Year: 1873




indicate that the Modocs have, 50 far,
the better Of ibe goverpNent. 1t vas
supposed, aut SO stated = few days after
the treacherous murder OF Gen Candy,
that the Indians were completely sur.
rounded, end that all that ~ss left for the
troops to do, yes to Icy in wait and
star.e the enemy to surrender. The
Modocs, howeser. appear to have been
up to a strategy worth two of that, and
dispatches from the seat Of var, Of the
22d inst, iuform US that they have es.
csped from the Lava Beds, and their
WHIT reabouts is a matter Of considerable
doubt. The settlers in that region ere
greatly excited and uneasy in conse-
quence, aud many Of them are removing
to the nearest and strongest settlements,
in anticipation of mossacres and confa.
grations. A reign of terror appears to
prevail, Notwithstanding the enemy is
said not to outnumber fifty or sixty war.
riors; but this number foot loose as the
Modocs are, and bent on mischief and
revenge, would be a terror anywhere


The absorbing question now is, What
is to be done with the Modocs? 1t
seems that they are quite able to take
care of themselves, and We bad better
catch before attempting to hang them.
They are now on the war path, aud so
long as they remain hostile it will be
necessary to kill ttem wherever found
aud that they will remain in this attitude
is quite plausible, for they expect no
quarter after having violated the rules Of
war as they did in the recent massacre.
1t appears that nothing but the extermi
tion Of this warning tribe, will ever give
the people of southern Oregon and Cali
fornia security from their depreda,ions
and Gen. Sherman has already issued
his orders for their determination but
should they surrender, which is very
improbable, many of them doubtless
preferring death, would not q conciia
tory policy be better than to murder
,hem? ln the light of Christianity
Wholesale slaughter would be barbarous,
and less excusablc with US than them
That they have aggravated US to bound
less extent and treacherously murdered
one Of our best soldiers is true, but can
the whites say conscientiously that the
red man has Lot suffered at our hands
The tribe in question was inflicted i'll
1852 with hearlless massacre by one
Capt. Wright; it is said that be did SO
to prevent himself and party being mur-
dered at "a peace talk" with them.
Whoever was wrong in that bloody affair
we know not, but the recen: massacre Of
Gen. Candy was doubtless the outgrowth
Of that eventful night, or similar treat
nent, for they are revengeful people
and nurse their wrath to keep it warm
Besides, all the neighboring tribes are
posted with regard to their movements,
and spirit Of determination may cause
them to raise up in arms. That there is
sympathetic cord between them is more
than probable, and too harsh policy on
the part of the whites would largely tend
10 inHame them to action, and create q
war that would rival in its sangunary
results anything heretofore witnessed,
although the 6nal result would be the ex
termination of the wole race at least OF
al who did not succumb to the march OF
civilization.


That the government will ever be able
TO civiize the whole race OF red men, we
DO not believe. For two hundred years
or more they have been retreating before
the progressive march Of the whites, re
sisting every eDcroachmont upon their
hunting grounds, until at last Tres erva.
tious" have been set apart for them.
These are growing smaller, and they
look with distrust and fear upon every new
encroachment. Soon these reservations
will be occupied by the whites, preceded
by bloodshed and loss of life, until their
hunting grounds will be entirely des
Eoyed, and their manner of living re
duced to conformity vith the laws OF
civilization or depredations upon their
white neighbors. All who sumbit to the
former will be permitted to enjoy its
biessings-the others will finally disap
pear from the face Of the earth. The
experience of the past teaches this; 70,
have they not been driven from the East
to the West step BY step, every foot Of
srounS being contested, until they have
now only small reservations left then