Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-04-20

AAAoAsAf o. CoutoS ke1 year, 1AVsU.
Office on Third Street, Press and Dakotaian
block.
BOWEN & KINGsBURY, Propts,
It is with no small degree of astonish.
ment that the western public contom-
plates the proclamation of President
Cleveland, returning to its previous wild
and neglected condition the lands Of the
SO called Winnebsgo and Grow Creek
reservations in central south Dakota.
The case is one which has no parallel.
By presidential proclamation white set
tiers were invited to occupy these lands
and as soon as they have accepted the
invitation they are ordered to quit their
possessions. This involves tho sacrifice
of most Of their improvements. The
claims taken upon these reservations
represent as many as three thousand
people who will be seriously affected by
the resembling order. Most of these
claimants possessed small means, and all
they had was invested in the construc.
ton of homes which they had every
reason to believe would pass to them by
unquestioned title as soon as they had
complied with the laws governing the
entry Of the public domain. In some
instances buildings costing as much as
five hundred dollars have been erected
and there is hardly a settler who has
spent less than q hundred. Their ex.
penditures were limited only to the
amount of available cash possessed by
each claimant. So they have exercised
good faith and exhibited good intentions
in occupying the lands. The sacrifice
imposed upon them Is one which throws
them penniless upon the world.
There is probability that
these men will be reimbursed
finally for their outlay, but justice OF
this nature is always slow and pending
the settlement of their claims they must
suffer. A convention of the squstters
upon the reservation is to be held this
week and conclusion reached regard
ing future action. It is now supposed
that the court of claims will be appealed
to. Should that tribunal decide to make
good the losses an appropriation bill
must pass congress and become Law
before the money expended can be re.
stored to them. This is slow process
and there is no certainty as to the fina,
decision.
There is an intention on the part o
some of the settlers on these lands tc
appeal to congress to verify their right
to the soil they have taken under the
homestead, pre-emption and timber cul
ture acts. If this plan is generally fol
lowed out strong pressure can b
brought to bear in the pres entation O
the case.
| The president, in his proclamation
says the occupation of these lands BY
white settlers would occasion much dis
tress and suffering among the Indian
and tend to retard their civilization an,
engender distrust as to the good inten
tions of the government towards its re,
wards. Upon these points the presiden
has been misled by parties who coul
have no other motive than personal de
sign or mistaken philanthropy. The In
dams have never occupied the lands an
never will. The five townships reserve
for them under the Arthur proclamatlo
contain greater area than can be utl
lied by the eight hundred Indians VII
draw rations at the agency. Sufferin
and distress is something unknow
among the fat, warmly clothed, we'll fe
and comfortably housed Yanktonai
They are possessed of everything whic
. can contribute to the comfort of rud
people and many homesteader upo
the.prairies of Dakota would thrive and b
happy on half theirp capita allowanc.
l Instead of retarding their civilizatio
q the occupancy of these lands would al
materially in their progress towards tina
desirable condition. In the language Q
the Indians themselves, repeated owe
and over again: I'VE are glad the res
'ervation has been opened. We wan
white neighb,rs to show us how t
farm and to buy our cattle and ou
grain. We want railroads and th
whites will bring them." These wer
the assertions Of the Indians themselve
when President Arthur declared th.
lands subject to settlement. Distrus
of the good intentions Of the governmen
toward its wards could not be engendere,
by the opening of this reservation, be
cause the Yanktonais have never lai
5 claim to it, do not covet it an
4 4 will not use it. There is no fic
. tion IN this presentation of th
case. It comes to us from the Indian
themselves and from their agent. 1t +,
based upon personal knowledge of til
situation through long familiarity wit
4 the wishes and ambitions of the Indian
who live at Grow Creek and thereabout
. The settlement of this matter doe
,, not augur we'll for the future of the ives
It is notice that the policy of the al
ministration will not be one
active encouragement to thot
interested in the development Of til
dormant resources of this section OF Il
great domain. It is death blow to Il
hope that the government would see