Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1878-12-28
PUNISH TuEn ALL.

Sena tor plumb has replied 20 Secretary
Schurz. respecting the punishment Of the
Indians who murdered and marau led in
this portion If Kansas in September last.
Senator Plumb protests against the pun>
isbInent of individual members Of the
band. WHO may be singled out as the lead
crs of the outrages. This would lead to
the result Of no punishment whatever. as
the Identification of the particular Indians
who committed the crimes would he im>
practicable. We make the following
extract from the Senator's letter:
But respectful irs;st th4t there is no
warrant. either in iaw ur III morals. fer
such discrimination. That alt II these
Indians were and are allie guilty., scarcely
admit, IF a doubt. Tney rIidei Ioceihe
the plan aud CELEBRITY OF their march sug~
cc,tei Encouragement; there Is no. tne
slightest circumstance TO indicate thai the
perpefIatioa of any OF The enormities in
question was opposed ut che time or has
been since disavowed By any portion Of
the band; those who we've rot directly
engaged III The deeds of cruelty, If any
such there We're were clearly accessories,
AIDING and abetting the actual perpetra-
tors. and all deserve the same punish>
menI.
Suppose, however. that one or tive, or
even half dozen OF these savagps be
identified and brought 10 punishment
through the medium of the Kansas
Courts. That would DE equivalent TO u
declaration of innocence n TO the re-
manning members of the band. and would.
practically, encourage the repetition of
the offence by thus reducing the danger
of punishment to the minimum. Huns
dreds of horses were stolen, thousands NJ
dollars worth of property DESTROYED. forty
men murdered and INITIATED. and half
that number OF women and girls subjected
to the awful brutality of the lust of this
band OF savages, who we're organized and
operating toy the sole and express purpose
of robbery, arson. murder and iape.
Against any plan OF policy which assrInes
10 relieve any member of this band from
his jus: snare CT responsibility for thesc
almost unparalleled atrocities committed
against uaofiending men. women and
children, | most urgently protest.
Ii may be asked how these Indians are
10 be punished il no. through the forms
of the evil law! II may not be strictly
logical. but II is certainly pertinent res
PLY, that il their punishment: depends up
o. tie operation of law as administered
IN tie tolTts. they are in 20 CANCER
whatever, auC II w1uld De much better
10 Cls'nisS at the onset all Thoughts of
punishment ilan TO institute proceedings
wh-ch could ONLY end III t.:ilure. These
Indians were captured by, or surrendered
to. the military authorities, they were
uo.oriuusiy engaged IN acts of hostility.
and are ainena5le to trial by court mar
tiai | 90 hot hesitate to assert that the
cause of ,sticr ard humanity would be
irnch more et.ectnaliy sabseIyed by he
utter determination of this band of iuui>
deIers and outlaws. than by Ibso,viae
them from any pGuishui-pf whatever.
ia,nsi tue proposition 70 re;ure these
Indians 10 the reservation CT the tribe
III the Indian Territory. also mos: earn
cst.v protest. 1t is a standing menace to
hundreds and thousands of innocent peO>
pie in NV Stale. To which they should not
be subjee:cc. Nor can fuibear to add
that when proposed Us a disciplinary
measure 1t fal infinitely short Of a fit
ting refributlon for the excuses. which
are lar too .enientlv characterized by the
general phrase ''GIs0rderly conducT.