Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-16
THE INDIAN WAR IN NEW mExIco

oolA W AofO JNdNb4Ol1 WIN oiiS
remnant of Victories band, and though
General Hatch has gone 70 the front it
does not appear that the settlers are any
safer than before. This latest Indian
trouble seems to be running in the same
old grooves. There is a reservation for
the Mescaleros, and they occupy it as long
as they please. But when the fancy takes
them, or they are offended with their
Agent, they go on the war-path, and then
it is discovered that they can only be
hunted down and punished in long cam
paign, during which they are sure to find
frequent opportunities for mischief. Prac-
tically the result of cur Indian manage
ment on the frontier is that the reserva-
tions serve as nurseries and hospitals for
the savages. They have in them the
means of resting and refreshing them
selves, and fattening their ponies, after
their raids. and the Agents. partly to jus.
tify themselves, and partly because they
think it their duty to take part with their
wards, appear to do all they can to screen
those who have been on the war path, and
TO save them from the penalties of their
crimes. The Agents seldom reap much
advantage from their philanthrophic Ia
bors, however, for the Indians are prone
t. knock them on the head if they become
too neddlesome, and while continually ex-
posed to this danger they are distrusted
and disliked by the settlers in the neigh.
borhood.
1t will become necessary at some time to
change these arrangements radically. In
dian reservations will have to be go man.
aged that the Indians will be unable to
leave them at will, or it will be necessary
to retain them effectually by taking away
their arms and horses. Hitherto it must
be admitted that the authorities have been
embarrassed by the recklessness of outside
traders, who have found it profitable to
sell arms and ammunition TO Indians, and
who have shown complete indifference to
the consequences of this trade. So long
as the authority Of the Agent is merely
nominal, and he cannot enforce his orders
in any way, it must be hopeless to expect
that the Indians will obey him. Their
predatory Instincts are necessarily stronger
than their regard for the Agent, and as
they recognize no restraining influence
save that of force they will continue to
pursue their old tricks as long as they are
allowed to do so. OF course it is evident
that as long as the army of the United
States is left at the present skeleton
strength it must be impracticable to adopt
the only effective policy, which would be
to station on every frontier reservation a
number Of troops fully able to control the
Indians. 1t would seem, however, that
the Government owed so much protection
to its citizens, and that Congress ought TO
take this question under serious consider
alton.
As it is, there is virtually no security for
the settlers who live anywhere near from
tier reservation. As rule the Indians be-
gin the trouble by raiding and numbering
Then, after some days, the troops are sent
in pursuit Of them. But they always have
so good start that they are abb. to con-
tinue their murderous work as they pro-
coed, and all the troops can do even in the
most favorable circumstances, is to avenge
the slaughtered settlers tardily. 1t must
be confessed that this is very unsatisfac-
tory state of affairs, and it is not little
remarkable that it should have been toll
Grated so long. 1t is true that the settlers
are few in numbers, and possess compare.
lively little political influence but this is
a question which the whole people ought
to take up. Ia discussing the ways and
manners of such tribes as the Apaches it is
hardly worth while to consider the posi-.
bility of civilizing them. II experience is
worth anything they cannot be civilized,
at least in this generation, and however
hard it may seem we are disposed to think
that the best policy with regard to them
would be one of merciless severity. Such
tribes, in fact, would probably be best con.
trolled by military officers altogether II
does not follow that the same policy should
be applied to all Indians. These tribes are
peculiarly savage and untamable, and they
have in the past done immense mischief.
Putting them back upon reservations when
they have been caught does no good. They
simply remain there long enough to re.
cover, and then go on the warpath again.
The present trouble with the Mescaleros
will probably require long time to adjust.
Many OF them will be killed before they
can be driven in, but the survivors will
learn nothing from this experience. They
will only hate the whites the more, and
viii nurse their wrath to keep it warm y
until the opportunity comes for paying of
old scores. II the Government is too poor
to afford protection to settlers on the
frontier it ought to prohibit settlement in
the dangerous regions. Ii it cannot keep
the Apaches from raiding, it ought at least
to caution intending settlers against the
dangers in store for them. At present it
let's men and women and children take up
land within the exposed territory, and
while it follows an Indian policy which
gives it no control over the savages, tire.
fuses to maintain sufficient military force
to keep them in check. A more blrndering
and chaotic policy than this, taking it alto
gether, it would be difficult to conceive.
The settlers are really far worse of than
the Indians, Tor they have no reservations
to which they can retreat in the event Of
danger. They must stand and take THEN
chances, and the only consolation they
have lies in the reflection that after they
have been killed and scalped, their wives
carried of and their children slaughtered,
their homes burned, their goods stolen and
their crops destroyed, the troops will posi-
bly, come Up with their murderers and kill
few OF them. Certainly there is broad
opportunity for statecraft in this situation.
TEE PRESIDENTS CONDITION.