF
the system which is Il web OF bunders is stronger
than men, and the hate engenaered in all savage
war is more powerful than pleas for mercy. Our
rghtful king is the PRINCE of Peace and His
words are, " Do good to them that hate you.' The
officers uho made the treaty of 1865 said /" that