194 The Winning of the West 



blamed. It is a dark blot on the character of a peo- 

 ple that otherwise had many fine and manly qualities 

 to its credit. But the extraordinary conditions of 

 life on the frontier must be kept in mind before pass- 

 ing too severe a judgment. In the turmoil of the 

 harassing and long-continued Indian war, and the 

 consequent loosening of social bonds, it was in- 

 evitable that, as regards outside matters, each man 

 should do what seemed right in his own eyes. The 

 bad and the good alike were left free and untram- 

 meled to follow the bent of their desires. The peo- 

 ple had all they could do to beat off their savage 

 enemies, and to keep order among themselves. They 

 were able to impose but slight checks on ruffianism 

 that was aimed at outsiders. There were plenty 

 of good and upright men who would not harm any 

 Indians wrongfully, and who treated kindly those 

 who were peaceable. On the other hand, there were 

 many of violent and murderous temper. These knew 

 that their neighbors would actively resent any wrong 

 done to themselves, but knew, also, that, under the 

 existing conditions, they would at the worst do 

 nothing more than openly disapprove of an outrage 

 perpetrated on Indians. 



The violence of the bad is easily understood. 

 The indifference displayed toward their actions by 

 the better men of the community, who were cer- 

 tainly greatly in the majority, is harder to explain. 

 It rose from varying causes. In the first place, 

 the long continuance of Indian warfare, and the 

 unspeakable horrors that were its invariable ac- 



