New-York tribune., 1879-01-01
A TERRIIIC SECRETARY.

Ridiculous Alr. SIlchuey Is sun plaIclh&
around, begging somebody to tread on the
tail of his coat. \ week ago THE TRBCNE,
i'm a line Of comment uuOn the capture of
Chief Moses. ventured the suggestlon,-" Sup
&" nose that some one should insist upon max
ing up the account on both sides. and should
"put down all the wars which the Indian
Burcau blousht on" And tIcrcHpon Nh.
William Stickney, VINO Is Secretary OF the
Board Of Indian Commissioners, issued de
cree commanding THE IERCNE Itself forth
Wit. to make Up the account aforesaid, and
finnish him with Il complete list OF the wars
winch the Indian Bureau has brought on. Not
being aware that Mr. William Stickncy has
aDy jurisdiction over The TRIBUNE, and not
feeling under obligation to go ont and fight
with cvcrybpdy WHO cOVcts the distinction Of
being drubbcd by conspicuous newspaper
We told the gentleman that we were too busy
to undertake the large job which he assumed
the liberty of putting upon us, but that if he
really wished for knowledge he could get il
by applying 10 General Miles and General
sherman, the former Of those officers having
already Given out IL partial list which ought
20 do pretty well for beginning.
Air. Sticlncy, however, Is not satisfied. He
repr;.ts his demand upon THE TRrBUNE for
9" complete list" and adds further rcqui-
stion for proof" warning us that if we
fail to comply With the terms Of his rescript
he will forbid lis TO say anything more
ON tlr subject. This would be dreadful.
If there were no way OF escape from
the dilemma Of either shutting up
or setting our whole force at work day and
night in the compilation of the Volumln0us
and unreadable chronicle which this mercileSS
secretary requires, we should be wrctchcd in-
deed. But Mr.. Stickncy leaves us way OF
cscapc. "If not able 10 furnish the list he
adds. you may consider this request ad-
" dressed also to General Miles and General
Sherman. or any others able to give the list,
who >nay speak tlIough your columns
This i very kind. II shows an amiabc regard
for our feelings for which we cannot bc too
grateful. We should not have been willing
without snch permission 10 consider this rather
p,rcmptory request addressed to d>tn-
auishcd military commanders who have
not authorized Mr. Siickney to call
upcn them for anything, and with
whom he does not appear 10 have had
any intercourse or communication. Ii Is posi-
| bic that even if We do consider the request
addressed 10 them, they may decline to regard
i, so. may think that more evil aud ccrc-
monionS application would bc only decent
may. IN short, neglect to pay to Mr. SticknCy'
,dcta any attention whatever. And /, is just
poVdblc That il "uny Others able to give" the
complete "hsl,' fortified by documentary
proofs. should oecr 10 deposit that load in
our columns, We mighi object to the sacrifice
| of 80 much valuable room.
But to bc srliors. Mr.. SticLncy finishes (at
| lcaAi we hope hc doc) bS saying: " would
! "icmlrk horr that general statements oI
" vague insertions will not answer the pur-
"posc THIS Board. ~ we'll ~ the Indian
bureau. desires specific historical state.
"mcnis, aud not random talk He is night
| And wo make the specific statement that WI
have much more important business on hano
| than conducting n controversy with 50 very
absurd u champion NJ the Secretary oi Oh,
| Board oi Indian Commissioners.