The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-07
The Story From the North.

1t is sad story which comes to us
from the north. One would think that
the period for Indian wars on this civ
ilfzed continent was ended. But like
an unhappy dream comes the history
of the Leech lake tragedy with all it's
horrors of Indian warfare
1t is not pleasant to attempt to To-
cate responsibility in an incident of this
sort. Evidently somebody is to blame.
There is a feeling existing that Gen.
Bacon went into the trap unwisely
with very small number of men. But
above that there is a conviction that
the war department at Washington Is
absolutely incompetent, and sends men
Either and thither without regard to
the forces they are obliged to encoun-
ter. The Indian forces in the north
were available for computation long
before this outbreak occurred. The in
terror department at Washington must
have been informed of the spirit of dis
content prevailing amongst these
tribes. The war department, when 1t
came to dealing seriously with them,
should have had some comprehension
forces they had to combat.
savage Indian is a savage No
sort Of pulpit oratory can make any
thing else Of him. He is a fiend and a
devil, and he should be treated as such.
If, in the spirit of wisdom, the United
States had long ago annihilated the
whole tribe of savages from the North
west Territory it would have been
doing great service to humanity, and
would have saved many noble lives.
Can any one point to a single act or
humanity and nobility practiced by a
Northwestern Indian He is a savage
by nature, a savage in his action, and
q savage in the manner in which he
deals death to those who approach him
from the boundaries of civilization.
The war department is culpable for
It's dealing in the present circumstances
with this tribe Of the North. A puny
handful Of men were sent to do the
duty Of thousand. Where is the re-
sponsibility to be lodged? There has
been a sacrifice of valuable life. Why
should Adjt. Gen. Corbin, with all his
experience in the past in dealing with
partment at Washington and sneering-
ly suggest that a hundred men could
accomplish the work which 5000 men
available could have accomplished
without the loss Of life. The trouble
has been, in all our dealings with the
Indians, that a maWkish sympathy has
prevailed and withheld the hand that
ought to strike. We have had expert
ences enough in the way of massacres
from that at Wyoming to that which
brought Custer to his death in the
Yellowstone to convince us that when
we fight Indians we are fighting the
devil.
Gen. Alger quietly remarks in an in
terview that If a gatling gun is neces-
sary it will be sent. Why, in the name
Of heaven, does not he send it and not
talk about it? Palaver and soft soap
in the war department will produce no
more effect to the satisfaction Of the
people Of this country in connection
with its dealings with the Indians than
will palaVer and soft soap soothe the
wounds and administer to the distress
Of men in our hospitals at Chickamau-
ga or Mcntauk Point.
The country has witnessed during the
past four months an exhibition Of su-
preme incompetency in connection with
the management of the war depart
ment which, in the minds Of a good
many people. is not only repulsive but
criminal Secretary Alger Is not fit
to be secretary of war. The fact has
been demonstrated over and over again
to President Mckinley. The events
which have taken place within the state
Of Minnesota during these beautiful
October days, the sacrifice of life that
has been occasiOned by inefficiency,
the Gilatoriness in the reinforcement Of
commands which has been demonstrate
ed in connection with the forwarding
Of relief to the brave men who have
gone to the North to fight these Indian
desperadoes, all goes to show the crimi-
nal conduct Of the war department at
Washington. Lives were needlessIy
wasted at Santiago; fever made it's
thorough rounds in Camp .Alger at
Washington, at Chickamauga, at Mon
tauk Point, and carried off MANY a
noble soul from the bosom Of his moth
er. ~There ought to be time Of reckon
ing, and it will come as the cuImina-
ton Of this outrageously, incompetently
conducted campaign against the In
n l,