Arizona weekly citizen., 1883-04-21
Let Us Reason Together.


 If the sensational news received from Tucson and published by the Times yes terday morning shall appear by later ln- telhgence to have any serious founda- tiOns ln fact, It involves considerations and possibilities that may prove most dis astrOus In character and consequences | At the present writing there Is not much credence to be attached to the story.
 That there should Oe a deep and ex ceedingly bitter antagOnIsm aroused against all Apache Indians Is not at all | surprising. It IS not easy to discuss | cOOlly with men who have seen the out ragged forms of their neighbors wives, | or tine mutlIateG bOdIes of their own associates and friends. 1he fury SD | aroused IS always of an undiscriminat ing character. It Is far easier, and for | the day more popular tO fall in with this | tide of anger, or to fan the flames which deeds like the staying of Judge and Mrs. | McCOmas arOuses Tn the manly breast of | the outraged frOntiersman, of the honest and exposed miner and prospeetOr, aud | of the unprotected ranchman. They know not when their turn may come. | As to our own view, We believe shat | the dicta that the only good Indian IS a dead one, applies with peculiar force Co | the Apache, on or OH the San Carlos | reservation.
 But movement such as IS reported as commenced at Tombstone, would be l the heigat of wicked folly and could rmanate only, If there be in reality any such attempt made, from embittered men who have lost their judgment. In all fran Suess We ask are there any real grounds for attacking the San Carlos A Apaches? Even If all the suspicious th. .t are ln circulation be true and to the very letter, still It would remain fact tuAt no more disastrous course of policy could be pursued, even If 1t had for its foundation the smallest scintllla of legal right.
 Look at the facts for one moment as far as they are now known and proven:
 Frst-NO one will undertake to dsny that inc present Indian rad with the uGtragrs that have accompanied 1t, IS manly the work of one or more bands of renegsdes, who have been driven out by or lied ID advance of the Mexican mIht- sry mOveme, ts designed to terminate the use of the Sierra Madre, as con stant stronghold by these perpetual marauders and murderers.
 SecOnd.-As 1t cannot be denied, then, that the marauders are from Mexico, It must be also acknowledged that very few. If any, Indians belonging to the San Carlos reservation are known or believ- ed to be identified with Jun and Luco's bands.
 Thlrf-NO just man will attempt to hold 5,OOO persons who gre at peace, N.N. Fr. .s.. .F l two of their number, who may violate law and regulation. If this was the rule, what would become of decent and respectable TOmbstoners, whenever the "rustlers" choose to turn themselves loose Tn or about that en terprising camp.
 Fourth.-Is it the part of wisdom to encourage, defend and sustain mani festations which, if successful, (and they could only be so m part at the outset, would surely and at once cUl- minate in an Indian outbreak SO disas- trOus ana bloody that the direst deeds of the last few years would pale their intellectual fires" before the luridness that would then frighten the horizon.
 There are 5000 Apaches on the White Mountain reservation. At least one thousand of these could and would bear arms. It Is asserted that they are armed and mounted. If SO, what would be the effect iu this border land of turn ing loose maddened and inhamed, thls number of Apache savages? They are now at peace. This is true, even if 1t be also true, that a number of bucks are of the reservatIon-a charge that Is very strongly disputed. An attack upon the reservation Indians by lawless force like that rep. rred, could only provoke the most fearful condition of rapine and horror?
 Look at the question coOlly, by the hght of practical reason, and not that of distorting passion. The McCOmas tragedy would be increased by the scores. If lOO raiders can do the dam age and outrage done during the last two weeks by Juh's raiders, what would follow a provoked, self defensive out break of the whole Apache people? Where would be your investors, your railroad travel, the safety of your camgs your towns and our ranches? Would money come to this region2 Would not travel avoid us? Would any one desire to buy a mine or ranch? How many lives would be safe? But then. the end would be, that in many months or a year hence, the Indian would have been subIugatedand perhaps largely destroyed As a result of all this a few men would then secure the mineral. coal. timber and grazlng claims on the reservation, to which with longing eyes they have been looking. Of course all that We have said IS based upon the idea that there was any truth in the dispatch we published. Our present purpose is served If We call attention tO ths con ditiOns that follow upon any attempt to inaugurate the policy discussed. We cannot and do not doubt the result of any such plan or assault. It would end only in the fIal exterminatiou of the Apache. But the method would be too costly one. Fl Paso Times.