New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-10-10
MIR. TIBBLEs's LETlER.

A STRONG PLEA FOR THE INDIAN POSSIBILITY
OF An EXTENDED OUTBREAK.
To me Edttor Of Ths TrtDHRe
SIR: When was in NewYork member Of THE
TRIBUNE staff requested 70 furnish an article
the Indian problem. have been 80 pressed with
many duties that have not had time 70 prepare
such an article, but have in nv possession letter
from General George Crook. commander Of tho
Department of the Platte, which more fully aud
ably presents my views than | could do myself,
which send you. | was with General Crook to-
day AS he got on the cars. going 20 take command
% person Of the troops now In the field. H. mado
no remark about the unpleasant duty, bus
his whole dameanor showed that be- feb
exceedingly sad | could not bat remcmber
remark he made 70 me the first time
ever conversed with him. Then. now,
we had an Indian war on our hands. / remarked
that it was a hard thing for the Army 10 be con-
stantly called upon 10 sacrifice their lives -ettlins
quarres brought about by thicyng contractors and
agents of the Indian Department VIII never for
get how his eyes flashed he replied Will
tell you harder thing, Mr.. Tlbbles. 1t is o. DO
forced to fight and kill tho Indians when | know
that they are clearly in the right" Again has duty
a. a soldier calls HIM to the same kind OF service.
APPREHENSION or An ISDIAS CONFEDERATION.
have inst returned from a trip 10 the tribes liv-
Ing IN Northern Nebraska and portions OF Dakota.
sat with them around the fire H. their lodges and
talked with them face to face stand IN a peculiar
relation to them. and they Will talk 10 he with
more confidence perhaps. than with any Other
white man. Ny efforts in behalf Of Stand
ing Bear and the successful attempt at his
releas, have been told in every wiewam in all tho
great Northwest. met runners from many tribes,
carrying important messages They told lie things
which don't think they would tell to any other
white man. The cruetles which have been perpe-
trated upon the Indian in the last three years
are the subject of bitter comment in every tepce.
They tell of the treatment Of the Noz Porc6s tho
violations of the conditions Of surrender with
Joseph, how he is held prisoner IN holland sickly
land the death by disease of his innocent women
and children of the massacre of the Cheyenne- tho
removal of the Ponces M the point of the baSouet,
when they had always been friendly 10 tue whites;
they tell IF their 200 dead who are buried IN what
is To them a foreign land. OF the driving of Moses
aud bis people from their lands IN Oregon, or
the threatened removal of the Santees and OF
hundred other such things. While | do not
! know that there Is danger of a general outbreak
among them, do know that the Indians every
where are restless aud fearful. do know that TOR
two years runners have been passing 10 and fro be-
tween all the tribes that the tribes must not
60 to war with each other any more. but Ice pre-
pared To make last stand tor the existence Of
their race on this CONTINGENT hey say they can go
no further toward the West, they must stay where
they are. The good land VIII all soon be taken by
the white men, and they VIII De left 10 he OF star
walton. Rather than die of starvation they pro-
pose to die lighting; to die ike brave men rather
than like towards For years they have petltoued
titles to their lands ami for the protection ~
the law. They have not only seen their petitions
di-rrgarl,d, the most solemn treaties constantly
broken, but they have the only tribe Who had
perfect deed TO their land without any
reversionary clause whatever driven from it
at the point Of the Dayonet Their ponies
have been stolen by Thousands they have
been forced TO sell their grain and hides to
a trader who was exclusively empowered 10 buy,
while the white man had all markets open before
him. They have asked for schools and teachers and
missionaries in VAIN. When even few of these
have been sent. they have seen them drhauched by
Government patronage. These things form the sub
Jet Of conversation everywhere.
| met wild blanket Indians on the prairies far MP
by the Running Water, and not one of them but
who had heard of me and what WAS trying Ia do
for them. Usually after the ordinary How " and
hand shake when told who was they would come
up with beaming cOuntenances To shake hands
again. do not mean to saw that every Indian Ia
Vor. the propositions | advocate. There are some
too ignorant To understand aud some TOO vicious 10
desire TO improve their condition but vast major
nv DO understand aud do desire To have the same
equality bciOIe the law tile more favored white
When this Ute war will end. or what other tribes
will break out into open hostility, no one can at
present tell. The cause il the old oie-trealcs yiO-
lated and lands occupied by lie whites Yours
truly. l. ii. lIbBLLs.
(y,o0Lo k,b- Oct l. 1870.