The New York herald., 1877-07-04
THE SIOUX PARADISE.
General Brisbin's Description Of Our
Latest Conquest.
WANTED-A NEW POLICY.
Compel All Indians to Learn
and Labor.
POWDER RIVER LANDS.
Why Civilization Should Reap the
Fruits OF Victory.
AN INTERESTING RESUME.
POWDER RIVER LANDS.
Why Civilization Should Reap the
Fruits OF Victory.
AN INTERESTING RESU NE.

TO TEE EDiroR or TIL. HERALp;-
Now that the Indian hostiltics bid fair to terminate
with the close OF tho present and that Con-
sress has appropriated 100000 to build new military
posts at the mouth OF Tongue River the other
on the Big Horn, will DO interesting know some
thing about the country captured from the Sioux
All these lands were known the Powder
River country, and held sealed territory by
Rod Clouds and Sitting Bulbs bands. Tho tract
braces that unsettled portion OF the United States be-
tween the bead waters OF Powder RIVER the south,
and the mouth ot the Big Horn, on the north, and
between the Big Horn Mountains and tho waters of
the Missouri. that will day be divided into
two large States.
SPLENDID HUNTING LANDS
The country was unknown except an Indian hunt
Ing ground, prior to 1866 when emigrant was
opcned through 1t to reach the Montana mines but
trappers and hunters had been familiar with 1t Tor
many years and had found it Of best pro-
ducng sections in the West Here the buffalo, bear,
ELK, deer, antelope, beaver. martini mink and whits
weasel found In great abundance and The pclts OF
all these wild animals collected by tho bold trap.
pcrs or Indian traders packed rude boats built In
The forests and foated down the Big Horn, Yellow
stone and Missouri rivers to the great fur mart of ST.
Louis.
EARLY ATTEMPTS TO PUNISH THE sioux.
Just alter the of tho rebellion General Connor
tribes, who had taken advantage of the state Of war
and the absence Of troops from the border TO com,
mence their raids on the unprotected settlements in
Montana and Dakota Connor had some Western regi-
mens raised the frontier, and though possessed
4 good deal OF merit and ability as commander and
pushed his column into the heart OF the Indian
Try he could not do much toward punlshng quietng
The hostiles In 1866 General Pope, who then com.
manded In the West, ordered road to be opened
through the Powder River country for emigrants
bound to the Montana mines aud Oregon. Troops
sent into the country to protect the route and they
built three forts, which have become historical on
the border as Forts Reno, Phil Kearny aud G. +.
Smith, all named after distinguished officers of the
Unon army who lost their lives during the Of the
rebellion Reno built on Powder River. Phil
Kearny on the Plncy and Q. F. Smith on the Big
Horn.
DANGEROUS CONCESSIONS
The building OF those forts In the Indian country
gave great offence to the tribes inhabiting It, both
hostile and friendly, because the government took
possession Of the counuy without consent OF the
Indians and in violation of tho common, but perni-
cous, stem Of making treaties before going their
lands After Two years OF active war with these
Indians during which one regiment OF the army lost
lis men and three officers killed in various combats
the decided 10 restore the territory the
Ar-adoning the torls and giving up savage race
vast and fertile region which had been occupied
In the interests of civilization, and for which many
scores OF valuable lives had been sacrificed. The
policy of surrendering this territory 10 the Indians
after once occupying it with military force for years,
has often been questioned, and the discussion OF
matter has produced many sharp criticisms as to
whether should have abandoned rich and beauti-
iul country few thousand savagss who could make
use OF but to chase the lessenng herds Of but
falo and deer, and 1T out from distant camps their
yearly raids on the peaceful settlements of border
States and Territories In the summer OF 1868 the
troops and suffers who wero in the Powder River
try left it for the lower settlements and since then,
until the present war. nothing has been heard of
except from hafbrecds or friendly Indians,
BURNED THE FORTS
The Indians burned the almost as soon as they
were abandoned, ana white men were permitted TO
travel through unless In sufficient strength 10 defy the
Indians.
NEW POLICY DEMANDED.
Those people who Interested In the west nat
orally wondered that government should withdraw
tsoutposts built for the protection OF the border and
restore TO the savage tribes what had once been
salmed for civilization, and 1t was question that in
terested all OF as how long fifteen twenty thousand
Indians less than tho population Of farming county,
large two States the of Illinois But the war
has solved that problem We all know that SO long as
the Indians live by hunting alone they will
require large country 10 subsst them and
just so long they will be vagabonds, living
precarious life, often hungry and always poor, their
hand against every man and every mans hand lin the
evilized sensc) against them. IL time govern.
adopted policy that should be beneficial TO the
Indiana instead oil pursuing the old plan Of taking
sher lands by treaty In exchange tor lew trinkets
and then leaving them to decay by tho inevitable
suss oi and povey incident to their contact with
white
Tho contest between civilization and savage SUPER
stiton has been decided by Crook and Miles, and
new problem for this generation to solvo whether
not the Of the savage tribes can be saved
and reduced 70 state OF sef-supporting peace just
how this can be done u is dnlcut to say but 1t has
been done with some tribes, and undoubtedly eau DO
done with othsra A lew devoted and ser-sacrincing
men are nov making efforts among Indians the
Missouri and mecsing with success which warrants
the belief that ali tribes can, by proper effort be
turned gradually from their habits oi rovng and
living rom day to day 10 settle down and live a.
herders and farmers In the Indian Territory
Int TEE Was DsrARynssr oivnssx THEN.
Until we adopt the policy Of putting the Indians
under the care Of tho War Department and settling
tn0m ~ tno NSSlon or ON bmell roSorvatOns,
and compelling them TO stay there, we shall have con-
trouble with them, and they Will ell the time
growing poorer IN men aad tho means OF living, lor
II we'll known that large game Is becoming scarcer
evory year, and before another generation comes
the Rround the buffalo the lndlaps meat and breaa)
viii have become scarce the Powder River, tho
Big Horn and the Yellowstone as 1t the Pattcs
The indians understand this and u Is no wonder they
determined 10 light ior the Powder River country, tor
furnished the only valuable hunting ground lett
the North and they way but " keep tho whites
sut Of II or starvc.
CLOUDS PHILOSOPHY.
Red Cloud, Chief oil tho Sioux OF the ablcst and
most integept Indians Ia the country, said, 20 off,
Ger o the army, that he knew tho white men could
wipe his tribe, but he was lighting his homo;
IL question Of starving being killed, and OF tho
would rather be killed. THIS Is Indian phoso-
ply, from his standpoint 1t Is right; but should
not the civilization OF the nineteenth century dnd
better solution 70 the question than starvation and
destruction o race Civilization brings ts benefits
and It's pleasures, but brings its duties and It's pen
Sites also and the vsrdct Of impartial history, the
verdict Of the higher law II which all believc,
and 70 which We ell oeicr, will condemn us, unless
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