The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-10-13
Monday. octoas. 10. 1878.
who is Responsible.


The responsibility of the government
for the murder of Indian agent Meeker, is
clearly established. Weeks before the
affair occurred. says his daughter, the
government was notified of the danger and
appealed to for help. but none came.
Instead of hastening relief to the agent,
and protecting the settlers, the troops
were kept In the south in conformity with
the programme of blood arranged by the
staiwart leaders. to give tone 10 the out
rage mill stories which are going toe
rounds, always winding up with refec-
tiop on the necessity for troops at the
south
The army is amply sufficient for main
tanning peace on the borders, and if pro-
perry distributed would soon effectually
solve the Iudian question. Another great
drawback to success in the red tape order
system aud the jealousy existing among
the officers IT young officer makes q
brilliant record, and is inferior 10 rank to
some of his older officers. measures are
instituted at once to curb bis ambition and
neutralize his record. General Miles
case is in point, and furnishes an illus
tration of how this feeling exerts its in
f1uence in army affairs.
This officer was sent into the hostile
country with 90 Inferior force end received
scarcely auy encouragement. but in spite
of red tape. jealousy and the many obsta-
cles tbrowa in the way of his success, came
out successful and returned covered with
glory. This could not be tolerated by the
old fogies, and Instead of according General
Miles just credit for his achievements
the general of the armies barley mem
tions him. In other words, Miles
was a brilliant dashing, officer. and
his mbitiou must be crushed. Then
we have the case of Custer. one Of
the bravest officers the army eyer had,
who also fell sacrifice to the bluudering
management and jealous hatred of his
superiora, The management of the Indians
has been dismal feilure and the sooner
the policy of extirmination is adopted the
better. The peace policy has been tried;
it is failure. Let the policy of war TO the
last ditch on the Indians be the one in
augurated End conticued until the red
devils sue fer mercy. But in the future
let the feeling OF jealously that has SO
much retarded the success of the army
be silerced. Let it be understood that
the commanding officer .of an expedition
into hostile country as commander and
not subject to red tape orders from those
hundreds of miles away who cannot pos
sibly understand the situation. The Re
publican party has heavy burden to
bear-it must be made TO carry the extra
load which its blunderiug management has
forced upon its shoulders, Added TO the
corruption in the Indian bureau, must be
imposed responsibility for the murder of
Custer, Thornburgh aud other gallant
soldiers who fell victims to the policy of
sectional hatred and bloody shirtism Of the
ing the bulk of the army over the south,
leaving the frontier settlements exposed to
the raveges of a lot of red devils who know
no law, but the law of pillage. murder
and rapine. Had Schurz listened to the
appeals of the settlers for help, instead of
making political speeches, Thor oburgh
end Meeker would have been spared. Az
it Is, the responsibility for their massacre
must rest where it properly belongs with
the Republican party,