Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1879-01-17
A GOOD PETITION,

command of the Military Department
Tx the Columbia, and suggesting the
MINES &c jeff. G. Davis or George
Crock as Commander Of the Depart
nlent. II claims that The Department
Commando, il known to be IA sympa-
thy with the Indians, AZ he accepts
their testimony IN preference to that
Of white citizens. and that such sym
patty renders him an unsafe and uil-
reliable person to hold in his keeping
the peace Of the extended border.
That lis conduct during the Bannock
war cannot be accounted for npon no
other hypothesis than that he was pnr-
suing for punishment q people with
whom lie was III sympathy. A crit
cal analysis Of his movements durlug
the war is challenged. the distance
travelled, natural obstacles encoun-
terd. number Of Indians, their arms
and condition, and the number and APP.
pointmrnt uf Hnward's forces, &c
and ii there is any explanation OF the
failure Of the campaign than q lack OF
desire On his part 10 prosecute IT vig-
oronsly, il is 40 deeply hidden in the
mysteries Of military science as 70 be
beyond the ken Of common sense.
The slow movements, purposesess
marches, frequent delays IL sight
of retrcating horde Of savagcs, en-.
numbered with women, chi dren, and
plumber taken from the whites, just
lies the petitioners in feeling hat a
slcadicr hand and less sentimental
head SHOULD hc placed in charge Of the
military atfAirs.
The retreat from the battlefield Of
HE oath Of June. 1878, is used as a
strong argument against Howard. On
leaving the Indians took with them all
their camp cquippage, women, children
and one thousand head Of horses and
reached their objective point--the
Umatila Reservations by easy march
es. with Howard in their rear and re-
ccivcd no serious injury during the
whole march Justice to the whites
aud mercy to the Indians demands a
more robust treatment. The inildness
OF Howard's talks to the Indians in
council gives them encouragement to
90 ON the war.path His sympathetic
mode oil conducting campaigns rem
| das wars profitable to tic Indians
aud DISASTROUS To the whites, and III
stead Of suppressiug border troubles
pcrpetuates strife aud bloodshed. Ven
geancc for tho past is not asked for
but a clear head and strong hand is
wanted to conduct affairs In the fu
ture. 4 Commander that will be res
pectc alike by the whites aid Indians
is ask2l for, so that the whites may
feel safe in their homes aud the Ind
aus find raiding Improbable. 1t Is
peace, not war, that is desired. The
4 force Of sentiment that those who gt
out upon the national wilds are rude
i rough, halfcivlized class Of quasi
vagabonds, is te I; that their hiet av
ocation is to cheat tho Indian; ant
whose chief amusement is IN teaching
him vicioas practices. The pionee
has no voice IN the nation, while th
Indian has many and eloquent defend
| ers Of his rights and mourners owe
his wrongs. Though the pioneer ha
neither voice nor spokesman at tn
I Nationa! Capital, he vaguely remen
bers a right, inherited from his fois
fathers, not yet denied-at least nc
in farm--the right of petition; an
ia the exercise of that right calls til
attention of the Secretary Of War t
the utter !ncompetCncy of HOwar