Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1884-04-17
THE ABANDONMENT OF LAP.
WAL GARRISON.

or through whose recommendation, tn
abandonment of the military garrison a
Lapwai is contemplated, from our stanc
point we can but view it as an unwis,
and impolitic movement. 1t is claimed
that Gen. Sherman recommended this
sometime ago 1t Is claimed that Gen
Miles of this department has recommend
ed this; and also claimed that several Of
the officers of the army in the depart
ment of the Columbia desire the .onsoli.
dation of several of the military posts OF
the department for their own comfort
and convenience. 1t is claimed that the
Interior Department desire this so that
they can have more absolute control Of
affairs in the management of the Indians.
But these are not reasons that cause the
people generally to think that it is a safe
and polite move on the part of the gov
eminent. We have but a small stand
ing army and the policy has generally
been to distribute this at the different
military posts among the frontier settle
ments and to garrison old established
posts along our coasts to be in readiness
to operate in protecting against the sud
den invasion of foreign enemy, but
moro particularly have our forces been
placed 50 as to hold in check the Indians,
on the frontier, and prevent their raids
upon the settlers, and to keep reservation
Indians from wandering off their rescrva-
ton and to prevent whites from trespass
ing upon these reservations and commit.
ing deprcdations upon Indian stock and
other property, and aid the Indian de-
partmcnt in maintaining peaceablc rela-
tions between Indians and whites and en-
forcing treaty stipulations. The Nez
Perez Indians had been friendly up to
1877, and from 1861 up to that time
this friendly relation had been maintained
more BY the presence and preventive in
fuence Of troops at Lapwai, than by any
one other means employed, and the Nez
Perez war Of 1877 could have easily been
prevented, had those in command at Lap
wal been willing to take the counsel Of
old residents among the Indians and who
knew their habits and purposes, and
promptly arrested and punished the lead.
ers in the outbreak. The result was q
war was precipitated, bloody in character,
resulting in the murder Of scores Of limo
cent citizens, besides the killing Of many
soldiers, and cost to the government Of
more money than the support Of the lap
wal Garrison from the timo it was cstab
iishcd in 1861 up to the time Of the war
There was, during this time, treaty in
force between the government and these
Indians, and the troops at Lapwai CARR.
son bore prominent part on many ocea
sions in bringing to justsce both Indians
and whites who had violated treaty slip.
nlations, and preventing outbreaks and
blood shed, and saving property, both to
the whites and Indiana. These are facts
well known 10 settlers who have lived
near this reservation since 1861. As
matters now ara there il no written
Or definite treaty governing the relations
between these Indians and the whites
and the relations are not so definitely cs.
tablished between them, and the capacity
OF bad men among tho whites, and the
restlcssncss Of ignorant Indians as 10
their rights, all foreshadow that, withou,
the presence Of troops, upon the rcserva.
tion, which can bs reached iu short
time, there is liable to arise many cases
Of conflicting rights between whites and
ladians, any one Of which may be suite
lent to bring on conflict OF arms. The
area OF ground claimed by the reservation
embraces ever 900 square miles, over
which the stock Of both Indians al d
whites roam at will, as the reservation is
not enclosed. The surface Of the country
y rolling and not inhabited, except in q
few choice places by the Indians, and
seldom patrollei BY any police, save when
difficulty is reported, aud then the In.
dian police is comparatively powerless to
sabdue and bring to justice those who
may be committing dcpredations, while a
very few soldiers from the garrison near
ut hand can be detailed for that service
and become very effective in settling dit.
aculties and preventing general out.
break. Had the soldiers at Fort Iapwai
moved out to Camas Prairie when first
called upon by the citizens there, stating
that the movements of the Indians we're
threatening, the murders on the Prairie
and on Salmon river would have been
ayerted, ~ no murder had been commit.
tod when the people Of Camas Prairie