The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-03-18
GET AFTER THE WHISKY TRADERS.

A serious Indian outbreak in Mon
tana was narrowly averted by the gooc
sense of Plentycoues and several other
prominent chiefs of the Crow tribe.
Had it not been for their controlling in
tluences and willingness to submit tc
arbitration there would have been most
disastrous results. The conditions were
there.
The primary and only cause of the
threatened trouble was whisky, and for
this the whites were responsible. For
some time past bands of Migrants aud
outlaws have been travelling through
tho newly opened reservation and
along the Crow country, selling
whisky 10 these Indiana. They
have been cunning enough to fol
low on the trade so as to avoid nearly all
chances OF detection. They carry the
whisky around on their persons in small
quantities and dispose Of it without any
show. When the small stock is gone it
is replenished at the nearest town and
in this way the trade is hardly more
than a mere exchange of goods on the
road. The results, Of course, are only
what may be expected in such cases. 1t
10 not necessary to study the physic-
logical effects Of whisy on an Indian. It
turns his brain into fire, arouses the
worst instincts of his nature and makes
him an irresponsible being. He is not
to be held accountable for depredetions
committed when in this condition, Our
government has recognized this by
forbidding the sale of spirits to Indians,
and no pun ishment is bad enough for
the man who violates the law. He would
DO no worse il he unlocked q cage and
turned loose Il band of hyenas in a com
munity of women and children. The
government should exhaust every means
to trace out these offenders, a task diff
cult indeed, but which can be accom-.
plishod if d sufficient force of marshals
is sent into that country. In no other
way can protection to the settlers be
secured.
The Crows are ordinarily we'll behaved
Indians, as Indians go. Agent Wv
mans report shows great progress
among them. They are workers and
not wholly dependent on the bounty Of
the government. Last year they cut
hundreds OF tons of hay and did splen-
did work on the irrigating plants on the
reservation. When in their senses they
are not meters Of trouble and do not
belong to that generic class of Indians
as defined by Phil Sheridan.
The demand Of Chief %Plentycoues for
strict justice in the case of the death of
Little Face should receive all attention
from tho authorities of Yellowstone
county. Ii this young buck was muir,
dered justice must be meted out
in order to secure protection in
this region in the future. We
have nothing to say concerning
circumstances which can only DO
Judged when the evidence is produced.
We do know, however, that in many un.
settled regions a adjacent to reservations
there is a sentiment that an ! Indians
life doesn't count and that 1t is a smart
thing to kill n of them ON very slight
excuse. The best way to kill this SEN
timent is to mete out justice and for
this purpose let the Investigation be
made complete.
II, however, the settlers along the
Crow reserve dosire to avoid the repeti
tion OF similar troubles, let them use
their best efforts in assisting the gov
eminent to run down the human VAN