St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1858-12-09
Indians.

.--------4- 81. EftS rs
II. our last issue, We underestimated the
number of Indian hunters in our vicinity,
because it is q subject sosapt to induce
exageration that We could not rely implic-
lily on the reports brought in.
We are now convinced there are from
two to three hundred men, with full
complement Of women and children, or
squaws and pappooses. They are Sioux
and occupy several different encampments
West and Southwest Of us, the nearest
seven miles back. Reliable, cautious men
think they have killed full one thousand
head Of deer, beside a goodly number Of
bears and other game.
Our citizens are very much dissatisfied
with these ;ncursions Of our savage neigh
bors; and claim that the United States
Authorities should prevent these forays,
and that if they do not, the inhabitants
should organize and drive the hunters
back into their own territory @s. ~
1t our deer were protected from these
savage foes it appears as if, in few years,
they would be surprisingly abundant;
and it is not only wild animals that the
Indians claim as their prey. In every
neigghborhood where they come, cattle are
driven of, vacant houses robbed and proviis-
ions stolen;whlle the settlers are kept on the
perpetual alert to watch their property
and resist the most importunate and per-
severing system of beggary.
IL It. produces strange effect upon ones
preconceived ideas of these " sons Of the
forest" to see ten or dozen Of them
crowding into cabin, scowling and threat
ening, or whining and shifting, to obtain
small supply of beans, potatoes, wheat,
corn, pork, old clothes, or any other sup
ply which would be sought Or excepted by
the most abject pauper in an Eastern city.
They remind us more of the descriptions
writer's give Of the Lazaroni of Italy, than
the Indian Of romance, with whom we be-
came acquainted in early life.
They are simply set Of lazy, imppdent
beggars, affecting to despise the arts of
civilized life while most anxious to avail
themselves Of the proceeds Of these arts,
provided they can do 50 by begging or
stealing, which they regard as honorable,
while working is quite beneath their Dig
nifty. +
This is the common feeling here; and
while we cannot help sharing it, would
counsel torbearance, on the part Of the
white settlers. It is wiser and better to
suffer loss, than to have any serious per-
sonal difficulty with the Red men. Their
lncursions into our territory should be laid
before the Indian Department, and let the
matter be dealt with by the regular, con
stituted authorities. 1t may be that the
Indians and whites have different under
of the treaty. by which they
sold these lands; and it may be that the
has not been fully paid to
hem. As the whites are the stronger
md wiser party they should not be
:eadily provoked. ~
In the worst view of the case, these In
Ian marauders are not so bad as the
thousands Of loafers and paupcrs Of civil
led life, who live upon the industry Of
,thers. ,.-.>! ,..= 49,. 80 ,-
But talk about the severity of our eli
nate! Here are these Indian children
unning barefoot and almost naked over
he snow, and the thermometer below zero;
While they sleep under the shelter of a
title bramble, some withercd leaves and
few deer skins Dressing up warm" is.
evidently all freak of old Madame Fash
on. @,l.<>5sgt:s * ~.tG=t; >@a.a-. lila
One class Of her retainers go about with
heir clothes carefully held off from their
PERSONS two Or three feet by steel hoops,
mother go without the clothes, and q
bird swathe themselves in manner that
would astonish bear or buffalo; while
ach one fancies he or she has the most
encasement imaginable.
~ Z ~ G1s j. S.Erss gEa" En- s5l## SEX
The Pioneer d. Democrat is growing
,eca11sa xvo arc satisfied with n,1rsolf non