Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-01
BRYoN NJ. SMITH.

The Champion of D fling Goose aud the
Sand Lake Grab Issues Another Mani.
festo I'm Crude Enslish.-He Dilates upon
the Wrongs ofIAis Beloved Red Men.
M1NNEAPoL,s, MINI, Oct. 26, 1872
To the Press and Dakotian. The editorial
comments, in your daily of the 18th inst,
relative to my position in connection with
the Indians of the James RIVER valley does
not surprise me at all, for l do not, with
the present prejudical condition Of The pub
lie mind, expect any discussion of the In.
dian question to be conducted with any de-
gree Of fairness. In my letter of the 9TH, it
was not my intention to defend myself
%agains, any just criticism for the part I have
taken in defense of Chief Maya Boda
(more correctly translated Scattered Goose)
and band, but to place myself right and not
be misunderstood from the misrcpresenta-
tons that are continuously circulated. If
you had read my letter Alright, you would
have noticed that 1 have been Just as earn
est in my efforts to see justice done the set
tiers as we'll as the Indians. From first to
last, have urged this point. that the In
dams who have made their homes should be
protected in them, and the same with the
whites. II this plan could be carried out,
only those who are occupying Indian homes
would suffer, as they justly ought to. The
idea Of being instrumental in any policy of
driving the whites from their homes, upon
which they have made the first improve
ments, has been the farthcrest from my
mind. The lakewood settlers know this we'll.
and they also know the part have taken in
counseling the Indians to do no act of vio-
lence, and to their credit they have not,
your statements to the contrary notwith-
standing. 1t is possible you may believe
all these charges of attacking government
surveying parties, &C., but if SO, you are
wrongly informed. 1t is not true, as I
firmly believe. I know we'll the circum.
stances from which all these reports started,
and in my faithful efforts to get at the truth,
find that not in a single instance have any
member Of Scattered Goose's band commit.
ted the acts charged against them. 1t il
one Of the conditions that 1 have espoused
the cause Of these Indians, that if they de.
viate in the least in their efforts to repos.
sess their homes from a peaceful
and legal manner of dong Il
my efforts in their behalf would
at once cease. I have no fear that they will
step aside from their their peaceful habits
and intentions, SO long as there is the leas
shadow Of hope of their obtaining thei,
rights, and as long as I am convinced o
this, l would as soon cut my right hand OF
as not to take up in their defense, feeble q
my efforts may be. Before we talk to
loudly O barbarism it would be we'll for u
to consider a little the merits OF GU
claims to civilization. Article 9Th Of tn
treaty, proclaimed March 18th 1866. say
to these Indiana, "should any individual q
I individuals or portion of the Yanktonaj
bond of Dakota or Sion
Indians represented in council, desire to Il
cate permanently upon any land claimed /
said band for the purpose Of agricultural {
:. similar pursuits it is hereby agreed by II
parties to this treaty. that such individua
a shall be projected in such location again
any annoyance or molestation on the "a
of the whites, etc. etc"