Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-07-17
WHITE EAGLES APPEAL,
A Petition that Re and His People Be
Killed, and Not Taken from Their
Homes.

nUEneS.
There are few persons who do n,
remember having heard with tinelip
:, cheeks the noble speech of Logan, th
,, Indian chief, describing the woes of h
people, and which the school. boy dt
, claims with ardor, but Khe-tha-ska, @
White Eagle, head chief of the Ponca:
has written a letter from the India
!, Territory on subjects similar to thos
: treated of by Logan in his impassione
, speech, which Will not only be read tc
day with interest and pity, but will be
come part of Anglo-Indian history an,
, literature. White Eagle says:
"In the spring of 1876 we were al
living quietly on our farms, when sud
denly there came to our reserve a whit,
man who professed to have come from
the President. He called us all to the
church and we went. We had seer
this man before and he appeared to be
a good friend of ours. He said to us
The President has sent me with q
message to you. He has sent me to
tell you that you must pack up and re-
move to the Indian Territory. | re.
piled: Friend, thought that when the
President desired to transact business
with a people he would consult with
them first. This has come on suddenly.
Give US time to think about it. l want
to know and see for myself what had
better do
He jumped to his feet and said
The President told me to take you to
the Indian Territory and 1 have both
hands full Of money which it will re-
quire to move you down there. When
the President says anything it must be
done. Everything is settled and it is
just the same as though you were there
already
81 answered: 4 have never broken
any Of my treaties with the govern
ment. What does the presidedt want
to take my land away from me for?
The president told me to work and |
have done it. He told me not to go on
the war-nath, even if the white man
took away my horses and cattle or kill
ed my people. promised 1 would not,
and | have performed my promise. My
people have lived and died on this land
as tar back as we can remember. Ihave
sowed wheat and planted corn, and
have performed all my promises, and
now 1t seems as though the government
was trying to drown me when it takes
my land away. The land is our own.
We do not want to part with it. | do
not think | shall let the president have
1T. L have broken no treaties and the
president has no right to take it from
me- This man arose and said: Stop
your talking. Don't say any more. |
The president has told me to remove
you as soon as got here. The presi-
dent is going to send all the Indians to
the Indian Territory. You can do
nothing. What the president has said
will be done.'"
After relating a further refusal to |
leave the land. White Eagle says the
soldiers were sent there. and this man |
sent for him again. He proceeds as fol-
lows:
81 gave the treaty to the officer and
said to him: 4 have never done any
wrong against the white people. I nave
never broken my treaties. Now, what
have l done that your soldiers stand
here all around against me? I have
done that which thought my duty.
Now, show me what have done that
you stand here with your soldiers in
arms against me. have helped your
soldiers. 1 have helped the white peo-
pie who live around hare. When
the Sioux carried off your cat
tie and horses [ have had them
returned to you if it was in
my power. Why do you stand here
armed against me? | had always be-
lieved that your government had Or
dered your soldiers to protect those
who were peaceful and to bear arms
against those who who committed
crimes. Have pity on the tears of
.hese helpless women and children.
We would rather die here ON our own
and than be forced to go. Kill us all
IN our own land now, so that in the
uture when men shall ask, Why have
hese died? it shall be answered, they ]
lied rather than be forced TO leave
heir land; they died to maintain t.eir :
lights, and perhaps there will be found
ome to pity us and say we did that
which was right
s'This man answered: IF blood is
he'd. you only will be the canse."
After describing in detail the forced {
emoval to the Indian Territory, the {
Oss by sickness of nearly one-fourth of s
he tribe and of hearing of the suit TO 5
elease Standing Bear and his party, he /
ays: t
"When 3 people lose all they hold t
ear to them the heart cries ali the t
ime. l speak now to your lawyers t
7ho have helped Standing Bear. We s
ad thought there were none to take I
ity on us and none to help us. We |
bought al the white people hated u.s. v
'ut now we have seen you take pity on '
tanding Bear when you heard his b
tory, and it may be that you knew G
othlng of cur wrongs, and therefore g
id not help us. thank you, in the r
anne of my tribe, for what you have b
one for Standing Bear, and ask you #
, 60 still further in your kindness and e
clip us regain our land. My heart k
links all the time OF our dead; I cry v
ay and night for the men, women a
nd children who have been killed by a
lis land, but when / heard of your d
indness to some of my people, 1 felt p
8 if I.might raise my head and open h
ly eyes to see the coming light / 81
ant to save the remainder of my
eople, and l look to you for help"