The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-11-18
Gen. sherman on the Nez Perez War.

Gen. SHERMANs annual report consists, as
usual, Of two topics organization and opc-
rations; II his views ON The former point are
no faircr or more Trustworthy than some Of
his statements on the latter they can be Of
little practical value in legislation.
The chief operations Of the year have been
those conducted against the Ncz Perez In
dams In regard to the fundamental inquiry
whether this war was necessity or q blum
der, Gen. SHERMAN says: They would
not settle down on lands set apart for them,
ample for their maintenance: and, when
commanded to do ~ 10y the proper authority,
they began resistance 10y numbering persons
In no manner connected with their alleged
grievances"
We understand this version Of the cause
Of the war to be wholly erroneous. First,
he non-treaty Nez Perces were, at the out
break Of tho war, rs they always had BEEN
on lands set apart for them" set apart by
lhe treaty Of 1855 signed by JosEPHs father.
That treaty declares in solemn language
that these lands shall be "a permanent
home " for the Nez Perc6s The lands which
JOSEPH very naturally would not settle down
pn were those which one faction OF the Ncz
psrc9s undertook to turn into n reservation
by the fraudulent compact Of 1868. This
compact JosEPHs father and the other non
treaty chiefs had refused to sign, and always
,epudiatcd the bands which did sign II pre-
endcd Ia give awav not their own lands,
,ut the land occupied by the bands which
refused to join in the treaty Would any
white man submit to such injustice; No
,ourt in the land would sanction II and yet,
because the non-treaty Ncl Percts refused
10 give upthcir homes and their legal rights,
Sen. SHERMAN socks to justify driving them
out with the bayonct. lie does worse; hc
weeks to rob JOSEPH Of his honorable cause
pf war 10y incorporating the true origin Of
The conflict. The very phrase used 10y Cen
SHERMAS is the one employed 10y President
GRANT to describe JosrPHs home, the
Wallowa valley. in his executive order o'
1878 two years later shamefully revoked
RSssr-'crtN1-s Secretary Of the Interior
officially ordered the Ncz Perez agent to give
10 JosEPH's band the assurances of the de-
partmcnt that they will be permitted 10
remain in undsturbed possession Of the
Wallowa valley Gen. SHERMAN palpahly
either ignorant Of these facts or does not
give JOSEPH the benefit II them, and neither
euppositiun il crcdtahlc 10 him.
Next, Gen. SHERMAN says that JOSEPH and
his band began resistance by numbering
persons in no manner connected with their
Alleged grievances. This also Is totally
misleading statement. When they began
war the Indians of course attacked the set
Hers, and, after time, as In every war ever
bought, some persons were killed who were
not connected with the causes Of tho war.
But 1t is very remarkable fact that, quite
contrary TO SHERMAN's assertions, their
hrst victims were those who had wronged
them. The first man killed was LARRY OFT,
Oh Salmon ri%er; but OFT had killed an In
dian two years before, without provocation
and 1t was the son Of this murdered Indian
who killed OFT, while OTIS helpless family
were wholly unmolested. On the same day
Two more white men were killed not far from
Mount Idaho, :" for the reason" as an army
officer on the spot has phrased il, that these
men had been actively instrumental In urg-
ing the compulsory reservation Of the nom
treaties on the reservation" In fine, the
Indians did exactly what SHERMAN accuses
them OF not doing-connectin their first at
lacks with their long-endured grievances.
NORTON, who was killed on Cottonwood
creek, on the first night Of the war, was
another man against whom the Indians are
Said TO have had an invcterate grudge
Werepeat that, in a matter OF such great
Importance as the original outbreak OF tho
war and the necessity for settling the con-
troversy by violence, II Gen. SHERMAN UNI
iertakcs 10 speak at all, he should speak
correctly.