Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-05-22
The Sarage Siouc.


Longfellow compiled from Mr., SCHOOL,
craft, the historic origin of the Dakotas
is told. Hiawatha was among the Chippe-
ways, or properly the Ojibeways, on Lake
Superior, who had expelled the Dakotas
to the west bank of the Mississippi by the
aid of firearms obtained from the French.
he resolved to get bride, Minnehaha,
among the Chippeways' enemies. Z
! sun dissuadins. said Nokomise
Bring not TO my lodge a stranger
Prom the land Of the Daeotahs
| Very fierce are the Dacotahs
| uNen is there war between u;
There are feuds yet uniorgotlen,
Wounds that ache and still may open.
/
Then departed Hiawaths
| To the land OF the Dacotahs,
To the land OF handsome Women.
Almost at the moment Penn was pur-
chasing the site of Philadelphia a French
priest, Hennepin, was being cordially re-
ceived by the Sioux of Dakota at the
Falls of st. Anthony. lie had assembled
the Mississippi in boat, and there he
met the trader, Duluth, who had ascend
ed Lake Superior to the site Of Jay
Cookies city of the same name. In 1929
the French built a fort on the Mississippi
to keep the Sioux and Chippeways from
| fighting. As late as 1850 the Sioux
marched through the streets Of st. Paul
then few frontier shanties-to avenge
themselves ON Mechanically, who had
scalped one of their nation.
Alexander Ramsey, of Pennsylvania,
became the first Governor Of Minnesota
Territory in 1919; the Sioux ceded to
the United States by treaty with Ramsey
and others, the States of Wisconsin, Min
nesota and Iowa. They were then put on
a reservation in the western part OF Min
nesota. and a vast annuity fund Of three
million dollars was promised TO them.
The first Sioux visited Washington City
| in 1858, and were again shOrn Of half Of
their reservation. Land in seyeralty was
to be given to them instead Of land IN
/ common, as they immemOrially had held
II and q part Of their fund was set aside
n educate and civiize them. This they
resented. as well as the rapid intrusion OF
white settlers. They accused Ramsey
and others Of stealing aud diyerting their
money and denounced the whole scheme
Of apprenticiug them TO civilization. -
, Finally, in lS62 the Minnesota Sioux
arose, lust in the period Of national gloom
following McClellan's and Pope's defeats,
and murdered 1000 people, oyerran
eighteen counties, put 10000 settlers "a
fight aud destroyed 100000 OF improve
ments The radical moving cause OF the
outbreak, wrote MAJOR Galbraith, "iS the
ingrained and fixed hostility Of the say
aye barbarian to reform, change and elvl'
hlatiou." Colonel Sibley marched on
the murderers, who were commanded by
Little Crow his volunteer troops fought
TWO pitched battles, retook 269 prison.
ers. many of whom had been violated
and he hanged thirty-eight Sioux, out Of
/ 3O3 condemned Their treaties were
annulled; the whole nation was removed
to the Upper Missouri. where the WILD
| Sioux had long roamed at large, ami II
1868. under General John Pope'S direct
| ion. Generals Sib.ey, Of Minnesota, anC
| Alfred Suliy, son of the Philadelphia
artist, with two columns Of six Thousand
men. attacked the cmbattled nation on the
plains Of Dakota, and drove but did mo-
/ demoralize them. Although not greA
leader in the Minnesota massacre, SITTING
Bull commenced ms bloody career At tina
time.
By this resume you will see what th'
present war Is. The Sioux, who are sup
posed to have originally dwclt between
| Lake Superior aud Hudsons Bay, ans
became hardy and strong in that cold
bracing climate, were pushed WESTWARD
about two hundred years ago by branci
of the great Algonquin family, the CHIP
peways, who had the advantage Of FIRE
arms. We found them twenty years ago
occupying the trans-M Mississippi regloI
and living on the high plains from Wis
eonsin to the Rocky Mountains, GOVERNS
FIVE times as much ground as the State d
Penusylvania. with / GOO lodges, 10000
inmates aad 5000 warriors. When Sib
lev fought them in 1858 al Stony Lake
he wrote No such concentration o
force has ever been made by the savage
of the American continent. Tn,
remnant Of the Minnesota band had jolneC
the Dakotas Of the plains and formed Al
enormous camp Of 10000 souls
\ man can study, in the adaptation o
the Sioux to his destiny, something recent
Ily Darwinian. lie used to eat fish, corn
beans and meal when he lived Eastward
He padded a conoe, shot only bows anC
arrows, and went a-ioot. Driven 10 tn,
fplains within the past century, he now
eats game, reptiles, elk meat, wolf anC
bear and no vegetables at all he rides !
wild pony, handles rife or a revolver
adopts taeties, fights infantry and ha'
become worse demon than ever. Ii
reaHty, the Sioux is the only great lndiar
tsince the decay of the IrOquois. lie ha'
more natural intelligence than any wilC
nation we know OF, but it Is branded witt
wickedness. If he ever had any mora
nature it is extinct. He is q humoris
and trifer, yet fend. lie combines
the nature Of the ape, the wolf and th'
hyena, and laughs and assassinates, prowls
and Is gOOd-natured, eats carriOn anC
braves sOIdiery. His life is a monstrOui