The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-06-17
Letter from the far West
YANKToN, DAKOTA TER, JUNE 3, rs.

YANKroN, DAKOTA TER, JUNE 3, rs.
ED. Press: Weleft Carl three days
ago in search of health, recreation and
sport, and have not been seeking in
vain. We have looked on vast scope
of handsome country, many thriving
towns, and some beautiful lakes litter
ally alive with fish. Ny thoughts
have gone out to your steady plodinS
foreman, and Imagination measured
the real enjoyment he would take in
angling out fifty pound buffalo, pike
and pickeral three, four and five feet
long.
The country between Counsil Bluffs
and Yankton is handsomely situated,
aud is being settled up with good
thrifty class of Swedes andNorwegions.
who have broken out and planted
large tracts of land.
Yankton is 65 miles above Sioux
City and claims population Of 5000.
1t is rival OF Sioux City's for the out
| fit and up-river trade, and is wide
awake and energetic competitor. Ver-
million 35 miles below here has pop
ulation of 500 and thriving local
trade. Society here presents great
contrasts. Moneyed mon of the East
are here with their accomplished
wives and daughters and here are the
rude frOntiersmen, who have no desire
for increased social and educational
advantages. Although these latter
are the pioneers in civilization they
deserve no great commendation for
their enterprise, for as intelligence and
moral restraints advance upon them,
they retire dissatisfied with the situa-
ton.
The Niobrara Valley is section of
country Of unusual attractions and a
marvel of beauty, abundantly supplied
with wood, water, and pasturage. It's
timber is excellent, being mostly oak,
with some cedar. cottonwood, linn,
elm and box-elder. Its waters are de-
lightful running springs and brooks,
soft and pure. In the river are islands
of choice timber, some of them COM
prising hundreds Of acres. The coun-
try about the streams is rolling near
the banks, but slopes back into level
prairie.
had heard terrible reports of the
great destruction the grasshorper was
working in this vacinity before l left
home, and was surprised in not see-
ing any on my arrival. None have
been here, and no trouble is anticipat-
ed from them this year. But they
tell that preacher located here SO far
forgot his profession as to solicit
money upon such representation.
Such clerical villainly works disaster
ously on the home missionary efforts
of the frontier. Did the churches full
ly realize the effect upon both good
and bad men outside of their pale,
there would be less covering over of
mate rotteness, and REIMBURSEMENT
of the mistaken notion that to expose
and punish hypocracy will injure the
cause of Christ.
The crop prospects throughout this
whole region are good, and every
thing indicates prosperous year for
the people of southeastern Dakota and
northeastern Nebraska.
The people here are roundly abus-
ing Walker for burning the Gordcn
ira in en route for the Black Hills. A
number of the devastated gold seekers
are now here fitting out another train.
| They say they ''arc going through
this time," and they mean it. Those
who have been there are the ones
most anxious to be first back there,
and as they are putting large sum of
money in the enterprise it looks flv-
rable. have conversed with some
who say they "know that there is gold
and silver there, and that in largo
quantities" They are in earnest, they
will go armed and equipped this time
for any emergency, and in numbers
for self protection. The whole North
West is urging them on. The people
|
have had their say with the Govern
ment, it is time for the whites to put
in a few demands. The Indian does
not propose to develop the treasure of
gold and silver imbedded in those hills,
and the romance of the right of her.
editary possession of the Indian TO the
domain, over which the United States
claim Jurisdiction, to the exclusion of
the whites, is the veriest bosh. 1t be-
Tonga to the representatives of an ad-
vancing civilization, be they red, black
or white, and not to a vagabond band
of Sioux. A power beyond Congress
long ago decreed that the American
continent should be given over to the
progress of enlightenment, and the
temporal advancement of those who
are willing to make use Of their men-
tai and physical gifts in efforts to bet
ter their condition. The Indians must
accept the situation, become civilized
citizens and act their part as'do other
human beings, or else sink out of ex-
istence through shiftless idle barbar-
ism. 1t i. a mistaken policy to hold
out to them the expectation that they
are to be supported in idleness all
their lives. The time-honored sys stem
of supporting them at the expense of
the toiling white and black people
should be sbrogated, and they given
to understand that in proportion as
they labor SO shall they eat.
w. S. YECAL,
He leaned on the fence pouring out
warm vOws Of love and admiration to