The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1879-02-13
Tho Indian Prnhfnm-


attitude of Sitting Bull is almost posi-
tive proof of this. Though fleeing TO
the protection of another government,
he has never pledged himself not to re-
sumo hostilities, except upon Canadian
soil, and all his movements point to a
reCrOssing of the line at an early day. 1t
is a well known fact that he has kept up
constant communication with the hos
tiles, and it cannot be doubted that the
moment he sets foot upon our borders
he will be Joined by all the disahected
tribes of the Northwest. This his great
power will enable him to command, and
the procuring of arms is so easy, that
within the shortest possible time he can
place in the field an army against which
it will be hard to cope, knowing, as they
do, the fastnesses, and compelling their
antagonists to fight upon ground giving
them every advantage.
Against this much to be regretted state
of affairs the bitter experience of the
past seems to be, if not powerless, at
least inactive. The history of all Indian
wars is the same; Il small force opposed
to a great one at the outset; many vala-
able lives lost; much precious blood
shed; q siCkening record of barbarities
and a desolated country, before the army
could be concentrated to strike a decis-
i've blow. And what, when at last it
was done? The same farce OF surrender
OF feeding and clothing through the win
ter; of relying upon promises certain
to be broken; Of nursing viper to sting
our carts!
Strange that those in authority never
seem to learn wisdom by the bloody les
sons Of the past; that prevention is nev-
c1s fhorrrr,E Of r,1,on of hot
all Of the warning, the country is thrill
ed with the horrible details of indian
war before resistance, is quicKened into
life, and the strong arm Of power not on
ly raised to defend but retaliate.
1t needs no prophet to fOretel what
the result will be when the various tribes
again cut loose from the forts and Drift
away from reservations IS against the
handful of armed men who are supposed
to awe and be able to keep them III
check. We have but to turn back the
pages of a single year to have the ques-
ton answered. In Indian warfare, at
least, history repeats itself again ar
again, and a description of the first stTug-
gle would answer with very little vaTia-
tom for the latest.
In solving the. problem of what is to
be done, many years and thousands Of
lives and millions of money have been
wasted, and the end is not yet. Treaties
are about as binding as straw; faith as
/ little regarded as the wind; annUities
/ given only to breed discomfort, because
they are not continually enlarged-the
mOdesty (?l of these wards of the nation
! knowing nothing of bounds.
Quaker guns and Quaker kindnesses
have been tried in vain; have been con-
strued into fear of them. All the Chari-
ties of life have been shOwered to be
returned by scofing and contempt.
HUnting-grounds have been given for
| their exclusive use, to be abandoned at
pleasure, and the implements of agri.
culture bestowed to reverse the adage
of beating the sword into plOwshares.
! They have been fed when in want, only
the more haughtily to depend upon the
| giving, TO demand it as a right: they
! have been nursed in sickness only the
| sooner to return to the scalping-knite
and the war-path; have been taught
! the songs Of Christianity only the louder
/ to WhOOp the battle-cTy; have been CIV
en- arms for the hunting trail only the
more to become proficient in the killing
/ of the pale face have been brought in
| to association with civilization simply to
learn the arts of a better resistance.
True they, as a race, have not been
fairly and squarely dealt with, and have
many lust causes of complaint. The Un-
! derlings OF the Government have aided
the swindling traders, or quietly winkeG
at their proceedings. They have been
! Systematically cheated and robbed, and
treaties have been kept anything but
sacredly. Yet, granting these things.
| the OnUs of blame lies with the red man,
not the white, and midnight murders,
and burnings, and treacheTy, is a poor
way to obtain questionable rights.
! So the problem remains unsOlyed as to
what is best to be done. The signs Of
/ the times force the conclusion that We
are soon to have a repetition of all the
horrors of Indian warfare and we can
not, if we would, shrink from the re-
spOnsibility of the future. Shall red
| tape be abolished and it be given to the
army to cut the gordian knot with the
sword? Has not the futility of Commits
sioners been tested again and again? Is
an Indian Bureau any better than a
wooden One2 Have the churches proven
potent in their waTm-hearted efforts?
Are the dwellers upon the frontier to be
! left to protect themselves? Are the
lcLAlAb uCCOCAl 4lA IN Il4OLul4DlA anu NLtLlL-
Vation to be closed against settlement at
the whim of a beggarly crew Of red
men?
The answer to all these questions
seems patent to the thinking mind. No
one denies that something must be done,
and that speedily, to cure the long brood
ing evil, and the only difference is as to
the hon it can be accomplished. In this
both cost and human life are conditions
precedent to any adjustment, and must
be considered equally with the conquer
ing of a peace. But the end should not
be put off. There should be a speedy
settlement and a final one. 1t is mis-
taken policy to be forever daily ing; it is
not a merciful one. There is no valid
reason why the Indians who share ,he
benefit of the laws should not abide by
and respect them, and it IS ridiculous
that a handful of half naked savages
should longer defy. Mercy and benefits
have been scorqfully refused, and the
power that dwells behind the throne
should be summoned. Like the farmer
written of in the old spelling-bOoks, We
have tried what virtue there was IL
grass sufficiently long to prove It's
| WOrthlessness, and now we should not
hesitate to take stones
The question of fOrbearanCe and mer-
cy has two bearings, and that given to
the red man has proven, times without
number, death to the white man. But
the problem is before the country and
must be solved. There can be no longer
lodging. The day of putting off has
ceased the time for action come. What
shall the answer be? The old and
bungling fashion of waiting until the
horse is stolen before locking the barn
door, OF prompt and energetic movement
against the hour when the war-cry shall
ring, and the prairie be made red with
innocent blood? Mercy and tenderness
have been worse than useless, and must
the bitter and terrible word be written
EXTERAIINATION?
A LONG TRAMP.-SOme time ago, says
the Hamilton Spectator, a man and his
wife applied for lodging at the police
station. They gave their names as
Michael and Mary Cahill and they had
with them a tiny little babe, blue-eyed
tOotsey wootsey in a mans shirt. Cahill
was a little man, very polite to his wife,
a large red faced mOtherly woman. As
they passed through the city on their
way out they put together what little
, money tbay bad and bOI1gbt q little b9bV