, 1880-01-02

There llas been very general disposition
to critic1so harshly tho policy adoptcd by
Secretary SclIurz for the treatment Of the
utcs. The horrors Of tile Mceker massacre
ard the Tl,ornburgl tisaster were naturally
followed by n popular claln0r for vengeance.
There nrc several circumstances, however,
which justify the course taken by the Inte-
ri0r Department; anl, viewed from tic pres
cit conditions, TINT course may now be up
proved rs tho wiscst TINT could haye been
chosen. In the first plnce, It is HOW apparent
to the public, us 1t was to Gen. Sherman from
tho outset, that Il military campaign agntnst
tho Utes during tho scycrittes Ut winter would
be Ineffective ut the BEST and possibly result
In new disasters. The experience Of Capt.
Clifford, who recently startod from Fort
Rawllns with supplies fol- the troops now In
camp near the Wlllto Ntycr Agency, has
demonstrated tho correctness Of this opinion.
During six days' n,arpll tho train advanced
but twenty-five miles; the roatls nrc filled
with SHOW aid frozen SO hard that the
wagons cannot cut through; eighteen Ut tlfe
men who started aro partially frozen; even
tho mules are giving out; thu tratn llas been
forced to halt, md Capt. Clifford has returned
to Fort ltawlins for medical supplies and
slcds with which to proceed. THIS slnglo
circumstance shows how futile It would hnye
been to wage war OIL tho utes ut this SEASON,
or to attempt to secure the Indians who were
engaged III tho White River massacre.
Meanwhile there was bare possibility that
n peaceful md satisfnctory solution OF the
Tito troubles could bo reached by . voluntary
delivery for trlal mid punishment of the In
tllnns who melted and executed the massacre
arl the otltrngcs Of. tho women, which now
seem to bo admitted. At onu time there WIS
II fuir prospect TINT Gen. 1iatcl, would sue
coed, With tho aitl Of Oumy, tho friendly
Chief, In bringing tlis about. Now
TINT this llopu Is abandoned, Gen.
Hatch lIas acted properly In refusing
to receive tho surrender of merely
two or tlsreo Indians. who may not even
l'ave been among tho guilty ones, an.l roth-
Ing l,as been lost, becausu the delay WIS ineyi-
tabu In any case. Without any Intention to
deceive tho 1ndluns, the effect of tie nego-
tiatluns, which It was iii their power to bring
to unsatisfactory Termination, l,as been to turl!
thoir attention from warliko preparations aild
now outrages, and tho result will bo t!,nt, at
tho first opening of spring, tho army will have
an custer task lii tho corra[ng Ut thcse wild
beasts, thu apprehension and punishment OF
thu Murdcrers. md tho removal! Of tho tribgs
to II snln!Ecr reservation, wl,ure thoy can ba
kept ,nder better control.
The negotiations tlmt tavo already taken
place will deprive tho se,tlnlcntaltsts OF every
reasonable EXCUSE fur resisting any longor
tho summary removal Of tho Utes. 1t l,as
been ablllldantly demonstrated TINT these
treacl,erous tribes arc ITO longer entitled to
confidence Or syntpatl,y. Tho utes liave
refused to surrender for punishment
thu hostile Chiefs who massacre whlte snen
and raylsh whits wolnon, nil tisy rcsortetl
to their usual treacllery In order to secure
delay III making this fact known. They Ilayo
thus forfeited all their rights under their
treaty, and thoro Is ll0w no reason why they
sllUuld hot bo removed upon now resurya-
tlon further awny FROM civilization, nor why
the 13,00o, ,oD acrcs OF valuablo lu,,d tlloy now
mon0pollzo should not bo reclaimed fur agri-
cultuss anI peacefu! arts. II tho seut!uient-
ulists continue to deny the right OF the
United States to proceed III this way, lhey
will practically take thu position TINT Indians
should not 6e punished for murder aud rape,
however l.einous these crimes are when
committed by white men,-a position 80 rts-
i.,.Jn Ii,