New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-05
THE APACHE OUTBREAK.

Another horrible massacre sends inexpress-
ible sorrow to many families. Many officers
and men, of rare worth and gallantry, have
fallen in the performance of duty. There is
even a fear that hapless wives and children
may have met a terrible fate. In the hope
that later news may take from the picture its
darkest features, public opinion will mean
while strive to look calmly at the causes and
possible consequences of the outbreak.
The attempt to arrest "medicine man."
and the treachery of Indians employed, paid
and trusted by the Government, are named as
the immediate causes. But, as usual there is
long history behind, and it is not credit
able one to our Nation race, Trouble has
been feared in that quarter for some years.
The While Mountain Apaches, it appears,
were moved in 1876 to the San Carlos Reserva-
ton, but refused to remain, stole away
gradually. and were finally permitted to return
to their old hunting grounds, but have since
been afraid that they would again be sent back
In the sharp discussion which the outbreak will
cause, it will be shown how far the treatment
of this tribe has been of piece with the
mischievous policy, or want of policy
which has for many years made our
business with the Indians a disgrace to our
civilization. The United States owes some
and some toward the Indians themselves, and
it has shamefully failed to perform either.
1t will be said, with much truth, that Con-
gress is responsible for the inadequacy of the
army to keep the Indians in subsection
over our vast Western territory. A blind pref
udice against United States troops, con-
temptible fear of the influence of the army, q
stupid stinginess at the very point where, more
than anywhere else, stinginess causes enormous
waste, and the disgraceful demagogism of
persons who have tried to gain place for them
selves by crying out against "a standing
army" have cost the country many valuable lives
and much shame. These things caused the
massacre of General Custer and his men, and
will continue to cause the slaughter of brave
men and the waste of millions i'm Indian
wars which might easily be prevented by
the employment of more nearly adj
equate force. The blood of the men who
have been massacred in Arizona clings to
the skirts of those who have refused
to make the army more efficient At the same
time, the responsibility of other branches of
the Government for the long years of miscon-
duct and misju dgment by which Indian wars
have been produced or multiplied is not di-
mnished.
The consequences may be quite serious. 1t
is possible that the Apaches may be Joined in
their resistance 10y other neighboring tribes,
who number in all 1000 or 5000 war
riors. But the mutinous tribe alone, sup
posed to number 800 or 400 fighting men. can
cause great trouble and vast expense, fighting
in that far distant and difficult region The
cost of concentrating and supporting forces
there has been much diminished, it is true by
the completion of the Southern Pacific Rail-
way, but it will be found no small matter if
the resistance of the mutipous savages is rs
stubborn as may be expected. Rapid concern
tration of troops has already begun, and the
army may be trusted to do its utmost to sue
cor or avenge it's comrades. But larger and
more difficult duty remains for the civil
branches of the Government if the country is
to be spared repetition of such horrible mas