The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-30
British Protection for American Citizens


Several weeks ago, when there were signs
of general uprising on the part OF the Alaska
Indians, the British ship Of war Osprey
promptly sailed from Esquimalt to Sitka to
protect the lives OF tho American citizens
there. Tho report OF Commander Ii.
HoLMEs AcoURT Of her Majesty's ship con-
firms In every particular the accounts OF
the situation published In THE Sun during
the twelve months past. The lives OF the
Three nuuurcu wnIto men, wUtuuIi, anu
dren in that distant settlement were en-
tirey at the mercy OF from three to ten
thousand Indians, disposed TO hostility and
prepared TO sweep down upon the village
and massacre every white inhabitant Had
1t not been for the timely arrival OF the
Osprey, in all human probability such a
massacre would have occurred.
Capt. ACoURr does not hesitate TO fix the
responsibility for this state Of affairs:
"while the garrison remained at sitkA the Indians
kept in check by authority, and the place in
OF defence there being strong sockade between the In.
dian village and the town. The troops were Withdrawn
In June, 1877, and with them disappeared all vestge OF
power Since that time the Indians have been growing
and more turbulent and trouble some The citizens
subjected to insolence. the Indians making no
scrupe OF saying that the United States did
not for stka; that It left to them, and they
should do as they liked"
BY the great service which the British
Captain has rendered TO us and to human
ity, he has earned the right to utter this re-
proach, humliating as it Is to our pride
Sitka is one OF the few places within the
limits OF our territory where the constant
presence OF troops is imperatvely required
One Of the first acts Of HAYEs's fraudulent
Administration was TO withdraw the garri-
son from Alaska, leaving the white inhabit-
ants helpless against the savages. When
the danger OF such course was pointed out,
IL was spitefully retorted by the mouthpiece
OF HAYES Cabinet that the economy OF the
Democratic Congress in regard TO the army
had made the withdrawal necessary even
though 1t imperilled tho lives Of the settlers.
This pretext was wilfully false. The troops
taken from Sitka.wer not disbanded; they
were merely transferred TO an island In San
Francisco bay. where it cost quite as much
TO maintain them as at the northern post.
The true reason for the withdrawal OF tho
troops is probably as well known 10 Capt.
ACoURT as 1t is TO everybody else in the
least degree conversant with Alaskan
affairs. The Alaska Commercial Company
monopoly in which JOHN SHERMAN is par
ticularly Interested, found great inconven-
fence In the presence Of intelligent and hon
orable army officers so near the scene OF its
profitable operations.
We learn from the report OF the British
officer now charged with the protection OF
citizens OF the United States, that he has
been reinforced by the arrival OF an Ameri-
can vessel the revenue cutter Oliver VOL
colt. His opinion OF the inefflciency OF the
cutter Is plainly expressed. Even the In
dians, he says, are fully aware Of her weak
ness and on her arrival openly said that
they were not afraid of her Fully con-
WINGED that II he left, affairs would at once
reassume their former alarming condition,
Capt. AooURT has decided to remain until
our Government provides for the effectual
protection OF Its people In Stka.
Our navy has been in wretched enough
plight since 1t was wrecked and plundered
by RoBEsoN's gang, but 1t has ships enough
and guns enough TO cover Sltka. II honestly
administered. One American war vessel
was recently reiltted and upholstered at
great expense for the accommodation OF the
GRANT family, and Is now on It's way to carry
the king deadhead from Bombay TO the Sea
oi Japan. Another war vessel Is TO convey
EFFIGY SARGENT on q hygienic excursion 10
the Mediterranean Other vessels are kept
on the Atlantic coast TO serve as yachts for
DICK THoMPsoN's select parties Of iunket,
ers. Meanwhile tho American citizens in
Alaska depend for their scalps and their
lives upon tho continued presence OF an En-
glsh gunboat.
Sir JOSEPH PORTER. K G. B.. is In some