The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-03-25
M%UR0ERoUs PAUPERs-

QdliOLlo IN oituHcSecAh 1C1hao1a ahu
southern Dakota may be expected dur
ing the coming season. 1t is true that
all through the winter small parties of
Indians roamed about the ranches on
the Niobrara, seeking for and driving
away horses and cattle, and killing the
herders and ranchmen. These deeds
were variously ascribed to Little VOLTS
band Of Cheyennes in the sand hills,
and to thieving delegations of Sioux
from Red Clouds and Spotted Tails
agencies. 1t is possible that suspicion
was rightly placed in both instances.
However, discoveries made in the re-
cent past seem to prove conclusively
that the later depredations have been
committed by bucks from the two
Sioux reservations mentioned above.
This confirms what the LEADER has
always commended to be true-that
trouble could certainly be expected
from members of these tribes, and es-
pecially when the present vicious and
criminal system of permitting the saw
ages to possess firearms, ammunition
and ponies, is in full force. Here is
the whole secret of the trouble, and we
have pointed it out repeatedly hereto
fore. So long as the government fur
nishes firearms and permits the Indi-
ans under its care to possess ponies, SO
long does it insure the commission of
depredations. With all the knowledge
of experience with these untamed iends
of the plains-the knowledge that they
will always take advantage of the
power granted and given them-it is
really strange that at least one little
ray of wisdom dawns not on the UNDER
standing of the authorities. Well may
the redskins conclude that the govern
ment winks at the sly deviltry commit
ted by them on white men by means of
the very appliances furnished by a
worse than criminal practice. If a
mans life were threatened by an enc
my, and he, in a mistaken spirit of con
Citation, should present a rifle and am
munition to the would-be assassin,
he would not pursue a whit more
suicidal policy than the govern
ment is now doing. Indians on reserva-
tons have no use for ponies or fire.
arms. They are maintained at the
public expense like any other paupers,
and as their food and raiment are al
ways sure, guns and powder are not in
any sense a necessity. 1t will not ans
wer to urge that the Indians can add
TO their subsistence by hunting wild
game, and thus reduce the expenses of
their keeping. The help from this
source is so small as to shame him who
would put it forward as an argument
why these Indians should retain their
firearms and ammunition.
The fact remains that the bucks de-
light more in sweeping down on a
ranch, with all the horrors which such
a raid implies, than in trailing over
the plains Or through the timber in
Indeed, 1t seems to be a trait in the
groveling nature of these dangerous
and thankless paupers, that they would
rather murder and steal than come
honestly by supplies or valuables. AT
any rate, even granting for the present
purpose that the Indians do contribute
materially to their w support, it
would prove q vast saving of both life
and property, If this assistance were to
be dispensed with. So long as it is
possible for Indians to help themselves
by hunting, so long murder, rape, rob-
berry, arson and ruin are also possible.
No amount of economy can atone for
these horrible crimes; and yet the two
are inseparably connected.
The remedy is simple, speedy and
certain: Take from the Indians all the
guns and ammunition they possess;
take from them their ponies, and reim-
burse them with n~ecessaries. Forbid
them to make or W any more formid-
able weapons than knives. Then, by
properly Furnishing all violations of
this rule, a correct discipline could be
secured, and frontier life and stock
raising rendered safe and more profta-
BILE. 1t may be necessary for a time
to increase the military forces at the
reservations, SO that a lack of compul-
sorry force need not be feared.
We mightproceed and argue through
two columns of space on this question,
and our points would not be any truer
or stronger, when done, than they are
now. Our readers need only be re-
minded of facts and possibilities, and
they can apply them to the furthest linn
its of the case. In the present instance
everyone has some knowledge of the
subject. To come to a rational and
safe conclusion, is an easy matter.
And we feel confident, too, that the
majority will agree with us, that it is a
heinous blunder to permit the Indians
to retain the means of raiding and
numbering. The protest against this
system must first go up from the west,
which best understands and appreciates
this matter. When the eastern press
shall have become sufficiently enlight-
ened to see that the government itself
is partly responsible for Indian depre-
dations and massacres, and that it can
easily prevent further troubles, to a
great extent, we shall expect some Wig
orous and well rounded editorials from
eastern iOurnals ~calliup for reform and
true protection. Then the government