The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-09-11
THE TRoUBLEsoaI INDIANS.

The indians in the southwestern part
of the Territory are showing signs OF
ugliness. Many OF them are off the
reservation, roaming over the country
frightening rauchers and isolated
settlers. So far as reported no vic ence
has been done, but this is probably cue
to the fact that the alarmed people
offer no resistance to the demands of
the redskins, who are said TO have
Toasted at the expense of the lonely and
helpless inhabitants, and to be saucy,
offensive and overbearing in their de-
meanor generally. A similar state of
affairs is also said to exist along the
western border of Colorado, though it
is not so bad over there, the Indians
being less numerous on the other side
and having some fear that they will be
dealt with by the State. The settlers are
moving their families into the towns
away from danger, and such precautions
as can be taken against trouble are
being taken.
The HERALD does not believe any
thing serious will grow out of the bust
ness. It seems to US that the Indians
must understand that outrages by them
would be speadily punished. They are
SO completely surrounded by civilization
and it would be such an easy matter to
overrun their country with troops that
it would be the worst kind of reckless
ness for them to go upon the war path
or even to harm the isolated settlers
a vicious renegade, frenzied and in
furiated by whisky, may commit an
overt act against an unprotected white
but anything like general trouble need
not be expected.
In this connection it has been said by
Colorado paper that the settlers were
talking of calling on the Governor of
Utah for military protection. We
doubt there is anything in this story
but if the people ever seriously thought
of asking His Excellency to call out the
militia in their behalf, they would do
well to. abandon the idea. We don't
know what the Governors authority
in the premises would be. but his
powers under the circumstances would
we apprehend, be insignificant. In tn G
first place, there is practically nc
militia IN this Territory which could be
called out for such service, hence any
appeal would necessarily have to be
made to individuals as citizens
Just how general would be the
response it is impossible 10
say, but we imagine the call would
meet with little favor, considering the
outcome of just such call twenty-five
years ago. Then some hundreds of
men shouldered their rifles and went
into the field to protect settlers against
the raids of hostile Indians. These men
supplied themselves with arms and
equipments, and largely with pro-
visions; they served for months in the
field to the neglect of their own affairs,
ana p6TlDIu10u IAOII dIQuOuS QuL DIS
Indian figters faithfully and to their
own great credit. But to this day the
Federal Government has never allowed
them a cent as compensation for their
time or service, nor even repaid them
for their outlay of money for their own
support while performing duty which
should have been performed by soldiers
of the regular army. The people have
notforgotten the sanpete Indian war,
and are not eager to engage in another
on the same terms.
If there shall be any more Indian
fighting in this Territory, we assume
that it will be done by the boys in blue,
or by individuals Immediately inter
ested, and not by the local militia.