The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-14
MAssAORES WANTED.

The recent Indian massacre In Colorado, In
which one Of the most gallant and promising
officers Of the army was slnfn outright, to-
gather with some fourteen of his men, while
twenty seven men were wounded. Ia another
striking evidence Of the imbeelity, or worse.
with which our Indinn affairs are managed.
The frequency OF these massacres naturally
suggests inquiry us to the responsibility for
them. Why Is 1t that the Indian border Ia
left unprotected or soantiIy guarded when
there are troops In all sections Of the country
doing nothing whatever except drilling and
drawing rations. Why La a little band of SOL
diors marched out improperly equipped, Into
u strange country to follow a willy and for
midable foe Into the Businesses where Its
butchery Ia almost foregone conclusion
These periodical massaeres are becoming
scandalous, and II Con. Sheridan would spend
lees OF his time lo'ing about Chicago. smoking
cigars almost as large rs himself, and airing
his Importance and epaulettes. and pay more
attention to the disposition OF his troops on
tho frontier, 1t ls possible that humanity
would not be 80 often shocked by the reports
Of such shameful disasters to the soldiers Of
the United States.
Inc SuSplclolI ID RHiuiDk 6Iouhu tuob euSIo
Ia q horrible method In these things; that the
requirements Of the Radical party demand
occasional sacrifices Of human life In order to
make point on the Democratic party, which
Ia to be held responsible for these murders
because 1t declined to Increase the standing
army. This Is not merely rumor, but We
have 1t from the Hon. J. Floyd King, our
Representative from the Fifth District, that
some time ago he was informed by army OIL.
GERS In high standing that the manner In
which the troops were dispersed on the
frontier WAS such rs to convince military men
that the massacre Of the troops was Intended.
and 1t was predicted to him then that not
many months would elapse before there would
be another dreadful tragedy similar to that
In which the noble and gallant Custer fell.
slain by overwhelming numbers and for no
purpose whatever.
The prediction has already been fulfilled
and the country has right to inquire OF the
War Department why all the available forces
of the government are not concentrated
against the hostile Indians. The army NUM-
bers about twenty Thousand mon, and there
are not more than eight thousand troops pro-
tectng the frontier from Mexico to Canada.
Where are the other twelve thousand, and
| why are they not sent whore their services
might avail to prevent such slaughter as
was Witnessed the other day In Colorado.
Whenever the news comes In OF wholesale
butchery OF troops, we find the names OF
| Sherman and Sheridan soon figuring In the
papers as prosecuting VIGOROUS telographic
war, and the newspapers TEEN with their sage
opinions as to thesltuation at the seat OF war
but when the dead are buried and forgotten.
these warriors, resting on the laurels gained
| In internecne strife relapse into condition
OF quiescence, and then the Indians make ar
rangements for another massacre 81 troops.
If Sheridan Is unequal to the task OF fighting
the savages and prefers to Idle his time away
amid the seductive influences OF Chicago,
some General endowed with the fighting
characteristics OF old Harvey should be placed
In command, to teach the redskins lesson
| they will not soon forget. Harney's brilliant
victory over the warlike Sioux was accom-
plished with force OF 1000 men, but he was
generally nearer the foe than Chicago and hac
a knowledge OF Indian warfare which the bolc
rider Of the desolated Shenandoah valley
can never hope to attain at long range. There
was no necessity for following the women and
children In the valley from their burning
homes Into the woods, but it might be neoes
sary to follow the savage Utes into theil
strnnghoIds In the mountains; hence 1t ts not
only more pleasant, but infinitely more Sc
cure to conduct the war with headquarters II
Chicago.
There seems to be criminal negligence II
the management of the Indian matters, ant
the blood Of Custer and Thornburgh cries on
against the inane and murderous policy which
has been SO long pursued by the War Depart
ment