Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1885-05-21
COMPLAINT AGAINST THE INTD
RIOR NEW6PAPERe.

The editor. who feels himself indepen-
Gent enough to speak his own sentiments
and not become the mere echo OF any
faction in tho community in which he
lives, is better qualified to judge Of the
real temper and epirit Of the people in
that community than one who is several
hundred miles away, and until it has
been demonstrated that no is selfish,
sorded and sch. ming person who has no;
the good Of the community at heart, he
Is entitled to the confidence Of his fellow.
journalists, and his opinions should be
10 preference to the opinions Of
these who do not know Of the facts.
We make tho application Of this to
that class Of editors who write censure
u the country press in relation
TO matters which como under their own
daily observation. But it is to be la.
mcntcd that there is class Of journal
~, who in their financial success have
achieved influence, who essay to assume
hyperion knowledge Of the situation Of
things in every community outside Of
their own locality, to the disparagcment
Of tho Journals which arc published in
The localities where the facts and opin.
Ions are formed from the events trans.
piring and almost under the eye Of men
Who conduct the local journals.
The Oregoaian has a large ci,cula-
tion; is an able conducted journal on
hnch matters where it has cognizance Of
tho facts. But that does not necessarily
make il an umpire of things Of which it
has no knowledge, and it has no right to
charge upon any portion Of the press Of
the interior sinister and sordid motives,
NOR its patrons with such motives, because
they express different policy from the
Oregonsan upon tho Indian policy Of
government in relation TO the Indians 10
the interior OF Ia relation to the DISPOSE.
tion Of the troops, in order to render
tho people Of the country well protected
from Indian invasion or Indian revolt
md attack.
Z The men who have lived among the
Indians, both in times Of peace and in
times Of war, other things being equal are
much better judges Of what is necessary
for tho protection and safety Of the set
tlcrs than tho Oregonian can be; and
whom il rroifers advice with an authori-
y to men being in IN Indian country,
who well know the Indians and
their temper aud disposition, it does 40
y tho peril Of making itself suprelAely
Ridiculous among those who know better.
A. aims and purposes may, or may not
- good but il is not in a condition
y censure the people who live in the In
dian country for wanting proper protec-
ton for themselves and families and
property against Indian raids.
The Oregoninn seems to endorse Gen.
Miles policy Of concentrating all troops
Ssut to this northwest coast for the pro.
letting Of tho frontier At Vancouver,
Walla Walla and Fort Occur d'Alenc
fof drill There are At those posts no
hostilc Indians nor has there been since
Col. Wright whipped them 80 Severely
II 1855. But Col. Wright did not whip
them BY drilling his men in garrison at
Vancouver and Walla, but made them
t6eisot By drilling in the field 10 face
" tho enemy. Tho drill which they re
quire p tight force (whether British,
Russian, German Or French, will be cas-.
~ edacod from the minds BY ono single
raid Of band Of hostile Indians
Who attack under cover Of thick brush |
and timber, Or under cover Of night with
faggot and torch in hand. The drill for
Indian fighting needs to be given in the
Indian country. As an illustration the
example Of Col. Perry's troops, nearly
leo IN number, who were 20 completely
routed and nearly half slain BY less than
6fty Indians, and the balances driven
shout eight miles without hating, shows
that garrison drill is but Of little use in .
rough and tumble Indian fight. The
troops long quartered in the garrisons in
Elective service arc much like an army
4 statesmen and counter Jumpers to 80
against indians. They would have to
y drilled u the hardships in the field be
ore they would become efficient Indian
ighters. The Indians would constantly
'lay With them as they did With General
aoHard's men on Salmon river aud Cam.
: Prairic till they had acquired some
eaRdence in their superiority as Indian
|ghters, which Howards men did not as
sire until Miles troops, who had been
rilled il the Indian country. had forced
pseph's band to surrender after chase