The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-05-11

OelteI IL VIII De IOT Inc country. ana Tor he
publicans. But we also believe that Gar
fields success in this matter will ensure re-
neWed life to the party as his failure would
consign it forever to the perdition of things
used up and worthless. The independent
voters will stand by the President.
/ The question Of removing the troops from
Fort Benton has been often discussed, until
khe fears created by the possibility Of its ac-
eomplishment had lost their potency. But on
Friday evening came tidings that the troops
be withdrawn, and with the tidings came q fear
that had some cause in its being from
the depredations of Indians which have been
impoyerishing our stock-mea, and fear that
the withdrawal Of the troops was move
ment foreshadowing no good to this commu-
nifty nor to the great interests that are lying
around us and now suffering from want of
protection, which has been SO scantily fur
nished that it has not been as effective as our
necessities have demanded. Why were the
troops ordered from Benton, the frontier
town Of the Territory the town where much
wealth lies exposed; the town which is the
center of the largest grazing and agricultural
section that is exposed in the United States,
and the town which lies Of the door Of the
largest reservation in the whole country
Why were the troops ordered to Fort Shaw,
a post that has been Of use to the country
surrounding for several years, that is sixty
miles in the interior, IN the l11ldst of section
that needs no protection, and demands none
because all attacks from Indians must first
pass Benton and few adjacent hamlets.
These are questions which occur to every
one as being among ideas which emanate
from the brains Of War Department alto.
gether ignorant Of our needs, of our geogra-
ply, and Of the disposition of the settled por.
tions of the country with reference to it.
It may be asked, what effect in preventing
Indian depredations can one company have
Little enough of actual force when the vast
territory depending on it as a means
Of defence is considered, and Jet moral
strength very great, and strongly apparent
just now when every day brings in the lists
of property recovered through this moralsup-
port That they cannot prevent depreda-
tions with their small numbers is not to be
wondered at. That matters are no worse is
in great measure due to their efforts Does
any one suppose that the civil authority
could render the assistance 1t has, had it
not been for the strength that is known to
exist behind it, and which these Indians of
the North have known how to respect since
the so-called Piegan Massacre taught them
that there was q terrible force in few cav
airy troopers well led Half dozen compa-
MES would be better, and would render more
assistance, but one is very much better than
none.
The Indians know as well as we where
the troops are, and they know very
well that only few hours will suffice to
bring them to given point, and with the
camp at Benton the chain is complete
for rapid concentration with the troops
removed from Benton they will see wide
gap from Assinnaboin to Fort Shaw, 40
miles distant, and from the post at Fort Mis-
soula to Fort Maginnis $50 miles distant. With
this wide gap exposed, Indian nature would
certainly assert itself, to raid through it to
plunder and massacre without fear of him
derance in time to be Of any service to the
settlers except that offered by the settlers
themselves, for raid would be successfully
accomplished before troops could be concen
trated. A glance at the map will assure any
one that Fort Benton is the most important
point in Northern Montana for, not single
company Of troops, but for half 9 regiment.
It's position at the head OF navigation makes
it by necessity that will always be apparent,
the depot of supplies, both for the people of
Northern Montana and for all the military
posts that are necessity SO close to the
British frontier, and always will be q neces-
sity SO long as that territory is under the con-
troll Of Great Britain. The quantity Of goods
brought Ia here every season is enormous,