The daily gazette., 1880-04-14
FIRST EDITION
The Poor Poncas.
A RECITAL on INDIAN WRONGS MINUS
INDIAN oUTRAeEs-A CRUSH AT
CENTRAL CHURCH. Ky.

CENTRAL CHURCH. .u ls.
The way people fiocked to Central
Presbyterian Church, last night, was
really wonderful, and the spacious
auditorium Of that large edifice was
entirely inadequate to accommodate
those who came to gain admittance.
All the extra chairs and benches that
could be availed of were thrust into
the aisles, but still the people came
and stood in crowds around the doors,
while many went away without even
getting in sight of the pulpit. $500.
The cause of this unusual gathering
was the announcement that the Indian
question, in its various bearings,
would be discussed by Mr.. t. III. TIb-
bles, of Omaha, Nebraska, and
'Bright Eyes," veritabls maiden of
the Omaha tribe. Mr.. Tibbles was
formerly associate editor of the Omaha
Herald, but the arrest and imprison-
ment in March, 1878, of party of
Poncas Indians, for leaving their
reservation in Indian Territory, caused
him to turn his special attention to the
Indian question. Mr.. Tibbles visited
the poor captives, and becoming inter
ested In their statements, at the same
time possessing fair knowledge, of
Indian affairs, and the workings of In-
dian agencies and agents, he deter
mined To become a sort Of missionary
for the evangelization of the white
race, SO far as their treatment of the
Indians was concerned. .
bright Eyes, has very little of the
Indian in her general appearance. Her
features are plain, her complexion
light, but clear, though her eyes and
hair are very dark. She was arrayed
in the most approved civilized costume,
with a bright flower in the trimmings
of her spring hat. "Bright Eyes" had
the advantage of a thorough educa-
tioral course at school in Elizabeth,
N. j., and subsequently taught the
young Indian ideas on the Omaha
reservation. She has pronounced
views and speaks quite fiuently.
The exercises opened with a prayer
by Rev. j. Howard Nixon, pastor of the
churcL, who Lfterx ards introduced Mr.
| Tibblts. That gentleman plunged at
once into the argument that while peo-
| pie admit the Indians have been subj CT
ed 70 gross wrongs and outrages, they
quiet their conscience with the belief
that "honors are easy" on the score Of
The barbarous nature of the Indians and
the crimes they have been gui ty OF.
Mr.. Tibbles then practically glanced at
the causes which, in bis opinion, induc-
ed the Indians at times to defy law and
humanity and commit such terrible
atrocities. He asked the people to put
themselves in the indians place, penDed
up In reservation and crowded on
every side by the advancing march OF a
| white civilization, Their wives and
children starving, and yet their hunting
grounds prescribed within the narrow
limits Of their reservation, and they
liable to arrest and imprisOi ment IL they
stepped foot beyond the legal bounds.
Imposed upon by rascally Indian agents
and swiLdled by an imbecile policy on
the part Of the government that afforded
them neither satisfaction or protection.
Mr.. Tibbles desired to know If the
white people would not grow restive
under such treatment aud feel that they
had right tn rebel. .r- .s
The speaker next proceeded to recite
some of the base wrongs to which he
claimed the Indians in general, and
the Poncas in particular, had been sub
jected. The Poncas, he said, were a
peaceful tribe content to have perma-
nent abiding place. Their reservation
was located in Nebraska and Dakota,
extending northward from the forks of
the Missouri and Niobrara rivers.
Here they have resided for years, and
their right to the occupancy of this
territory had been confirmed by three
Government treaties. and finally, in
order to make themselves secure intheir
possession, by fee simple purchase
from the Government. And yet the
rights of property in an Indian have
never been respected.
The peculiar laws in relation to the
Indian were next considered. lie II
not recognized as person in law, and
has no means of redress when he ID
outraged or robbed of his property,
BY the provisions of the Government
statutes any pers OH not a licensed Gov
ernment trader, is prohibited from
selling to or buying from an Indian,
under penalty of $500 fine and siz
months Imprisonment This, the
speaker claimed, placed the Indians al
the mercy of the agents, and from his
remarks it was evident that his opinion
of the agents was not of the highest
kind. They paid the Indians 40 cent
a bushel for their wheat, while Other
parties were willing to pay 80 cents OF
$1.00. And this principle was in
volved in all business transactions witt
the Indians. To put it plainly. the
speaker said, the Indians were being
robbed, shamelessly robbed. And moi
because they were ignorant or less
cunning than the white opponent, but
but because the laws of the Govern
ment gave them no protection from thu
schemIng rascals who sought to rol
them.
The speaker next referred to thu
, general Indian policy of the Govern
ment, and claimed the great reason o
! its failure was because it did not throw
! the mantle of protection around tn,
! Indian and give him at least a tithe o
the protection afforded the white man
r In fact the whole idea of the Cover n
4 ment Indian policy seemed to be tina
the Indian had no rights white maj
q was bound to respect.
! Mr.. Tibbles said the Poncas wer
!, driven from the lands they had bough
q and paid for and forced, despite thei
! earnest protsstations to 60 to the In
i dian Territory. Here the land wa
\ poor, unhealthy and unproductive, ant
here the Chevennes Nez Perces AN