Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-11
THE BANNOCK OUTBREAK.

THE BANNOCK OUTBREAK.
Another Indian war is threatening our
frontier. AS regularly as the summer comes
round, the intelligence arrives that one or
another of the savage tribes have gone on
the war-path and begun their work of rob-
berry and murder. Two years ago it was
the Sioux, last year the Nez Perces, This year
the Bannocks. The outbreak that has now
begun threatens to assume large proportions.
The Indians number fully thousand war
riors, thoroughly armed and equipped, and
are intrenching themselves in the lava beds
in the northwestern part of Idaho, from
which they can sally in small parties to rob
and murder the settlers or harass the troops
sent to suppress them. Their fortress is
said to be almost impregnable to assault
even stronger position than that occupied
by Captain Jack and his Modocs-an the
indications are that the war will last
throughout the summer and involve great
loss of life and cause infinite suffering.
The annual recurrence of these Indian
outbreaks cannot be attributed solely to the
natural depravity and love of carnage of the
aborigines. 1t is not reasonable to suppose
that they would, out of pure cussedness, en-
gage in conflict that they must foresee
will inevitably result in disaster and exter-
mination. Although savages, they are not
unreasoning brutes, who rush blindfold to
their own destruction merely for the sake of
an inherent love of bloodshed. They are
evidently impelled by other motives are
smarting under wrongs which death, if it
comes while fighting for what they conceive
to be their rights, is far more honorable
nocks, at least, this seems to be the case.
For half a century they have been firm
friends Of the whites, and were rapidly &C
quiring the arts of civilization. But about
three years since the Indian bureau ordered
them to reservation in southern Idaho, and
Congress appropriated a goodly sum to pro.
vide for their settlement and pay their an.
nuities. The usual result followed. The
Indian agents, assisted by the Christian mis-
sionaries having charge of the spiritual vel
fare of the tribe, stole the appropriation ani
consumed the annuities, leaving the Indians
to shift for themselves. They left tho reser
walton to obtain livelihood by hunting, ant
very naturally few resorted to plumber as
means of subsistence. Their chiefs applied
to the government for redress for thei
wrongs, but were answered by force to com
pei them to return to their reservation, ther,
to exc out a miserable, half-starved exist
ence. Instead of getting better, their condi
ton has been constantly getting worse, until
driven to desperation, they have taken to tn
war-path in the vain hope of lettering them
selves,
Hon. S. S. Fem, the delegate to Congress
from Idaho, has given very complete expo
sition of the manner in which the Bannock
have been treated by the Indian agents AM
missionaries, which should cause every ohee]
to tingle with shame for our civilization
and awaken sympathy for instead Of resent
ment against these Indians. It has becom
necessary, of course, that they should b
suppressed by force of arms, and their pun
ishnent will no doubt be severe enough
far more severe, indeed, than they deserve
Even those who fight for their rights hay
to be punished sometimes under our econc
my. But while we are Furnishing the IL
dams for resenting the outrages heaped upo
them, is there not some way by which til
men who perpretrated these outrages can b
punished too? That representatives of on
government, and opponents of the doctrine
of Christianity should be guilty of sue
crimes is deeply to be regretted, and the
should be dealt with according to their d.
serts. No punishment is too great for then
for they are directly responsible for the su
, fering and loss of life that is now inevitably
, A strong rope and a short shrift is the
need.