Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-12-04
.....I sepsrs Of GeaeraI seheaeid

WuHrxoros, Dec. 3.-Msjor General
seho0sId, commanding the Division OF
- Nj souri, says in his annual report
aTbe Indians are well mounted, hav
iss several ponies TO each man, well
s,med, and abandsutly supplied with
smmouition. Being trained from child
hood they are excellent hsrsemen and
srusFt maFksmen, equal in these re-
sse,s 70 the best regular troops in the
cofId. Is Ia manifestiy impossible to
armsnsutly overcome and hold in sub
;,eeIon sueh bodies of ssvages by show
a suy force far inferior to them in
psmbsrs. II information OF a threat
nd outbrsak of any tribe is obtained
4 ins. It may be prevented by a rapid
spnoentfation Of troops by rail. This
~ bees done in several instances, as
d .hst Of the Cheyennes last summer,
bat IL tvo or three tribes become disaf-
fessed at the same time, or II any tribe
should take advantage OF a temporary
sbssnos Of troops. as they frequently
do, 10 manifest tLeir latent hostility. it
msy be impossible to prevent general
upfidng, which must result In vast de-
assesiou Of life and property.
Considerable progress has doubtless
bsas made toward the civilization of
sons Of the tribes, bat their savage
nature has not yet been greatly changed
md their love of war is NOS yet dimin-
shsd, while the temptation to engage
b hostilities and opportunities to in
jafs have been vastly increase +. The
nssrvations are new surrounded by
rsst herds of horses and cattle, by
vasi Helds Of wheat and corn and by
thousands Of defenseless settlers.
Whsn the lapse OF few years has
dulled the recolleotions Of past punish
msnt, only slight provecation will be
needed 10 induce the young warriors to
yield 10 such tempting opportunity 10
sstiate their native thirst for blood aud
plunder and their brutal lust. A great
majority Of the frontier population are
strangers 10 the earlier history Of the
Indian countries. They have settled
there sinoe the Indians were located
spon the reservations, relying upon the
Government for protection. They are
apparently unconscious of any danger,
while in simple truth they aie liable at
any moment TO experience all the hor-
fsrs Of savage warfare.
The number of Indians in this divis.
lon reported by the Indian Department
as about l75, 900. OF these about 53, ,00C
Ire rated a. peaoeable. the remaining
u, 900 being more or less uacivilized
nd warlike. The warriors number at
lsast 1900, equal to the entire strengt b
q the United States army. or two
ihirds more than the whole number of
troops serving In this division. The
qasstions to be now considered is
whether the vast increase In the inter.
ssts Of life and property involved does
not nov demand that such military
measures be adopted as will surely pre-
vent In future any Wholesale destruo-
iion OF life and property. beg leave
b submit that In couRtry of SO. .0Oo, ,0OC
pespls, 5000 men would be small
army TO be retained with sole reference
10 possible foreign wars, but when the
eoaniry has constant daily use for nine
isnths Of that force to protect Its citi.
sens and their property. and to prevent
ihsiF destruction by the savage tribes 10
hair midst, 10 is extremely unwise to
hmis the army TO Its present strength" 1"