The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-08
UUNS NEED GUNS.
3 Disarm Them Would Result
in Great Suffering.
.91TLERs ARE IN NO DANGER.


WasnIxefox CfrY. March 7.-Recentlv
general Morgan, commissioner Of Indian
1Aairs. was requested by the secretary u
- interior to give an expression Of his
] Siews upon the communication of the Roy.
Sruor Of South Dakota, urging the disarm-
klSe II the Indians in that state. In reply
1 6eneral Morgan states:
Ihe reasons for disarming the Indians are oh
Y Saous and wetghty. viz: To prevent them
IN going on the war path and to quiet the
Z 1870 Of white settlers In their vicinity II I
3 :, Ssuxhs there was really serious daneer a.
- considerable number Of Indians going upon
4 vaf path. or that the surest way OF prevent
{ n any Indians from becoming hostile. was to
27nfn IL, should be very slow to interiors;
ri objection 70 the measure. II felt that the
Vit1e settlers are in serious danger of an attack
I - ne Indians, and was convinced that their
1cw demanded action In accordance with the
Tevs suggestion, could not well re-
|aS1: but 70 far Is my knowled1e ~.
! ~ can hardly believe that there &
n nv eerious danger OF an Indian uprising
( 2inod 70 peace and averse to war. They are
mlnGIonfly Intelligent to understand ct what
}11finl disadvantage they would be in var
I'll the United States: They know our vast
d: Toeeovef, many Of the reasons which have ex.
4 = among them for dlscontent can Be, and 81
action just had will be- re-
8 ~ settlers In thevicinity Of reservations
II Isen frightened, and not without reason.
y - n during all the excitement, and in spite
d Ic16g pfOyocation, the Indians have not At
1 the white people in their houses.
- as 4 know, they have not
aly threatened their peace. Those Who
In or are really hostile, should unques-
But during the late trouble ia
the great body Of the sioux
aendly, and the inrocent should
viz 9asairct,c with q -. s t1s. gustisy z, 10
Nho took part in the hostilities and thoso
tmained LOYAL, many Of whom suffered for
tYalty, would be an net OF injustice which
p6lan d q quick to recognise and resent .
Nould be great hardship TO these Indians
- their arms, which they greatly prize.
4 & knating and in sport. Il il with
- dpeere sorrow It must g said, thsf I
Ul1fy leer the Indiana would not b. safe,
eAeg IL their persons or In their property, il It
80 mown that they We're entirely without
iof self,deiense The rcccnt events
n AZ. cS Mhsrs y = said women
s ~ soldiers Of the United States army and that
6f1eu were ambushed and slain without provo
e1too ~ citizens, have shown US how pitifully
Qetenoe1eB these poor creatures might be, IL
v1olB unarmed and unable to protect them
3 Is disazm the Indians generally ana leave
s. ncWholc body OF the Sioux omarting under =
ese.e Of helplessness and wrong, would tend to
1uce among thcm . widespread feeling Of ir-
Zre10ns unrest and distrust,s disastrous not
10y to the peace aud prosperity OF the
ssout the very danger which the sss dl.arm
= intended to prevent. for should the arms
NOW possess be f0rcibly taken from them,
80 r. nothing, either in law or the habits Of
people surrounding them. to prevent them
80 aiming themselves anew at the earliest
eEeunity by purchasing from the whites.
1ethe prevention of further trouble, 1t seems
min among them 4 we'll discinlin nron,
paid and vigilant Indian police force, and
keep q exposed poi1ts small garrison
Qoys su0icient in case Of great emergency
md vwh{foa