Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-23
GoosE-BURNs AGAIN.

James N. Burns is q warrior, a big brave.
He holds q commission In the army of the
United States, and his rank is designated
by an unbarred stripe upon each Of his
muscular shoulders. He is the champion
of Drifting Goose and his vagabond band
of Indian tramps. This appears to be war
rior Burns mission, whether his commits
sion designates him for that particular ser.
vice or not. In the discharge of his mis-
sion warrior Burns finds it necessary or
convenient to make frequent communica-
tons to the commander of the military de.
partment of Dakota. But these do not
safe the warriors thirst for fame; be
gushes sentimentally over Drifting Goose's
signature in a petition to the president of
the United States in which the patriotism,
loyalty and goodness of Drifting Goo.e,
and the barbarity. cruelty and lawlessness
of the white settlers are pathetically por.
trayed. The grievance of Goose, as por-
trayed by Burns, is that he aud his band
were not allowed to occupy a certain por-
ton Of the J i'm river valley which was ceded
TO the government over twenty years ago,
by which cession the Indians yielded all
title to its ownership and right to its occu.
pancy. In pursuance ofthe rights acquired
under that treaty the government has had
this land surveyed, the plats placed in the
local land Offices and the people invited to
occupy it under the several acts of congress
providing for the disposal of the public
lands. Drifting Goose and his struggling
band Of vagabonds haye no more right to
occupy these lands than . white man has
to settle upon and occupy q piece of land
embraced within an Indian reservation
When he assumes to do so, he should be
subjected to the same treatment accorded
to a white man who violates the provis
ions of a treaty-ejected from the country
and fined and imprisoned for trespass. (,
Burns latest report to Gen. Sheridan is
printed in another part of this paper. In
this report he states that Drifting Goose
and his band are now at Red Cloud attend
ing the grand sun dance or council Of al
the different Sioux tribes, and that as sool
as.he finishes this pilgrimage to the Indian
Mecca and has sufficiently tortured hi
flesh to deyelop all the bravery an,
bloodthirstiness of his nature he will
return to the Jim river, and tina
then if the white settlers resist the Indian
claim to an unlawful settlement in the va
ley "there will be serious trouble" Burn
further says that he had to conceal b
feelines in regard to their Che Indian,
treatment" and that if he had given the 1,
dams 1.-THE least announcement, BY word {
act, they would have scalped the lastscoui
drel." Thus the noble warrior Burns 60,
fesses his friendship for thl
band Of lawless Indians, and fayo
their occupation of a country
which they have not the remotest leg
right. and that he had to disguise his fe
ings of friendship and championship to pl
vent this band of tresspassing vseabon
from scalping the white settlera-the lee
occupants of the co~untry-whom the y,
rlor Burns designates as "scoundrels."
We would like to inform warrior Bar,
If We can reach his ear, that it is not n,
essary for him to place q restraint upon
feelings. If he feels that his red friel
have . call to scalp the white settlers of
Jim river valley-the "%scoundrels" Is be
his gentlemanly dignity ~designates then
we would advise warrior Burns to seek
position Of safety and let the ecslpine CO
mence; and We confidently predict I
warrior Burns-out Of respect for his :
and mol ON account Of his ""feelings"-,
be the sole surviving representative
Goose and his band.