Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-12-18
ONLY AN INDIAN.

0,ray. the Ute chief, manifested in
certain quarters, should not be coun :
.enanced by the people. No one
doubts that Ouray was honestly OPP
nosed to hostilities against the whites
or that his influence was exerted eff
fectively ia the intests of peace, at.
.er the attack GA Thornburg com
menced. His record up to the
meeting of the receut conference
was unimpeachable, and in consider
ing his conduct since, the difficulties
If his situation must have due
weight
The White River Utes, against
his advice and against his orders,
attacked the whites aud committed
outrages He agreed to exert his
influence to secure the apprehension
of the Indians guilty of murder.
Possibly he over estimated his infu-
ence, and possibly he promised too
raach, but the assumption that he
vas treacherous and tricky is not
warranted 10y the facts.
Ga the contrary, Ouray has exhib-
tied qualities that should call out
the COMMUNICATION Of even the most
captious. While pleading the cause
oi his people he has endeavored to
carry out the wishes of the Govern
ment, While excusiug the Indians
who fought against Thornburg, he
he has not excused those charged
with unprovokel murder. 1t was
not expected that he, an Indian,
should take the view of II white mau
interested in measuring out the So
verest punishment TO offenders His
position has been trying one from
the first, On the one hand was IA
powerful division of his tribe inter-
ested in shielding aud protecting ac-
cused parties Ga the other hand
we're agents of the government, de-
uandirg an unccnditio surrender
of the murderers. Ouray stood be-
tween the two, pledged to do his ut
most to secure settlement that
would satisfy the demands of justice
AS an Indian dealing with Indians
he did as much for the apprehension
Of the murderers as did Senator
Butler, of South Carolina, in the
hamburg case, or the authorities Of
kemper county, Mississippi, in the
Chisholm case Both of these affairs
were quite as ineycusabe as the
massacre ct White River Agency,
acl quite as bloody, and yet no
guilty man has been punished. The
murderers have escaped through the
connivance of political leaders, and
throagh the influence Of public sen
timeut in the States concerned.
While this record faces the people
they cannot afford to be severe on
au ludian chief dealing with men
classed as savagcs. While murder
ers in South Carolina and Mississippi
escape through chicauery and 9uib
bling, we should he charitable tow
ard the shrewdness and Quibbing of
Ouray. H Senator Butler may eX-
cuse the massacre at Hamburg, and
NAV exert his influence to save the
murderers from punishment, Ouray
may with propiiety ask for change
Of venue for his accused subordi-
notes, and may bubble over the de
tails of his agreement with the gov
Crnmeut.
The old Ute chief has borne him
self well, for an Indian, under most
trying circumstances. He has not
had tha advantages of a training in
the Bourbon schoo, of politics, or
he might have been as successful as
Senator Butler in saving from pun
ishment ali the parties accused. AS
it is, he has done as well as gov
eminent which has no power to pro-
tect its citizens from bulldozers and
rifle clubs, could expect Inter Dream.