Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-11-17

scALPED AND scARRED PEAcEsAKER's AP'
PEAL FOR THE RED MAN.

PEAL FOR THE RED MAN.
From the Washington Post.
The National Arbitration League
meeting, held at the + street Baptist
Church, proved one of more than ordi.
nary interest. Col. Meacham's essay
received the undivided attention that
it deserved, coming, as IL did, from one
whose experience and knowledge OF
the Indian character is probably more
thorough than that of any one in our
country. Col. Meacham is a man whose
personal experience with the Indian
has not left spark of revengeful spirit
within him. though his treatment At
their hands has furnished the history OF
the country with chapter OF bloodshed
and suffering seldom found within its
pages. lie is man some fifty.hve
years OF age, though he looks older.
His height, build and weight are about
the average. Ills head is bald pretty
we'll up from the forehead, and the
scars that mark il around the lower
part of the skull show how near it came
TO heing entirely devoid of hair. Seven
scars remain to tell OF the eventful day
in the lava beds, when, during "a confer.
ence under flag of truce. the treacher.
Gus Modocs arose upon Gen. Candy and
his staff and left among the dead that
noble officer, while Col. Meacham lay
beside him mutilated almost beyond
recognition. Tomahawk and bullet
wounds covered the latter until no
signs OF life were visible, until Winema.
the Modoc squaw who had warded of
many q savage stroke. came to his relief
and found that his body was still warm
with life. His scalp bad been cut and
torn from the head, left hanging over
his eyes by but = small piece of the
fesh of the forehead. II was months
after that Col. Meacham was able to
tell the story of the butchery.
His subject last evening was "Arbitra.
ton q Remedy for Indian Trouble" !"
Col. MeachAm said he would not at.
tempt to discuss this subject of arbitra.
ton aside from its relation to the In.
dian. lie spoke OF the Indian as be
was found by the discoveries Of Amer.
ica. Then the Indian was peace.
loving, confiding man; his simple laws
few, his ceremonies sacred. With scant
history found upon the rocks or handed
down by father TO son. he bad no lltera.
ture, no ambition to live in literature,
and none to live beyond the memory oi
his own tribe. At that time Col. Mea.
cham recited several instances TO show
that in national matters. and, in fact, in
settling all great difficulties among
themselves. arbitration Is the recognized
method. Referring 10 the massacre oi
Gen Candy in the Lava Beds, he said
"lf good faith he'd always been kept
| with them no horrid massacre would
have disgraced the name of Modoc. -
Then taking up the case OF the Sioux
chief, Sitting Bull, There never has
been a time" he said, "when this chieI
would not have left TO 4 court of arbi
tration all cause OF quarrel between
him and the Government of the United
States. Arbitration presuppOses and
recognizes that both parties have Ger.
tain rights in the premises. and this is
just what Sitting Bull has contended
Tor from the beginning of the troubles
to tbe present time. He claimed to be
heard in his own behalf. This We have
denied him. lie asserted that he had
certain rights in the northwest. and
S3ptClHlll III NnAt " known as Tue
Black Hills. The Government half
conceded their right by agreeing in the
treaty OF 1868 that the Black Hills
should remain a hunting country for
the Sioux Indians for n period Of iwen.
ty years. Ii Was also understood that
white men should be kept out until the
expiration Of that time. I blush for
my Government when I remember that
within four years OF the making OF said
agreement that il authorized the invE
sion of the Black Hills by an armed
body OF men. who discovered vast min
eral deposits. and, although the Govern
ment did not authorize the settlement
Of that country by white men, il suffer.
ed IL to be done"
"Let u.s." he said in conclusion, "as
the leading nation Of the world redeem
ourselves by fulfilling the covenants
made by our fathers that this continent {
should be the home Of justice TO all
men and let us siand out boldly as the
champions of human rights with its
qualifications and let il be the glory
OF the American citizen 10 declare that
the long looked for time when the
wolf also shall dwell with the lamb. and
The leopard shall lie down with the
kid. and the calf and the failing TO
gether; and q little child shall lead
shemiu