The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-07-27
THE BRITISH INDIANS.
it can be.

The RIVER Press is glad to see that the al
tention of the authorities at Washington has
been directed to the depredations committed
in Northern Montana by Indians from the
Dominion and American Indians who find q
place Of ready refuge in the British Posses
sions. Our cattle have been killed by the
thousand by these peslsy redskins, and in
many instances the settler has fallen by their
murderous hand, and yet no means Of redress
has been had. If pursued by the troops they
find q safe retreat across the line, and return
to commit further depredations when the
way is clear. No effort has been made by
our government to hold the British authori-
ties responsible for the losses incurred in this
way by our people, and the result is the In
dians sWoop down on the ranges and commit
whatever depredations they please. There
has been absolutely no check, and it is time
that the "poWers that be" at Washington
should take the subject in hand. Numerous
reports of the depredations of the British
Indians were sent TO headquarters during the
last administration, but Secretary Evarts did
not trouble himself much about them. Dele
gate Maginnis has called the attention of the
present Secretary of State to the matter, and
from the tone of the following letter recently
received by Major Maginnis our settlers may
reasonably expect that the government will
afford them onl protection in the future:
DEPARTMENT or STATE,
WASHINGTON, July 18th, 1876
70 Hon. Martin M0gjnnss, Hez6na, Montana:
SIR have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt Of your letter OF the 10th ult., in re-
lation to depredations by British Indians on
the property of settlers in Montana.
At the time | received your letter the sub
ject was being examined in connection with
previous complaints OF a similar character.
The report OF the officer to whom I commit
ted the matter for examination has now been
submitted to me, and, In conjunction with
the suggestions Of your letter, will receive
early and serious consideration.
| haYe the honor to be, sir,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES G.. BLAINE.
Il is the verdict of stock men on our north
ern ranges that more cattle were killed by the
Indians last winter than by the severe cold
weather. The greater portion Of the iend-
ish work, too, was done by British Indians,
who had only to cross into their own country
to have perfect immunity from arrest and
punishment. Unless some prompt measures
are taken by our government, like depreda-
tons will be committed next winter, and the
stock men of Northern Montana be heavy
losers.
The government hes not hesitated to send
troops across the Mexican border to punish
cattle thieves and protect the people o. the
frontier of Texas are not the citizens OF
Montana deserving Of like protection from
the British Indians, who are worse than the
most villainous Greasers on the Mexican
border? Secretary Blaine should hold the
British government responsible for every
dollar Of damage done on the soil of the
United States by the Indians of the Domin-
ion. When thus held accountable, they will
see to it that their Indians take exceedingly
few excursions into the territory Of the
United States. If the Dominion skicks'' on
this arrangement, then follow the depredat-
ing devils to Alaska, If necessary, and pun.
ISL them as they deserve. There is q remedy
for this evil, and we hope it will be applied
without delay. Delegate Maginnis should
folloW the line he has taken and see to it that
justice is done the citizens Of Montana.