Daily Los Angeles herald., 1882-04-28
The Time for Action.

The people of the United States are
heartily tired of the policy which has
created and continued the imbecile In |
dian regime in Arizona and New Mexico.
Ever since the Quaker policy, inaugural
ed by Grant, matters in the exposed ter
ritories have proceeded from bad to
worse. The last Indian emeute has |
been attended by such exceptional hor-
rors that it is now high time that there
should be new IDEAL" The American
people are sick to surfeit of Apache hor-
rors, and of a military inertness that is
without parallel As long as Gen.
Crook commanded the Department of
Arizona prospectors could rest in conf
dence that, even though peace policy
ruled at Washington, an energetic man
managed the practical details where 'Lo
the poor Indian" was doing his devils
work. AT present, while the Quaker
policy has been nominally abandoned,
commanding officers of notable inefficien-
cy have brought about worse results
than were ever chronicled during Grants
term. The fact is that, until it is thor
oughly realized that the only good In
dian is dead one, these outbreaks are
inevitable. While philanthropists amuse
themselves with theories by which the
aboriginies can be advanced to a high
standard of civilization, practical men
know that the play is not worth
the candle, and that the only
civilized Apaches are those who
are resting in the ''cold obstruc-
ton of DEATH" The cowardice and in
decision which characterized the man
agement of the last Indian outbreak, on
the part of the Federal military officials,
are now bearing their legitimate fruits
in the shape of unnumbered and revolt
ing massacres of hardy prospeetors. 1t
is useless to attempt to disguise the fact
that there is not only imbecility but
cowardice in the military administration
in Arizona and New Mexico. The i'm
becility was shown in not shooting, out
right, all the Indians engaged in the
late outrages; while the cowardice was
outlined, with equal distinctness, by the
slow and hesitating pursuit of the red
skins who had broken out of the reser-
vations. Of course, there is force in the
statement that the Indians know the
country intimately, that they are ac-
quainted with the places where
water can be had, and that
stern chase is long one, especially in
such country as Arizona, so suscepti-
BILE of surprises and ambushes. But,
allowing for all these things, the regular
troops of the United States ought to
count for something; and residence of
years in Arizona ought to enable an
deliberately educated officer to get the
lay of the land with reasonable certain
ty. Without reserve, we are of opinion
that the Indian question is being nursed
by government officials for all it is
worth in pecuniary sense, without re-
gard to the outrages of which prospect
ors and settlers are the periodical vic
tins. This ought to be stopped at once.
As counterpoise to the eighty lives of
white men SO recently sacrificed at least
eight hundred Apaches ought to be exc
cuted, maugre the bowls of the pseudo
humanitarians. Once introduce this
element of wholesome and sanguinary
repression and it would need at least
one hundred and fifty year. for the cow
ardly Apache to screw his courage to
the sticking place for another outbreak;
and, long before that time, the peaceful
process of evolution will have disposed
of forever these obstacles to the advance
of civilization. That these wretches
should be provided with repeating
arms of precision is the champion
enormity of the century. The evil
should be repaired at once. Action,
prompt, remorseless action, with mill
tary vigor and brains and determination
behind the bayonets, are what the stu
alton calls for in Arizona and New Mex
leo to-day, and what the people exigent-
ly demand.