The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-10-26


preston seem to have prevailed among
the government authorities that the In
dams would yield to the display OF force,
but instead came that fierce attack on
the soldiers, of which the particulars
have been recorded in the dispatches.
So far, therefore, as can be Judged,
both the military and civil authorities
were acting in accordance with the law.
Is would be impossible TO allow agency
Indians to break with impunity the
regulations governing the reservations,
and successful resistance to civil offi-
GERS calls for the intervention of the
military arm. Experience shows that
the prohibition OF ~hiskey selling is one
of the most important means of secur-
ing good order on the reservations, and
it is rigidly enforced, although those
guilty of it are naturally shielded as far
as possible by the Indians who are
anxious to get the liquor.
But while this main point is clear
enough among the somewhat conflicting
accounts, il is quite possible that the
local authorities may not have man
aged the affair in the most prudent
way. 1t has been said, for example,
that the reason why Chief Bush Ear re-
fused to appear as witness is that in
the foimer case already spoken of he
had been put 10 personal expense. If
this is true he may have had griev-
ance, but his offence in forcibly resist
ing the process of the law is none the
less clear. 1t has been suggested that
the proposal which the government has
had in view to remove the Pillager
band from Leech Lake to the White
Earth Reservation has made trouble
among them, particularly since the item
of $4,000 for paying for the improve
ments they had made was stricken from
the last Indian appropriation bill. But
| this would hardly account for the pres
ent disturbance, because the removal
was not imminent, and presumably the
Indians received assurances that, if it
were carried out, proper compensation
would be made TO them for any i'm
provements on Bear Island
| 1t has been suggested that the Pilla-
gers were dissatisfied, like some others
of the Chippewas of Minnesota, with
the arrangement made by the govern
ment of late years in regard to their
lands and their logging interests.
Nearly ten years ago this tribe gave
up its old reservations to the United
States for concentration upon others,
under agreements for compensation.
Such changes are apt to produce some
dissatisfaction, especially among those
who prefer rowing life. Again, there
has been some complaint among the
Red Lake Chippewas, and perhaps
pointed 10 conduct timber estimates in
| 70 IN N lnnci int Of ha
Indians. These interests are particu-
larly important to this tribe from the
large extent TO which the cutting and
sale of "dead and down" timber is car
ried on, But while there may be more
or less dissatisfaction on this score, the
government undoubtedly endeavors to
allow the Indians to profit by the tim
Der growth on their lands. We must
suppose that this matter had nothing
Immediately to do with the armed up
rising of the Pillagers, for which the
whlskey dispute already spoken of fur
nishes an adequate explanation.
We may assume, therefore, that the
government will proceed to enforce its
authority against the Pillagers, and to
punish the offenders. Any just causes
of grievance that either this band or
other portions of the Chippewa tribe
may have can afterward be dealt with,
but the first need is that OF enforcing
the laws and showing the Indians that
it is dangerous to resist them. The
government may congratulate itself
that it promptly moved back the regu-
lars from Montauk to their usual sta
tons, those of.the Third Infantry going
to Fort Smelling. This current expert
ence is also reminder that the posi-
bility of Indian disturbance must also
be reckoned with, while it affords a
striking illustration Of the variety of
service our army is called upon to rem
der. A portion of regiment of regu-
lars which three months ago was fight
ing Spaniards at Santiago, is now fight
ing Chippewas in Minnesota.-New
York Sun.