The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-10-14
THE NEED OF THE HOUR.

L DCtc lldNC utCil 81 LidHy CIIiIlRts
rung in on the Indian war, and S,
many surprises, that n cannot tel
what will transpire next. But til,
news of this morning changes the ac
cepted condition Of things as they wer,
received from the southern agencies
We were scarcely prepared to hear o.
the burning of the buildings at White
River agency; the disappearance of al
Indians whatsoever; and the finding OF
the bodies of Meeker and other white
males, naked and mutilated.
The expectation of the people, based
upon the reports from the Los Pinos
agency, was that all the buildings
but one would be found safe; the
agency papers and funds in possession
of Mrs. Meeker; the utmost safety OF
all the women under the care of Chief
Douglass. But instead tho CHASTITY
array of facts that appear in our tele-
grams are presented.
Where the women are is doubtful.
The ~retreating Utes took them along,
probably, for hostages; probably for an
uncomfortable fate. But where Doug
lass and his supposed kind and friendly
followers are remains to be explained
by future dispatches. With that fact,
however, we do not propose to deal
at present. Suffice it that the White
River agency buildings have been de-
stroyed and the region deserted by the
Indians.
The question arises: Where are the
boasted friendly Indians? If any were
%guiltless they well know their safer
plan lay in remaining at the agency,
protecting the women and welcoming
the soldiers with ''how-hows." But
they are gone. Gen. Merritt has full
filed his orders to go to the White
River agency, ascertain the condition
Of things and report. The next move
depends upon the authorities at WASH
ington. The question is simply: Shall
the troops pursue the White River
Utes to the southern agencies or
whithersoever they have gomez or re-
main in camp at White River until a
broad-brimmed, chicken-hearted, hypo-
critical peace agent comes along and
institutes an Investigations Our early
kilograms of yesterday from Washing
ton indicate that this plan will be
adopted, at least if Secretary Schurz
manages to influence the war depart
ment.
There is no hesitancy on the part of
border people in this matter. Their
minds are made up. They cry out as
with n voice for vengeance. Pun
ishment is the only thing that makes
an impression upon the Indians. Give
them plenty of it. Follow up the hos
tiles even If they have sneaked into the
two southern Ute agencies. Capture
them and punish them even at the risk
Of creating an extended Indian war.
The government has the troops in the
field and the machinery Of a campaign
in motion. The people Of Colorado
are armed, and they will cheerfully
join in with the work of furnishing,
removing or discriminating all who raise
an arm against the government. There
must be no triling or half way bust
ness in this matter. The offending
Utes have insulted and defied the gov
eminent; they have added cold blooded
murder to their crimes; they have
shown u disposition to continue the
warfare. Therefore it is the duty of
the government to expend its every
effort to arrest and kill the guilty hos
tiles. Court martial and hang them.
Shooting is too dignilied for them.
Unless the government does this much
it will lose the respect of western peo-
pie and prove itself an imbecile before
the world.
What we ask is that the Indians be
dealt with the same as if they were
white men. Nothing fairer than that
a be asked. We stand therefore on
good logical ground. How would white
men be dealt with? Why, precisely as
we have advised above as the treatment
for the Ute Indians. Justice, simple
Justice, il all we ask for. But we want
the measure to be of standard size
and filled to the full.
The Utes have forfeited all their
rights to the White River agency. They
have entered upon a war with the gov
eminent, destroyed the property, muir
dered and mutilated its representa-
tives, and deserted and abandoned their
agency grounds. They haven't a claim
left upon it. 1t is the duty of the
government therefore, to nullify the
existing treaty on its part as the Utes
have on theirs. Then northern Colo
RADIO will be cleared of the miserable,
numbering thieves. 1t will then be
developed and the government will
soon derive in sales of the land and
taxation, etc., more than enough to
pay the expense of the Indian war.
Window cnrfains frinoa and taesals