Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-05-13
Monday Evening, May ,s, 1873
The Daily Press and Dakotaian
OUR ARMY.

BOWEN & KINGSBURY. Publishers
OUR ARMY.
An intelligent public sentiment demands
that instead of the actual and proposed re.
.duction of the army an increase of the
standing national police force be made to
not less than $1,000 men. In the east
various reasons are advanced in advocacy
of this demand, chief among which are !: the
ripening growth of communism; the tend.
ency towards labor riots in the cities; the
necessity for providing means of liveli.
hos1 for the more intelligent members OF
theindigent class, who are unable to oh.
tam work. In the west, particularly along
the Indian border, We can best realize the
weakness of our army and best understand
the actual necessity for an increase Of its
numerical strength. In the east The ele.
ment to be kept under subjection exists
largely in the fears and the anxieties of the
masses-in the developments of the future
which day or an hour might precipitate.
In the west we have the unruly element
constantly before us. ever restless, vigilant
and vicious-ever ready to brandish the
weapons of destruction. Between us and
their murderous tendencies stands kirm-
ish line where closed ranks should appear
askirmish llue which, while 1t would lie
down as one man and die in its tracks in
the performance of duty, would be insult
cient to check any general outbreak along
the border. The wilderness home of the
savages extends over vast area of country
difficult to operate in, and in which exposed
points are widely separated from each
other. To attempt their protection with
the meager allowance of men doled out by
mistaken legislators is one of the impossi
bllities already demonstrated. The best
they can do is to stand guard at their
various posts and tell the nation when
danger threatens. In the event of outbreaks
in the cities of the east, from what quarter
could armed aid be drawn? In case of q
general Indian war where would needed
reinforcements be procured? These are
questions which arc painfully uppermos. in
the public mind, and fortunate it is that no
looked for crisis has yet come upon.us. But
can We 60 on indefinitely without encount-
erIng the dangers which for so long time
have been visible just in our front? There
IS limit 10 reasonable expectation and
that limit has already been passed.
In the face of the nations necessities and
dangers, the democratic house of repre-.
sentatives, purely for the qualification of a
selfish sentiment, goes on reducing our
army and proposing still greater reductions.
Its members seem not to consider the dire
results which are liable to follow on the
trail of :heir proceedings. Their one idea
is to completely cripple the protective
force, because it has in the days of the past,
In obedience of orders, rendered sitsslf OBJ
noxious to certain class of the people.
No more deplorable exhibition of petty re-
venge could be INDUCED in BY men of great
minds, and 1t hardly seems possible that
they can fully comprehend the situation.
They certainly do not comprehend 1t as do
the hard worked, self sacrificing officers
and men of the fragment Of our army who
are operating over the Indian country
beyond u.s. The tales of their trials and
triumphs, their hardships, dangers and dis
are seldom borne many lea
CUES eastward from the border, and less
seldom do they reach the ears of the law
givers of the country. living in pampered
ease and safety within the walls which
these same brave men have secured
to their uses for all time to come.
Custer was sent into the jaws of death
with his handful of heroes, and died, when
with double his numbers he could have
annihilated his foes. Howard was led
long chase over mountains and plains, his
men dropping by the inhospitable waYside,
The enemy ever beyond his reach, because
bis was but the skeleton of pursuing
party. Sitting Bull, entrenched be-
hind an International boundary line, is
gathering his hosts for q seasons cam.
oaign, sending his emissaries into all the
,ampa of Montana and Dakota, while the
gallant Miles, with his meagre congress
onal allowance of national defenders
keeps ceaseless vigil that he may have time
% send forth the intelligence that the enc.
ny is coming to crush him. Still the
work of reducing the army" goes on, and
n the false name of economy. Millions are
,quandered in pursuing vague and vision
.ry schemes for civilizing the Indians,
while the only means competent to accom-
olish this result is being forced into inglo.
.ious decay. Wise men not unfrequently
become wiser through experience. but we
incerely hope that the light of intelligence
nay in this instance enter the national in
elect before the lesson it courts is sudden
V opened to its understanding.
I
COL. lUGENBEEL'S s VIEWS.