New-York tribune., 1879-12-09


FULL HISTORY OF TIE WRONGS OF THE PONCA
riusE-BnIGHT rYrs On LAW AND LIBERTY.
TO the EdffDr Or Ihs TrtbWne
SIR: There viii be published this week, by
Messrs Lockwood. Brooks Il Co.. Boston. 1T
tie book with the title. The POnca Chiefs :;
an Indians attempt To appea from the tomabawk
to the s." This book gives full history of the
robbery Of the Ponca tribe OF Indians with all
tie pauers filed and evidence taken IN the
Standing Bear habcas corpus case, and the
full text Of Judge Dundy- celebrated decision. with
some suggestions toward a solution OF the Indian
question The book has this dedication. written
hv Wendell Phillips: 40 the people OF the
United States-thOse who love liberty and intend
that this Government shall protect every man on
its soil and execute Justice between man and man
this narrative. with an introduction written by an
Indian girl of the wrongs suffered AZ the bands
of the Government by the P0ncas, IN c0use-
ouence Of winch one-tbrd Of the Tube have
died within the last eighteen months. and the rest
hsve endured and still endure cruel and wasting
oppression, is respectfully dedicated a fair
specimen of the system Of injustice. oppression
and robbery which tho Government calls
its Indian policy; which has covered it
with disgrace ~ incompetent. cruel, faithess.
never keeping its treaties and Systematically aud
shameessly violating It's most solemn pledges; has
men. and The dIsrust and haze Of the Indian tribes.
Wendell Philips"
The Introduction ls written by - Inshtathcamhl,"
Bright Eyes, girl Of the Omaha tribe who is
acting as Interpreter for the Ponca chief Standing
Bear in his appeals tie people for money 70 enable
his tribe To bring the suits 10 recover tie
lands of which the United States Government has
robbed them. Bright Eyes was educated in Eliza
beth. New-Jersey. and has been teacher on the
Omaha Reservation forsom time She speaks English
with quaint simplicity aud iOIce. MhlCh are the
result IF heT familiarity with the English written
by vii lam Shakespeare; a little copy OF shake
spearf,s Pavs winch she drew as a prZ at sc DOL,
being the only book of value which she Possesses.
In this introduction is the following sentence:
" 1t Is little tning simple thing, winch my peo-
pie ask OF Nation whose waIcnwora Is
quences. They ask for their liberty. and
law is liberty, When I read this sentence
| said 10 Mr.. 1Ibbles, the friend and champion OF
The Poncas, who Accompanies them: ." Did Bright
Eyes really write that sentence, herseitT
Every word Of the, introduction he sad.
when | read it, and looked up
at her and said. How did yon get at thati What
made you say law il llbertyP
'.She was sitting by the window: she pointed
to the people gong up and down the
street, and said. 4 see 1t here. | see
all people, coming and gong as they like they
and 1t is because they have law to take care OF
them that they can co.
stronger OF better argument than this And what
could be more profoundly touching than
self liable TO arrest at any moment, a.
ward of the United states Government, ab-
sent without cause IRON the I" reservation ap-
pointed for her trbe-sitting at her win
dow, looking out on the hurrying city crowds
and thinking. not Of the gayety, the beauty. the
novelty of the spectacle, bu simply, all peo-
pie going, coming, they like taat is being freeP
snail We give To this long wronged race the " lib
erty " tor which they ask-the liberty OF law y
Nesc- York, Dec. q. 1879. HE.