Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-19

very much Improved, both as to their out.
ward circumstances and their feelings. Ey.
cry effort was made and large sums Of money
were expended to provide for their comfort,
and they received q sawmill, timber and all
appliances for building houses, as we'll as an
abundant supply Of cattle and agricultural
implements, and then entered upon the
work with q good deal of determination and
are undoubtedly succeeding as we'll as any
Indians under the most favorable circum-
stances. 1t is true that during the first four
months of their residence in the Indian
Territory they lost a large number by death,
which is inevitable in all cases of removal
of northern Indians to q southern latitude.
They have, however, been in the Indian
Territory long enough to became acclima.ed,
their sanitary condition is vastly improved
aud henceforward they may expect
to have as good health as they
would in any other location. During my
visit to the agency above referred to l as
certained that Standing Bear was dissatisfied,
but that he was the only one among the
chiefs who showed = bad spirit. He was
constantly grumbling and held aloof from
the other chiefs, and seemed full of discon-
tent, which he took no pains to conceal,
while the other Poncas were at work. The
agent informed me that he expected that
Standing Bear would leave the agency at
the first favorable opportunity. 1t was not
thought expedient at that time to put him
in confinement, as one chief out of ten or
twelve was hardly of sufficient importance
to deal with in that manner. Soon after
ward he made his escape and at the present
time, as may be judged from current reports,
endeavors to attract public sympathy BY
grossly incorporating the circumstances
of the case.
The removal o%fnorthern Indians to the In
dian territory was probably not good policy,
but it was done in pursuance of laws enact
ed before the present administration came
into power. There is no law at present for
moving these Indians back to their old re.
%servation or to any other place.
If the reservation system is to be
maintained, discontinued and restless, or
mischievous Indians CAMPO be per-
mitted to leave reservations at will,
and 60 wherever they please. If this
were permitted the..most necessary discip-
line of the reservations would be entirely
broken up, all authority over the Indians
would cease, and In q short time the west
ern country would swarm with rowing and
lawless bands Of Indians. spreading q spirit
Of uneasiness and restlessness even
among those Indians who are now at work
and doing we'll. The government should
be, and undoubtedly Is, willing to redress
all their real grievances as far IS they can be
redressed, bu: it must, in my opinion, be
done in such q way as not to subvert all
control over the Indians or to put all ar
rangements made in pursuance of law and
with large expenses Of money at the mercy
of the caprice of mischevious individuals OF
bands among the Indian tribes.
The task of transforming the. nomadic
habits of Indians into habits of permanent
settlement and steady and self.supporting
work is . very difficult one at best, requir.
ing the Introduction and maintenance oil
certain rules of discipline which cannot be
enforced in every case without sometimes
producing individual hardship, and which
cannot be abandoned without detriment to
the best interests of the large majority OF
our Indian wards. I have the honor to be,
sir, very respectfully, your obedient ser.
want. e. A. HAYT, Commissioner.