Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-07
M1R4UDING UPoN THE INDIANS.

Nn1le our people ana Legislators are
continually asking how to avoid Indian
outbreaks on the frontier, and are free in
their condemnation of the savages for
their disregard of the rights of settlers to
life and property, it is perhaps time for
the Indians to inquire if they have any
rights that the whites are bound to re-
spect. 1t certainly looks as if they were
to be driven from pillar to post until they
are finally exterminated, all because of the
rapacity of INSCRIPTIONS whites.
Injustice to the Indians has been the
invariable characteristic of our govern
ment policy from the earliest days of its
establishment to the present time. Times
without number they have been driven
from reservations that had been pledged
to them in perpetuity, simply because the
whites wanted their lands. If the Indian
wars that have from time to time devas
tated the frontier are traced to their
source, it will be found that in nine cases
out of ten the whites were the aggressors,
and the Indians fought only when exas-
perated beyond endurance. Those of late
occurrence were certainly due to this
cause. The massacre of the Little Big
Horn was caused by the incursions of the
whites upon the preserves of the Sioux,
while the Ute atrocities can be
laid to the robberies perpetrated by dis
honest Indian agents at Milk river. 1t
has only been by earnest effort on the part
of Red Cloud and other friendly chiefs of
the Sioux nation, that the braves have been
prevented from laying large part of Da
kota waste because of the ruthless tres
passes of the whites upon their reserva-
ton. For years the settlers upon that
frontier have felt no security, as there has
been no guarantee that the influence of
the chiefs would be strong enough to keep
the young warriors off the war path. Thus
far trouble has been avoided, and the Sioux
commission has succeeded recently in con-
summating treaties that give promise of
future peace until such time as the lands
now reserved for the occupancy of the In
dams shall be coveted by unprincipled
white men. That the treaties thus made
will be observed any longer is not to be
expected.
Intelligence comes to us this morning
that the Indians in the Indian territory are
in great state of ferment over another
raid by the freebooter Payne into the ter
ritory of Oklahama. He is reported to
have crossed the border with large num-
Der of followers and in defiance of the or
ders of the government, eluding the troops
stationed to prevent his raid, and an
nounces a determination to occupy
large section of the most fertile lands in
the territory, and to hold possession in
spite of the Indians and the federal troops.
The Indians are demanding his expulsion,
and, while willing to allow the troops to
perform the work. will undertake the job
themselves if the soldiers are derelict or
laggard about it.
This invasion of the Indian preserves is
an outrage of even more than ordinary
magnitude. The territory was solemnly
decided by congress to the Indian nations
for a perpetual Inheritance. Relying upon
the good faith of the government the In
dams have adopted civilized modes of life;
have formed government of their own
which is able to protect the rights of all
citizens far more effectually than the gov
ernments of the states; have established
industries of all sorts, established schools,
improved farms, and in every way shown
their intention of living in peace and har-
mony with their white neighbors. Not
withstanding all this there has been per-
sistent effort for years to steal the lands
for the benefit of railroad corporations, for
grazing purposes and for agricultural set
Element. Last year this same freebooter
Payne made raid on the territory. He
was removed by troops, but in
stead of being dealt with as a
public robber as he was, he
was permitted to go free. This
time he has grown more audacious than
before, and reinforced by kindred spirits
he defes the authority of the government
and the power of its troops.
This emergency requires prompt and
energetic action on the part of the author
tiles. Payne and his associate marauders
should not only be driven from the terri
tory but imprisoned for the balance of
their natural lives, or, if not so treated the
Indians should be granted the privilege of
protecting their homes and property in
such manner as shall seem to them best.
We are inclined to favor the latter plan,
for in that case the freebooters would be
taught lesson that they would not soon
forget. If they should all be killed out
right and their scalps sent to ornament the
Indian houses, no more than justice would
be done. 1t is crying shame that our
government is SO atrociously lax in enforc-
ing the laws applying to Indian treaties.
Until greater rigor is employed towards
those who trespass upon Indian reserva-
tions we can have no guarantee of peace
on the frontier, and do not deserve it.
Sympathy bestowed upon those who fall
victims at the hands of the Indians to their
own cupidity is thrown away. Their fate,
whatever it is, is we'll merited.
THE ELEGANT GOVERNMENT
CLERKS.
In the congressional legislative appro-
priation bill is clause requiring the de-
partment clerks to work from $50 a. m. to