Year: 1867

The Iadians-shali We Have N Indian War;


II Cleopatra's nose had been shorter, said
Pascal, the fate Of the world might have been
different That cpigram is the epitome Of
many histories. To the greater or less length
of . nose or chin-to the greater or less cir
cumference Of some skull-we may trace war
or peace, the destruction or preservation Of
nations, the happiness or obliteration Of whole
branches of the human race. We are likely
to have an immediate application Of this prac-
tical paraphrase in the war now perhaps
already raging between our troops and Ger
tain Indian tribes. There Is good reason to
believe that the present state Of Indian re-
lations was brought on by the acts Of blum
dering incompetency. A war whose least
result viii be the spending Of some millions,
that will cost many lives, and arrest for two
or three years the magnificent trans Mississippi
march Of American progress, may come upon
us, having no better or greater cause than
that most common fact-a bad appointment
made at the national capitalize appointment
of man Of rather less than average discre-
ton to point that indeed did not seem to the
authorities Of great importance. -


We had agreements with the Indians, In vir-
tue Of which we were able to live on tolerable
terms a. neighbors. In pursuance of such
agreements certain parties were authorized to
sell them ammunition. Ifit is bad policy to
sell powder and ball 10 the red men we ought
not to agree to do SO, or we ought to annnl,
the agreement in proper manner and as be-
comes people respecting law-at least laws
Of their own making. Somebody thought it
was bad policy, and, dressed in his brief au-
thority, ready enough to play magnate and
dictator, ordered in panic haste the discontinue
ance of such sale. So the Indians had no means
to kill buffalo. and were distressed and exas-
perated, and the cause Of trouble was an en-
croachment on their hunting grounds by the
new route to Virginia City. They did not, how
ever, plunge into war; So many Midshipman
Easys could not have been more disposed to
argue the points in . pacific way. Argument,
explanation, good temper would have settled
all the trouble. Argument could not be had;


good temper was not to be wasted on "sav-
ages" Parties eager to be heard for their
rights showed themselves in sight Of Fort Phil
Kearny and held up their blankets as signals.
They were shelled and driven away. Soldiers
went out shooting at them "on their own hook"
whenever. they came near. They lowered
around, however; they assembled in larger
numbers--three hundred, 1t is said; three
thousand, others say-and Indians present in
the party, Of tribes that have always been
friendly and boast they never slew q white
man-such Indians declare most firmly that
the intention was not hostile. But there
was panic. A party was out cut
ting wood--the Indians might destroy
it! Another party was sent 10 see to its
safety. This latter party saw Indians and
opened fire. The Indians retreated, the sol
diers pursued, were drawn into an ambuscade
and slaughtered to man. Such is the plain
story on the judgment of experts Of the Fort
Phil Kearny massacre-all, there is too much
reason to fear, most terrible blunder!


Shall we expiate this blunder by war with
all the Indians we can force to fight us Shall
we save the pride of the author Of this blunder
at the expense Of the equipment Of an army
We hope not. There was . time when war
was the only possible result Of accidental col
lision. II two or three men Of Megars muir
dered an Athenian in q drunken bout, the
Athenians murdered any Megarean they could
lay hands on and so from murder to murder
men drifted into war. It Is the advantage Of
higher civilization that we act less blindly.
We single ont particular delinquents and do
not retort Unfortunately on race the crimes
even Of certain Of its members Let MS not
give way to passions and prejudices, but pause
and inquire calmly whether there is not q bet
ter way for the settlement Of our Indian difl-
culties than the costly one Of extirpation;
whether, indeed, q properly established system
of stocked reservations may not make the
savage his own antidote, and make him even
contribute towards our progress across the
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