St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-02
VOICE OF THY PEOPLE.
Gasman VS.. Crow Greek settl,

Gasman VS.. Crow Creek Settlers.
1t is never a pleasant, but often pain
full, duty to undertake to correct wrong rep
reSentatiGns, and it is even more so when
they have been made by persons whose Of
fetal position gives them weight, and whose
reputation is considered to be honorable.
Still, if persons occupying such exalted sta
ton take advantage of it to injure inno-
cent, inoffensive and suffering people they
must expect equitable correction and COM
mensurate chastisement. Maj. Gasman has
made statements which are widely distant
from being truthful Few persons around
here who intimately know Maj. lGasman
believe that he would Intentionally mislead
the public mind in placing before it figures
which are not, neither can they be, substan-
tiated by facts. But whether with Or with
out wrong design he has, nevertheless, by
Endorsement and retailment borne false wit
ness against his neighbor. Maj. Gasman
says, speaking Of the settlers on the Crow
Creek and Winnebago reservations in his
recent letter to the Indian bureau: Il am
confident that there are not at the present
time 400 settlers on it, In making such a
statement Maj Gasman either tells false
hood or has been lied to.
Now for my proof, which is from a gen.
tleman in our city, who is United States
commissioner, and who has held that posi-
tion with honor for several years, who is a
disinterested party in this matter. Now what
does that exemplary officer say?. II have
taken affidavits of 214 actual settlers on
Crow Greek reservation in the immediate
vicinity of Chamberlain. Each affidavit is
corroborated by two creditable witnesses.
Said affidavits show the following, t0-wit:
how
sent a population OF 593 persons, 1926 build
ings dwellings, barns, etc. J, SO wells, ETC.,
which gives total valuation of improve
ments aggregating to $50, These affi-
dayits also show several hundred acres Of
breaking and large amount of stock, with
farm machinery etc. The lowest valuation
for any settler is $50, and the highest is
81, 400 The affidavits likewise show that
the former homes of the parties to have
principally been in the Eastern and in the
Central states" This is signed by John
It. Stearns, United States commissioner
Second judicial district of Dakota Terri
tory.
Further comment is needless, except to
say that the area named by Commissioner
Stearns only covers about one-eighth of the
land which was opened by President
Arthurs order. 1t will also be seen by
statements made under oath, and each one
confirmed by the testimony of two wit
nesses, that Maj. Gasman was equally mis-
leading in his statements that 'sthe improve
ments made by settlers outside of the addi-
ton to the town of Chamberlain (some
thirty or forty houses), the shanties built
will not average $40 or SIS in value"
Such assertions not only attest their own
falsity, but show an utter disregard for the
Divine ethics, which uniformly aver that
''Whoso oppresseth the poor reproacheth
his Maker" But notwithstanding these
unmerited insults and even the threatened
pending assault, our people cannot be
goaded to even retaliate or rebel, but will
leave their righteous cause in His hands
who says, vengeance is mine and 1 will
repay, saith the Lord" and its infamy, if
carried out, to disgrace a government which
by such a giant wrong cannot prevent a
sudden and mortal collapse, and which
future generations will never desire to see
arise from it's mathematical ruins.
WILLIAM B. AFFLECK,
Pastor M. E. Church, Chamberlain, Oak.