New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-05
SEEKING AN INDIAN WAR.

A now danger confronts us as result or tnlS
horrible expansion policy. The same people VINO
are urging the Tagals 10 maintain their rights
onoinst the bloodthrsty mercenaries OF the ty-
rant Mckinley have discovered that those same
bloodthirsty mercenaries, who In spite OF their
nurderous habits and more than savage mode
of warfare are really our own mild-mannered,
casy-going brother Americans, are greatly
needed In this country for the protection OF
those of lis who remain at home We nave
some doubt ourselves about the deSirabty OF
bringing back such throat-cutting, prisonerkill-
ing wretches as our Lafayettes Of the Philip
pines tell us our soldiers at Manila are. We
should not think such villains would contribute
10 peace and good order on the Indian rescryn-
TONS But the Lafayettes tell us they ought
TO be brought back Immediately lest our Indian
tribes arise in their absence and we pay with
our scalps the penalty for parting with our in
human guardians
We confess we had not appreciated the dan
ger hitherto Perhaps we were lulled into
feeling of false security by the complete demon
stration of the uselessness of a larger army
which our anti-expansionist friends made when
the Administration wanted TO secure more
troops. so as completely to fill the places of the
soldiers sent away on foreign service. We I'M
derstood that more troops were not needed here
and that enlisting them would only be prepar-
ing the way for the military despotism with
which Mr. Mckinley was preparing to supersede
the Constitution But now the anti-expansion-
lists tell us that the Indians are likely TO rise
in fact, almost tell us that they ought TO rise.
Ordinarily that might not be convincing but
when we remember their telling us that the
Tagals ought 10 fight us and how they did fight
us. and when we see the activity of Mr.. Ed
ward Atkinson and others In encouraging the
Malays to make the anti-expansionist prophe-
cies Of National disaster come true, are by
DO means prepared to say that the Indians may
not rise in response to the anti-expansionist in
vitation. 1t Is easier to get to the Rockies and
work up a rebellion than 10 get to Manila and
play Lafayette, and 1t would probably answer
the purpose Of embarrassing the Government
just as well.
A nice little Indian war at home would be OF
great assistance to the anti-expansionists. 1t
might bring a lot of soldiers home from the
Philippines and give Aguinaldo a chance to
whip what remained Even II 1t did not do all
that II would at least have its effect on public
sentiment and make the country less willing TO
send its defenders away on distant enterprises.
And even If there should be no uprising, the
forecasting of one may serve 10 make enough
of scare TO cause the Administration some
annoyance, and that, ut least, Is perhaps ex-
pected by those who say that the whites "are
"liable TO stretch the patience OF the Indians to
'the breaking point and precipitate a struggle
mt arms at almost any moment" There are
many tribes, we are told, that have not yet
taken vengeance for their wrongs, but they
have wrongs quite as great as those Of the Ind
ians who last made trouble, and Aguinado's
American ministers might find them convenient
allies These Indians, for instance, might be
made use Of to urge Mr.. Mckinley to call for
some volunteers. and while the anti-expaDsion-
lists think an increase Of the Army would be a
great evil they would he willing to put up with
II because they think volunteer call would
multiply the political burdens Of the Admins
tration. In fact, they say themselves that 1t
would, and that therefore Mr.. Mckinley 10
likely TO leave our people exposed to this immi