Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-05-01
MILITARY MIsRULB.
From the alobe snver pelt.

On the same day that Daniel S. La
mont, secretary of war, sent reply to
Delegate N. o. Murphy, informing
him that the Honorable Secretary of
the Interior, the commissioner of In
dian Affairs, the Major General COM
manding the army, and the Acting In-
dian Agent at San Carlos concurred in
the opinion that it was not advisable
to dlsarm the Apaches, Alfred Hand,
an inoffensive citizen and confirmed
invalid, was murdered and the body
horribly mutilated by Apache Indi-
ans, near Cave creek.
The coincidence serves to empha-
size the incompetence of the general
government in dealing with the Indi-
an question in Arizona. While the
atrocious murder of Alfred Hand is
dcplorable, such incidents are of com-
mon occurrence in southeastern Ar-
zona: the people expect them, and have
long since ceased to look to the mill
tary for protection-if any were so
credulous as to hope for succor, from
that quarter, from the Apache flends,
or for their arrest and punishment for
crimes committed.
The arrogance of the military and
their Jealousy Of the civil authorities
have engendered in the minds OF OH
GERS acting as Indian agents a dsre-
uard and nnpocitinn avan ~ tho In
terests and lawful rights of citizens.
To such an extent has this prejudice
grown that officers of Gila county, who
went TO Fort Apache to demand the
arrest of Indian criminals, were Llunt-
ly told By the sub-agent that his sym
pathies were with the Indians.
Waving the question Of the Indians
dupicty and his resistance to civiliz
ing Influence, is it desirable or pru-
dent that the military branch of the
government should be retained in con-
troll Of Indian reservations? Does the
policy in force promote the welfare Of
the Indians or the peace and prospect
ty of the Southwest? We think not,
and all who are familiar with the his
tory OF the Apaches will concur in
that opinion.
1t was only a few months ago that
the Merrills, father and daughter
were slain by the Indians near Ash
Springs, Graham county, AID similar
killings by Apaches occur every little
while. After each murder show of
activity is made by the military, who,
after few days scouting, return emp
ty handed to their posts.
The whole business is farce. The
record of military operations against
the Apaches reveals one of the great
est lascos in the history of modern
warfare. Millions upon millions of
dollars have been expended to subdue
the Apaches and the result has been
a dismal failure. The hostile tribes,
comprehended under the name Of
Apaches, who live in the northern
part OF the White Mountain reserya-
tiUn, numbering 700 or 800 warriors,
have never been disarmed or placed
under subsection. Many Of them live
from forty to seyenty-dye miles from
the sub-agency of Fort Apache, and
are under no restraint whatever, main
tanning themselves by deprcdatng
upon settlers adjacent to the reservG-
tiOn. These are the same Indians
that gave battle to Colonel Carr's
command, killed Captaia IIentig and
ten of his men, and pursued the sol
diers to Apache and fired upon them
in the fort.
The military dare not attempt to
dlsarm the Apachcs. They have a
vivid recollection of General Crooks
expedition to Sonora against Geroul-
mo, aud the capture of Crooks com
mand by the hostiles. The United
States army has failed in its attempt
to control the Indians. 1t does not
contain enough of the material of
which soldiers are made-such SOL
diers as sWelled the ranks OF the con-
tending armies during the war OF the
rebellion. And when our country is
again called upon to defend her honor
by the arbitrament ef war, it will be
the volunteer soldiery, the patriotic
citizens Of the republic, who will fight
her battles and carry her flag to yicto-
ry, as they did in every war since the
declaration Of independence.
A Washington, d. c., dispatch Of
the 10th inst. informs the suffering
public OF Arizona that he secretary of
war has at last got move on himself
Electric Bitters.
Electric bitters is medicine suited
for any season, but perhaps more gen.
orally needed when the ianguid ex-
hausted feeling prevails, when the
liver is torpid and sluggish and the
need of tonic and Alternative is felt.
A prompt use of this medicine has oft
en- ayerted long and perhaps fatal bill