The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-10-24
FEW Facts.

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Ever since our Indian trout ! 8 began
it las been a very popular cry that If
the government does not drive out the
Utes and throw their reservation open
to the people Of Colorado, the people Of
Colorado ought to undertake the Job
themselves. At frst blush this APP
pears to be n good idea but closer in
spection reveals difficulties in the gen
eral plan which are ut least grave
enough to bear inspection.
The subject divides itself into two
branches: first, driving out the Utes
and finally occupying the reservation.
No one will deny that Colorado could
drive out the Utes il she addressed her
self to the task. 1t would be very ex.
pensive. however, to begin with. aud
be attended with considerable iDcon-
venience to the state ms we'll. We are
without arms enough, and are totally
destitute of equipments, supplies, etc.
There is no money in the treasury to
buy these things, and no authority or
law for their purchase, even on certin.
Gates Of indebtedness. The Hrst step
would be TO call an extra session OF the
legislature at an expense OF some thous-
ands Of dollars to authorize Governor
Pitkin to put the state on II wal footing.
III authorized to do SO. there would be
no trouble In raising recruits and
driving the Indians from our soil. 1t
is unnecessary now 10 estimate the
probable cost Of the war, which would
be thousands. and might be millions Of
dollars. II the expenditure was author
lied, the state could and would pay the
bills, no matter how big they were.
But then comes the second branch of
the SUBJECTIVE beneficial results OF the
u 1t would be worth something of
course to be rid Of the Indians. I'm
happily, though, the reservation is q
sort of a Distict Of Columbia in the
wilderness, under the control Of con-
gress primarily and of the Indian bu.
reau in fact. 1t would still be a reser-
walton after the Indians were driven
out. No citizen In Colorado would
have any right TO settle there, nor could
he obtain any title to lands or mines IL
he occupied either, The Indian bureau
and the humanitarians of the east
would raise a great cutlery about our
fierce brutality, inhuman cruelty, etc.,
and would take the part of the Indians
as against the people of Colorado. In
that case 1t is altogether likely that the
state would find itself involved in SER
iors compile itions with the congress of
the United States, tine Indian bureau.
the philanthropists and pretty much
every body down East. with the chances
thai the Utes would be put back on
their reservation again. instead of hay.
ing the reservation thrown open to act
ual settlement.
Colorado wants to get rid Of the Utes
but she must have the reservation omen.
ed, both these ends must be attained AZ
the same time and by the same process
II the Indian bureau fails to give us
the relief we ask, congress must he an
pealed to, and all the influence we can
bring to bear must be directed to this
end. Our members must prepare them.
selves, before they return to Washing.
ton in December, to present and plead
2 cause with all the eloquence at
hen command. II the people of the
state are ready and willing to expend
millions Of dollars in an Indian war.
ior . sake OF getting clear of the Utes
II 70 easy enough to see that our mem
pers may do their constituents an al
most inestimabie service in securing the
same result by diplomacy, at no ex-
pense TO our people. The Indian prob.
lem can be solved in this, and this wav
on1y--Denrer Tribune. w.