The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-23
continue, and that Congress may, like Par
Lament, be soon educated out OF lite ig-
nDr
A Costly Crimc-shaiI IL be Repeatedly

n NObtly NTlut-Ouutt w st't'"'NN'
Omaha tidlngs announce that Gen. SHERr-
DAN and Gen. CROOK have together planned
a war against the Sioux who lately wan
dercd of from the Red Cloud Agency.
The excuse given for this projected out
rnRe is this: No doubt is entertained that
these Indians mean war upon the settlers,
and It is believed 10 be wise to anticipate
their movements" What ground is there for
this assertion Instead of these Indians
breaking away from the new agency for
war, they quilted II in disgust at forced
change which they had protested against.
Do Gen. SHERIDAN and Gen. CROOK sup
pose the people have forgotten last sum
mcrs visit Of the Sioux chiefs to Washing
ton They came TO beg that they might not
be driven away from their lands to tho un
healthy new reservations provided for them
on the Missouri. Their pleas were unavail-
ing they were sent under guard, late In
autumn, ON their long journey. suffering
hardships from the severe weather, and,
arriving In the new region. some lodges
perhaps hundred in all--renounced the
white mans protection, and rode of to
take care Of themselves.
This is the head and front of their Offend
ing; for this they have been marked as hos
tile by men always ready for fresh Indian
war, and who now propose to strike them
before their ponies have fattcncd upon the
new grass" while HAYES sits by presume
bly, willing to let his heart bleed for the
red mon. but taking good care to let the war
preparations go on.
Before Congress also connives, by mae
ton. at this outrage. let IL look at the fig
Al -
costly and bloody war with the Sioux.
There were killed 2s3 officers and men Of the
army, to say nothing of the wounded, at an
extra cost Of S2,3l2jJl to the public treas
ury Such are the statistics OF that war
statistics prepared by those who have no
interest TO exaggerate them. Yet this war
was nccdlcssly brought on by the army and
the Government
Toward the end Of the winter Of lsGs, Cen
HARVEY, q famous Indian fighter, officially
reported: II can unheSitatingly declare
that to secure perpetual peace with the
Sioux Indians it Is only necessary to fulfil the
terms of the treaty made 10y the Peace Com
mission" In lS1i in direct violation ~ this
treaty Gen CUsrER's expedition was sent
into the Black Hills. Gold was found. and
white men poured into the region. though
the Government had pledged itself To protect
| the Indians against intrusion Having both
broken the treaty themselves and opened the
way for the people to break it, the Govern
mont authorities then tried tobuy the Black
Hills from the Indians but refused to give
them their price. Pending treaty ncgotia-
tions the cry was started that SITTING
BULLS band was rading upon the Montana
| 81. 4. Hal
the small band Of Sioux who had absolutely
refused treaty relations with the Govern
mcnt, having sent to the commission, OF
which Assistant Secretary CowES was
chairman, these words: "Whenevcr you
have found white man who will tell the
truth you may return, and shall be glad 10
see you" They had never returned.
Thus II will be seen that the last Sioux
war broke out just after great wrong had
been committed by the whites in invading
Sioux territory. In SITTING BULLS camp
at that time were temporarily staying large
bodies Of friendly Sioux who had left their
reservations with the full knowledge OF the
agents, in order to procure buffalo in the
Powder river region, provisions having run
short at the agencies. Their rightto hunt
in this region was expressly conceded 10y the
treaty. In December, 1875, these Indians
were directed to be back in their agencies 10y
Feb. l. on pain OF treatment rs enemies.
Their agents protested that the Indians
could not make the long journey over the
bleak wilderness, in the dead OF winter, with
out fuel or food and asked that they be al
lowed two or three months longer to return
Instead Of making this concession, In March
they were struck" as It is now proposed
to strike the Red Cloud Agency refugees
and the war Of 1876 began with an indis'
crimnate onslaught upon friends and foes
"The order" says Gen. SHELLEY, directing
that all Indians found outside Of their reser
vatons be treated as hostile, forced very
many friendly Sioux to band together fol
mutual protection against attacks 10y thu
military forces and TO this fact Is TO bc at
tributed the sad and melancholy fate OF Gen
CUSTER and his immediate command"
We now see n repetition OF the policy O
treating as hostile all Sioux Indians tina
may be off their reservations. An eXpedi
ton is organizing 10 go out and attack tn
agency Indians who have been guilty OF tn
crime of feeding themselves all winter q
buffalo instead Of drawing rations from tn
reservations. They are TO be attacked bt
fore the spring opens when there might b
5 some chance Of their returning to In
t agencies; and Congress may soon see
= ghastly addition to the official figures q
: wasted lives and treasure Just put under it
e eyes.