Year: 1867

The Indian Hunting Ground versus Civiiiza-


zion.


Another great council-another pow-wow.
Spotted Tail, Swift Bear, Turkey Foot, Man
acknowledgements Pawnee Killer,
and dozen other beggarly, greasy and filthy
Indian chiefs, have been assembled in consul
tation over the question of barbarism versus
civilization. The pipe OF peace has been
smoked little, q great deal of talking done, a
few threats made on both sides, and plenty OF
presents distributed of arms, ammunition and
clothing. The friendly Indians who did not
attend the council expect that their poetical
brethren who did will bring them an ample
store of good things from Uncle Sans deposit.


The Indians appear disposed to dictate terms
to ua They demand tho abandonment Of the
new road which has been opened to Montana
also Of the Southern Pacific Railroad. This also
requires the giving up Of Forts Laramie, Reno,
Phil Kearny and G. F. Smith. These are the
terms that our red men lay before US for con-
sideration. Thus they throw themselves in the
way of our westward march, and thus they
would render it impossible for us to connect
the Atlantic with the Pacific States. We have
upon our frontiers restless, driving popula-
ton, who are constantly pushed westward by
the ever increasing flood of European immigra-
ton. There Ia not day that civilization does
not gain mile in its westward march; and at
the Pacific States is, at resistless pace, forcing
its way over the Rocky Mountains and rolling
down their eastern slope. All along the
border of Northern Mexico, in Arizona and
New Mexico, the internal development of the
nation is being pushed onward. From the
coast Of Texas 1t is moving northwest with
rapid strides. No wonder the Indian feels
its contact. No wonder he has at length
awakened to the fact tina. he must mingle with
it or sink before it. No wonder that he now
stirs himself to his last struggle with the fates.
We admire his courage, for that is quality
above all others that the American people ap-
preciate but the Indians courage will not en-
able him to hold our civilization at bay. He will
fight he will boldly battle to the last, and the
only hope that we now have is to accept the





terms. Its useless now to argue what might
have been. Whether the Indian can be civil
lized or not Is not now the question. The fact
is indisputable that we have an Indian war on
hand Of a magnitude far greater than any we
have yet had. The Indian has determined to
fight rather than have his hunting ground de-
stroyed, and as there can be no reserve hunt
ing grounds for the benefit of that class OF
humanity which expects to get living by
hunting game, we must fight


General Sherman, in very sensible speech,
told the Indians that civilization must not be
interrupted, that they must look for redress In
something beside war; for if they attempted
this they would be "swept out of existence"
by our soldiers. This clear, strong language
must not be an idle threat, for the Indians have
grown bold under the threats we have made,
for the reason that they have. like our treaties,
been rarely fulfilled. General Sherman, how
ever, is an officer in whom we have great con-
idence. His campaigning agaiost the Indians,
we hspe, will prove as successful as his war
like services against the rebels We may yet
find that when he refused to make pilgrimage
to Mecca he did a good thing for the United
States. All now depends on rapidity of action.
The one idea 10 be kept before the soldier is
that the Indian is lightly loaded and swift
Our soldiers must be the same. Volunteers
must be raised on the frontier, for they are
the material for Indian warfare. The money
must he appropriated to carry on the contest,
for it is an investment which our civilization
requires. Our march must still be westward
The Indian hunting ground must disappear,
and the tribes who inhabit it must bow to the
destiny which says they must march with US Of
sink before us