ffered a loop hole for those present to
creep out whenever they were so inclined. He said, "that now was the
time, if ever, when they might, at a small additional expense, and
with the prospect of saving many valuable lives, show these Indians
that they were dealing with a powerful government." His voice and
experience were overruled by the other officials present and the
treaty was made. It stipulated that the Indians should receive certain
sums annually in case they would settle down and commence farming,
and that they should be allowed to select their own locality within
certain prescribed limits. The making of such offers to tribes of
savages half subdued is absurd. The wisdom of this assertion has since
been clearly shown, for hardly one article contained in the treaty
there made has been carried out. The actions of those Apaches present
at the council were trifling in the extreme, notwithstanding which,
they were presented with some cattle. These they objected to receiving
on the ground that they were not fat enough to suit their fastidious
tastes. They insolently addressed the Government officials in the
following strain: "If you do not give us better, we will again take
the road where we can have our choice."

The fact was that these half-starved rascals saw that the white men
were anxious to make peace, and hence they assumed a haughty air in
order to drive a good bargain.

The great results which should have been brought about by the
teachings of Colonels Fauntleroy and St. Vrain, by this weak
diplomacy, were more or less frustrated. These gentlemen, however, had
won great renown. They had the savages driven to such extremes that
one more expedition, led by them in person, would have subdued all
their obstinacy and made them over anxious for peace. The Indians had
been seven times caught, and, on every one of the occasions, they had
been greatly worsted. They had lost at least five hundred horses, all
their camp equipage, ammunition, provisions, and most of their
arms, and were indeed almost at the mercy of the whites. Under
these circumstances they should have been shown true magnanimity and
greatness, by forcing them into that course which was and is for their
own welfare as well as the welfare of the country, and against which,
they themselves so blindly contend. Say to an Indian, that ere many
years have passed by the buffalo will all be destroyed, and he will
answer you "that the 'Great Spirit' rains th