The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-05
The Indian Outbreak.

Probably one of the most unfavorable
features of the Indian outbreak in Mon
tana is the conflict of authority that has
been developed While the local and the
federal authorities are haggling over who
shall deal with the Indian miscreants
wanted for violations of the law, the other
Indians. and the white cattle men, may
become ugly and do considerable damage.
Both parties are in proper frame of mind
to take advantage of any opportunity TO
make trouble which may be presented.
1t appears from the reports that this
trouble with the Cheyennes is in many re-
spects similar to the outbreak of the Ban
noeks, which occurred about year and
a half ago. Since the Cheyennes were
placed upon the Tongue river reservation
they have behaved themselves very well,
considering that they have been surround
ed by white men who have continually
harried them, with the end in view OF
driving them off of their lands, which are
good stock ranges. All efforts in congress
looking to the Improvement Of the Indians
have been blocked by the Vaccinations of
the cattle men and their friends, be-
cause If the Indians were permitted to be-
come contented on the lands, their going
would be indefinitely postponed, and the
cattle men are anxious that they shall
go quickly These cattle men never hest
tate to take every advantage of the In
dams that is possible, but always retaliate
with interest whenever an Indian acts
upon the same principle
-f-t., to y
about in this fashion, The cattle men had
been permitting their cattle to feed on In
dian lands. Some of the cattle were under
the care of a neutrality-suspicious., who lived
near the line. A bad Indian stole COW
which it is supposed, was feeding upon
the forbidden ground. The herder found
out the thief To prevent exposure and
punishment for his act. the Indian killed
the herder Immediately there was an
outcry among the cattle men for ven
geance. If the herder had killed the cat
tie thief there probably would never have
been more than a preliminary examina-
ton, and the murderer would have gone
scot-free The cattle men not only want
ed to deal with the murderer, but other
Indians also, whom they suspected" of
crimes. The Indian agent-Capt. Stouch
of the Third Infantry-took steps to bring
the Indian murderer to justice, and to see
that the other violators of the law were
dealt with properly. About the same time
the sheriff with posse set out to capture
the Indians wanted by the law. Capt.
Stouch it appears, is animated by de
sire to promote the ends of justice and to
protect the rights of the Indians as well
as those of the whites. The sheriff and
his posse are said to be in full sympathy
with the cattle men, who want to get rid
of the Indians by the quickest process.
The mass of Indians, knowing very well
the feeling of the sheriff and his posse
towards them, have determined to make
it warm for them. The Indians do not
discriminate between classes of whites
when they become aroused. and they are
thoroughly aroused now, hence the dan
ger of trouble that may be both bloody
and costly.
While these Indian uprisings are to be
deplored, it cannot be successfully denied
that many of them are the result of most
exasperating provocation. Greedy and
INSCRIPTIONS white men deliberately
make trouble between the Indians and the
government in order that they may seize
the Indians property when they have
been shot.