Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-12-27
BAD INDIAN POLICY.


senator from Kansas submitted a
resolution reciting the late Indian raids
in Kansas and Nebraska aud the cap
ture Of the marauders, and calling on
the secretary Of the interior for infor.
nation as to why be had not surren-
dered the guilty and responsible par
ties and such Indian bands to the au.
thorities Of Kansas and Nebraska which
was adopted.
So it seems that the policy of the
secretary Of the interior 10 decline to
surrender Indian murderers to the civil
authorities has been carried even to the
refusal to surrender to a state author
ity, as we'll as to that of territory.
1t will be remembered that when Joseph
and his. band were at Fort Leaven.
worth, and 80 Of the Salmon river and
Camas prairie murderers were under
indictment in the civil court of Idaho,
and several Of these murderers had
been identified by Col. Morris among
their prisoners at Leavenworth, Dis
trict Attorney Huston sent to the at
torney general for orders and instruc-
tions to have these murderers turned
over to the civil authorities here for
trial, and the attorney generals reply
was in substance, to drop the prosccu-
ton Of these murderers, and, while
Howard had promised that they should
be surrendered and tried, and if found
guilty, punished; yet, as we presume
through the policy Of the interior de-
partment, mono Of these murderers have
yet been surrendered, but they have
been sent to the Indian Territory, and
are enjoying as full liberty as any other
Of these Indians. One Indian alone
has paid the penalty ct the civil law
against murder among all the murder,
ers Of 1877 and 1878. and that was in
Southern Idaho. Three more have
been convicted by the court in Una.
tilla county, Oregon, and have received
the sentence Of death, the execution OF
which is to take place in January next.
The murderers Of the Perkins family
in Yakima are still at large, although
il was announced that at the council
held last fall between Gen. Howard
and Chief Moses that they would be
arrested. speedily, and that Moses had
agreed that he would aid in capturing
them, yet no efforts on the part Of the
military have yet been made to arres,
them, and when Moses sent word to
Father Wilbur that they were in bis
camp and the said Wilbur informed the
sheriff Of Yakima county of the fact
and he went with force of men te
get them, Moses deiantly tells the sher.
if that said Wilbur had formerly lied
to him and now he has lied to Wilbu,
and will not give up the murderers
and when the sheriff sends for help thu
announcement is made that Moses in
tentions are peaceable and troops mus
mot 60 to their assistance, there can b,
no wonder that settlers feel that tn,
policy Of the government is weak ant
"wish a-waahy," and that the Indian
are saucy and defiant; but 0 no, it vii
not do to call in question the policy 0
the government or the efficiency Of tn
officers who are 10 execute the laws
whether civil or military, lest you ar
ray all the shoulder. straps aud stars il
the. country against you. Out on al
such squeamishness and sycophaucy
Civilians and common citizens hav
some intelligence about the laws of tn,
country, and, to say the least, the.
have flesh and sleod and sense Of in
jury, as well rs others, ami when tn
ineficiency Of tho government is ex
posing their lives, their families an
their property to great danger, an
they foresee this, they would be asjec
indeed, if they did not cry out agains
such imbecility wherever it is mad
manifest. The British governmer
never did show such weakness toward
Indians, and that is why it has 50 littl
trouble with them. IF We have anothe
Indian war next Summer it will be b
cause the government will be too tam
in its policy during the ensuing tire
or four months. We have in this mil