Yankton daily press and Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1875, 1875-06-28

the Sioux Indians can donbt that,
however far short OF his wishes their
present condition may. be, it is strik-
|ingly advanced to what it was a a,few
years ago. Civilization has been ef.
fecting slow but real victories !; mis-
sions have been, advancing; children
are being gathered into schools, and
Christian women engaged in the mis-.
sion work are today living undis-
turbed in districts where, but FIVE
years ago, few white men, except
squaw men, would have dared to
show their faces.
But, unfortunately for the trust aud
quiet which such efforts cngender, and
in which they flourish, the Sioux, like
|Naboth in sacred history, and the
poor man in Nathan's parable, own
something very dear to them which a
more powerful neighbor covets. Ill
is the country known as the Black
Hills Of Dakota. The Indians attsch;
ment to it is passion. And we'll il
may be, for this district is the kernel
of their nut, the yolk of their egg
While the rest of their reservation is
a "dry and thirsty island where no
water is" this hill country is reported
Tas abounding in |" fountains and wells
that spring out Of valleys and hills"
While many Of the streams outside OF
these hills | know to be in summer
nauseously tepid, turbid and alkaline,
the streams in the hills are said to be
even in the hottest weather delicious
~ cool and always sweet and crystal
clear. While most Of the rest of their
land is -sun-baked and blasted by
scorching siroccos, these hills are re-
! ported as. attracting frequent, showers.
i While much Of the rest of their land
lis utterly denuded of all soil and the
famous ma,uaise terres," or bad
= . | lands Of Dakota, occupy large stretch.
cs Of it, the soil Of the valleys in these
T hills is reported to be rich and deep
and carpeted with grass and flowers;
and while much Of the rest of their
reserve is utterly treeless, and the
traveller seeks in vain, as / know by
experience, for wood enough to heat
water to make cup of coffee with,
! these hills are we'll covered with elm,
and oak and pine. In the opinion OF
7 four geatlemears them-familiar
}, with the country, with whom ] con.
versed few days ago, the timber
(the only fuel for the Indian in eli
J. mate where the winters are long and
D ale mercury ranges from 10 degrees
! to 40 degrees below zero for weeks
: together) will, at the present rate o.
consumption, have all disappeared il
less than ten or fifteen years. Maui
! testify, no one needs this tract OF land
!, SO much as its present possessor, its
: rightful owner
But what rights has an Indian;
three years ago an expedition was
projected and partially organized il
Dakota for the purpose Of seizing up.
!, on this territory. Happily the ex
|, lecutive in this instance, acted with
lgreat decision. A proclamation was
issued warning evil disposed person:
Of the determination of the govern
meht to prevent the outrage, anc
troops we're set in motion to dea
. effectively with the maruders. Thu.
checked, rapacity slumbered until ,
e year ago, when y military expedition
having penetrated the Black Hills al,
d ina4med our cupidity with stories o
II It's wealth, bands Of reckless adven
' tufers began TO invade the Sioux
. countgy-,hus far, thank God, only t,
be captured by the military. Many
others hover on its borders; our cities
from the Missouri 10 the Atlantic ar
y placarded with "Goad! Gold! Gold
]. Ho! for the Black Hills!" And th'
excitement and the pressure are Sc
great that even the>president Of th'
United States, to whom would pa,
grateful tribute as the tried frien.
J. Of the Indian, thinks1it wise to sue
o comb and to try and direct the storm
" which he cannot resist, and is oblige'
,r with other friends of the Indians, il
'e the effort to see that the evil is don
X az gently - possible, to play Wha
x may seem to some the role Of part
m ceps criminis.
,e The only plea which the propose
rs effort to obtain the country from til
,e unwilling Indians can make with an
q, force is this, that civilization havin
,ej driven the game from the plains, Ii
n. Indians have beopmel dependent f
D. their food on the bounty y Of tho whit
in mans government, aud that 9bein
st "beggars," they must not be "choo
he Eers." Whether this apology wi
N avail in view of all that the whi
he man has already taken away from Ii
" dams, let the kind and just dete
'r, mine.
Al ~ Al