Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-07-16

A Petition that He and His People Be
Killed, and Not Taken from Their
Homes.

cheeks the noble speech of Logan, the
Indian chief, describing the woes of his
people, and which the school-boy de-
claims with ardor, but Khe-tha-ska, or
White Eagle, head chief of the Poncas,
has written q letter from the Indian
Territory on subjects similar to those
treated Of by Logan in his imprisoned
speech, which Will not only be read to-
day with interest and pity, but will be-
come part of Anglo-Indian history and
literature. White Eagle says:
In the spring Of 1876 we were all
living quietly on our farms, when sud
denly there came to our reserve a white
man who protested to have come from
the President. He called us all to the
church and we went. We had seen
this man before and he appeared to be
a good friend of ours. He said to us:
THE President has sent me with a
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, I 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. I want
to know and see for myself what had
better do
"He jumped to his feet and said /:
The President told me 10 take you to
the Indian Territory and 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
II answered: Il 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 NE to work and [
have done it. He told me not to 90 on
the war path, even if the white man
took away my horses and cattle or kill
ed my people. I promised [ would not,
and have performed my promise. My
people have lived and died on this land
as far back as we can remember. | have
sowed wheat and planted corn, and
have performed all my promises, and
now it 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 I shall let the president have
it. [ 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 IS l 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 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: Il have never done any
wrong against the white people. / nave
never broken my treaties. Now, what
have I done that your soldiers stand
here all around against me? [ have
done that which I thought my duty.
Now, show me what I have done that
you stand here with your soldiers ID
arms against me. l have helped your
soldiers. l have helped the white peo-
pie who live around hare. When
the Sioux carried off your cat
tie and horses 1 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 We're peaceful and to bear arms
against those who who committed
crimes. Have pity on the tears Of
these helpless women and children.
We would rather die here on our own
land than be forced to go. Kill Us all
on our own land now, SO that IN the
future when men shall ask, Why have
these died? it shall be answered, they
died rather than be forced to leave
their land; they died to maintain tkeir
rights, and perhaps there will be found
some to pity us and say we did that
which was right
''This man answered: If blood is
shed, you only will be the canse.'
After describing in detail the forced
removal to the Indian Territory, the
loss by sickness of nearly one-fourth Of
the tribe and of hearing of the suit to
release Standing Bear and his party, he
says:
s'When a people lose all they hold
dear to them the heart cries all the
time. I speak now to your lawyers
who have helped Standing Bear. We
had thought there we're none to take
pity on us and none to help us. We
thought all the white people hated US.
But now we have seen you take pity on
Standing Bear when you heard his
story, and it may be that you knew
nothing Of our wrongs, and therefore
did not help us, I thank you, III the
name of my tribe, for what you have
done for Standing Bear, and | ask you
to go still further in your kindness and
help us regain our land. My heart
thinks all the time OF our dead; [ cry
day and night for the men, women
and children who have been killed by
this land, but when [ heard OF your
kindness to some of my people, felt
as if I might raise my head and open
nv ewes to see the coming light. l