Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-02-20
THE ARMY AND THE INDIANS.

, The facts Of the recent outbreak of tn,
Cheyennes is so fresh in the memories o
the readers Of the New York papers that
do not deem it necessary to recount then
in this article. although my purpose in
writing it is. in my humble way. to defend
the army from the very unjust reflections
that have been cast upon it in connection
with that outbreak. That they are entirely
unjustifable, think, can be made NANTES,
without any great effort.
Frank Leslic's Illustrated Newspaper, OF
February LIST. is particularly severe in its
criticisms. That the writer of the article
appearing in that paper was totally ignor-
ant of the facts attending the outbreak is
apparent from the start, for he says that
''the troops gathering from their barracks.
without first attempting to stop their flight
peaceably. began firing indiscliminately.
shooting down thirty in the frozen snow. -
So notorious is 1t that every means were
exhausted in quieting the increasing up-
easiness among the Indians, that it must
he known by every person who desired to
inform themselves in the matter. know
not what may be the animus Of the above
quotation, but it does certainly look as
though the inference intended to be drawn
was that the troops were only too anxious
to shoot down the Indians. Any one at
all familiar with the Indian characte.. must
be aware of the fi,tility any such course rs
attempting to stop their flight peacably."
think the writer of the article in question
would cut a sorry figure attempting to
peaceably stop an armed escaping Indian.
1t would be another OF the many failures
attending the ''peace policy" The Indian
would be very likely to appreciate his
philanthropy and humanity, but it would
be done in SO unmistakable manner as to
leave no doubt Of its sincerity and the re-
suit would be another martyr to the glori-
Gus cause of Outstanding poor 10"
Great stress is also laid upon the fact that f!
hey were shot down in the ''frOzen snow
The Indians knew there was snow on the
ground and that In all probability it was
rozen. They should have requested that
path be made through it, and although
'nr army is OF the huge proportions of |
keletOn. | think it would have been done
or them, particularly if 1t was known that
would please the gentleman who finds 1t
to 60 into parOxysm of rage
'ecause the soldiers did their duty.
He continues by saying that 'sthey were
ollowed and shot down remorseiessly."
10 not want to appear vulgar by denomin-
ting this lie, but would certainly be
orrect If | did SO. Why such an utter
isregard OF the first principle of veracity
llould be manifested in the preparation of
n article for journal that claims to be
he exponent of all that is fair and lust, is
eyond my comprehension. The writer's
ources OF Information must be remarka-
~ detective or else the reports were pur- +
osely tortured to give the coloring in ,
hitch they were placed before the people.
lis ideal Of the Indian will, probably, be
'und personified In the many rudely cary
] and fantastically painted images that z
race the fronts of the numerous cigar
ores in the eastern cities.
Sitting in the comfortable s.sanctum" OF :
leading newspaper Is one thing and liy-
g out here In the wilds OF America, pro-
citing the frontier settlements from, the
any Riding incursions of the savages is