Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-05-06

shed, parley was had, and Csptai
Jack advised his people to lay dow
their arms. They all did SO excer
one man, who had seen his fathe
killed by mob of white men twent
years before, while going to war
some other white people of DANCE
from another hostile tribe OF Indians
A lieutenant was ordered to disaru
this Indian. He, with oaths and in
sulting epithets, ordered him to Ia,
down his arms. The Indian offere,
to do so If decently addressed, affirm
ing that che was not dog" Th,
officer drew his revolver instead, ant
both fired at the same instant. ant
both fell dead. Of course there wa.
now an Indian war, which cost The
Government about two hundred live.
n-5 q o. nno mo
As the battle went on, soldier Sci
fire to the sage brush, and q sicl
sq1aw was burned to death, another
soldier feeding the fire. AS ouI
troops retreatsd they met an Indian
and his wife coming to camp, moi
knowing of any battle. The soldiers
treated them with shameful outrage
and cruelty-of course these outraget
were met with revenge. The rela,
tione of these slain and outraged par
ties bestirred themselves, and before
night had slain thirteen unarmed
men, but sparing the women and the
children.
Now it was that Captain JacI
takes refuge, with fifty-three war.
riors, in the Lava Beds. And now
the papers speak, and the country
rings with the news. But up to this
point not one person in million
knew word of these things. What
they hear is, that the Indians are
numbering the settlers" And all
read to see with what celebrity these
tends can be disposed of. But the
foundation of the whole trouble has
been laid already; and will any one
say that the beginnings of it have
been, all the way, with the Indians
What took place afterward the
country knows, in part. In January
1878 battle was fought between the
fifty-three Indian warriors and four
hundred troops, in which the latter
were repulsed with decided loss, but
with no injury to the red men.
The President now determined
that the Modocs should have hear.
ing, and appointed Gen. Candy, with
Col. Meacham and others, as a com
mission to hear and decide. An arm.
istice was then agreed upon. But while
this was pending for few days in
the arranging for conference, our
troops committed new mistake.
Major Biddle, United States Army,
in marching from one point to an.
other, came upon corral of Modoc
ponies, guarded by women, and drove
the herd away. This was breach
Of the armistiee, and the Modocs de-
manded the return of the ponies; fol
nothing affoots the wholoIndian house
hold like the loss of the family pony.
Gen. Candy, though capable and up.
right man, did not seem to see this in
exactly the right light. "Let the pc,
Mes" he says, "await the result oil
the Commission" This did not sat.
isfy the Indians, who distrusted the
fairness of their antagonists. They con
sidered this violation of the truce.
Was it not such ? Would Gen. Can
by have decided as he did, if dealing
with any other enemy than Indians
1t cost him his life; for though Col
Meacham states that Captain Jack
opposed the k ling of Gen. Candy al
long as he could, his tribe overbore
him and forced him into the attack by
which Candy fell. Nor was he un.
warned. An Indian woman, who &C.
ted as interpreter, brought him word
Of what was resolved on ; but be
disregarded the information. 1t il
but just to say that this woman, wi
nema by name, did what she could te
prevent The tragedy, and saved Col
Meacham's life, though shot and
partly scalped.
have only room to state the con
illusions, in part, which this story
illustrates, and of which have tried
to state enough to make it at leas
partially clear.
| /. That what Col. Meacham says
in his pamphlet, where this story il
told at length, is evident, viz: Tha
"the representatives of our Govern
ment, both civil aad military, hav.
always moderated the manhood OIL
the Indian, and the manhood impor
lance OF keeping faith with him." Be
cause he is savage it is inferred
that he has no proper sence of justic
but is only grown, Maynard, ant
cruel child. But perhaps there il
not a man on earth who has keene
sence of justice than the Indian; no
one who regards more carefully tn,
requirements of truth. When b,
makes bargain he expects it to b.
kept. II it is not kept be right
himself 10 his rude and savage wa,
the best he can. And our Govern
ment and people unfortunately know
him best in these rough efforts of hi
to right his wrongs.
2. Unfortunately the Indian widely
il not universally, has a profound
distrust of the white man, as one VIII
does not regard truth. The effect O
that dlstrust is to deteriorate his owl
character in his contact and dealing
with the white man. His aim in
stinctively is, to "get even" witt
him. That getting even involve
either his adoption of the white man
cheating, or the Indians revenge, o
parts of each.
Indian wars would disappear fol
ever If two ideas were once full,
planted in the minds of this nation
and suitably put in practice by ap
propriate legislation and executiv
action. First, to settle it, that th
Indian is a man, with the feeling an
rights of manhood; and second, tina
he is to be treated iuatly and fairly
remembering always that he is th
original occupant of this soil, AM
that our coming dispossesses him G
it to such an extent, that withou
help be is unable to live; yet ths
such help is not to be rendered as I
a pauper, but in such way as to pre-