The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-24
THE INDIANS.
Peace Depends Upon the
Presence Of Troops.
Law May Interfere---War Department
Must Act With Great Caution

WARRINGTON, Oct 2i.-Secretary Smiu.
in his letter TO the war department, say
that In view of the obligations of the gov
srnment, as set forth In the treaties with
the Indians Of the Indian territory, to pro
tect che five civilized tribes against do
mestic strife and hostile invasion and to
guarantee those people the peaceable en-
joyment OF their country, he recommends
that troops be sent to protect all classes.
Commissioner Browning, in q letter 40
oompanymg the secretary's, suggests that
. troop Of cavalry be sent into the Indian
territory to assist Agent Wisdom at
Muskogee in preserving the peace. 1t Is
expected that the troops Will then be used
to hunt down and drive cut the marauders
who aro harassing the people.
Agent Wisdom yesterday wired the In
dian Office asking authority to incur the
necessary travelling expenses Of the Indian
police in assisting United States marshals
who were hunting down thieves and max
Ing arrests. Such authority was granted.
Matter Referred 90 General schofield.
These communications reached Acting
Secretary Doe at the war department. yes
terday afternoon, and after reading them
carefully he referred them Co General
Schofield, commanding the army. Gen
eral Scbofeld looked into the matter and
then returned the papers TO the acting sec.
retsry, with n suggestion that the request
for the aid OF troops be maturely consid-
cred, with view TO ascortaining the legal
ity of the proposed action.
This endorsement from so high an
authority upon tho complex questions be-
tween military and civil branches OF the
government will undoubtedly cause the
war department to move with great eau
ton in acting upon this request for troops,
and in the end may result in a refusal.
The Indian territory differs from other
territories from an administrative point OF
view In the fact that the national govern
ment Is bound by treaties with the Indians
to protect them from domestic violence.
But In the absence of express stipulation
and law 1t has been held that the pro-
lection must be extended exactly as IL is
to the inhabitants of other territories,
namely, through tho Judiciary provided
by law.
Will Move with Deliberation.
SO far as the department. is advised, the
judiciary OF the Indian territory has not
appealed for the assistance of troops, and
us In tne case Oh tne disturbances OF last
summer, the government will not move
until such application is made and after
the judicial officers have shown proper
disposition to restore order In the Indian
territory.
The war department it is stated, has
taken notice of the efforts of the express
companies 10 secure governmental pro
lection for their service, and the officers
are byno means we'll disposed toward the
project. Army officers in charge of affairs
feel that the express companies have not
gone as far rs they should i'm the direction
Of guarding the property confded to them,
and they hold that by placing one or two
determined and fearless guards in the ex-
press cars they could soon check tho at
tacks of train robbers, which endanger the
lives of passengers.