The Lincoln County leader. [volume] (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 1882-189?, 1884-03-01


''public sentiment" of these "front-
Ter communities" We recognize
the intelligence and mental ability
Of the Indian, and are willing to
accord him the privileges of a citi-
zen as soon as he will unite with
us in protecting those privileges.
But with regard to disarming the
Indians, we d. not agree with the
General, by any means We do
not see why it is '.impracticable,'
nor why it would be ''unjust.'
The Indian does not need arms
in order to hunt. lie is given Il
reservation sufficiently large to con
tain all the game he needs, and
white men are not allowed to tres
pass on it. fno guns are fired off
on this reservation the game will
become very gentle, and will accu-
mulate very fast, leaving the haunts
of the whites, where guns are used,
and seeking safety on the reserva-
ton. AS a fact, there is more
game on the Mescalero Apache res
ervation-thirty miles south OF this
place-than any other portion of
the country. The game being gen
tie, and the Indians experts as
stalkers, they can kill all the veni-
son and elk they need, with bows
and arrows But they do not need
the game. The government sup
plies them with all they need, and
more too. Besides to furnish him
with guns and ammunition is to en-
courage him to hunt, aud spend
his time ldling through the woods,
and proves an obstacle in the way
Of teaching him industry, agrlcul-
ture, and mechanics. If hunting
Is necessary, he does not need guns
for it. But if he did need guns to
hunt, the, hunting is made entirely
unnecessary by governmental sup
port. But if that were not so, the
Indian can support himself in 9th
er ways much better. If they will
not do SO in any other way, take
away their arms and teach them
agriculture, stock-raising, and 9th.
er civilized pursuits. But the
''public sentiment''will rob them OF
their cattle and horses ! If this
were true, what is the army for
What is General Crooks business
Can he not protect the Indian and
his property! 1t would be foolish
to say he could not.
Major w. H. II. Lewellyn, the
agent for the M~escalero and Jica
rilla Apache Indians, has a posted
notice here in town and at other
places throughout the country tc
the effect that he will pay 500 re
ward for the apprehension of any
one in unlawful possession OF any
stock belonging to either tribe, and
gives the brands of each. Tho
Lincoln County Stock Association
offers a reward of one thousand dol
lars for the apprehension and con
v%ictlon of any one d%epredating up
on their stock. Let the govern
ment offer one or two Thousand
dollars in place Of one hundred
and no thief will steal Indian stocl
and get away with it. OF course
men steal out here as they do il
New York or Brooklyn, but the
public sentiment here, as there, i,
law-abiding and law-entorcing.
We take the ground that Indian,
have no use for arms. No one il
going to hurt them or modest then
in any way if they will only stay
on their reservation. They don
need to hunt, and arms not onl,
encourages ldleneSs and unthrifti
ness, thereby proving them an oh
stacle in the way Of getting then
to adopt civilized pursuits, but tn,
possession Of arms proves an in
centiye to them to go upon tn,
war-path. This is recognized b,
all. White men are prohibited
from carrying arms in the settle