The Mineral argus., 1885-07-23
The Indian Problem.
PRESIDENTS OFFICE BOARD OF STOCK
COMMISSIONERS Fort MAGINNis, :
Iuly 18th, 1885. y

July l4t1, 1905.
ErIroHs MINERAL ARGUS - have
lust received information that OH the
9th inst. nine Indians having 26 or 81
horses. were seen on the sonth bank
of the Missouri river opposite Cow
Island. This is a favorite crossing
OF THEN stealing parties, and no doubt
the horses seen were stolen somewhere
south of the river and were on their
way home to some Of the agencies,
where Indians are fed and clothed at
Government expense and yet allowed
to leave their vast reservations at will,
for the purpose OF stealing the horses
OF the settlers, and also while engaged
in this laudable industry, Of killing
lat COW or steer, every other day, from
which they take only a few pounds of
meat, as it is easier for lazy Indian
to XII fresh one every day than to
injure his delicate Government fat
tened and clothed constitution, by
carrying much meat with him.
II the same vicinity was seen where
eigh; moccasin tracks and two horses
had recently passed coming south,
which indicates that another party of
ten Indians are now among Us for the
express and we'll known purpose of
stealing our horses to replace those
that they have garnbled of or rode
10 death.
Under the present system OF Indian
management it is idle for us to hope
ior relief from wrongs that wouid make
Henry Ward Beecher swear worse
,hia Il trooper.
Let me review this delectable sys-
TEN little and let the light of day ir.
upon lis rottenness, which both smells
and cries to heaven for reform.
First. the Government sets apart tor
each trbc enough of the choicest land
TO make State, larger in fact, than
raany Of the older states Of TIC Union
upon which the white man in search
iot home. is forbidden to put his
100, or 10 even let his domestic ami.
mails feed upon the glasses which,
there grow up and go To decay, with
out benefit To 4 single soul /; but mari
you. the indian VINO makes no list
under heaven OF nine tenths of thl.
vast domain, Is ALLOWED 70 LEAVE II
Ar HIS owN SWEET WILL, and stay OF
il as long as he pleases. and this ht
docs for the well known purpose o
stealing the poor laborins white man!
horses, eating his cattle and Robin.
his cabin of anything that the aristo
cratic. idle. Indian may deem wortl
carrying away 1t may be asked VIII,
do We not arres, ana punish thes,
marauders. To- which answer It j
always Necessary To catch your rabbi
before you cat it, or your horse thlc
: before you kill HIM. Time has II,
valu. to al Indian. and he has n,
business that will suffer from his ab
sence or neglect. He vii lie con
ceaei in the timber and brush on on
mountains OF along the streams, 10
weeks or months, i. necessary, sub
.s;stias OF cattle killed as his want
may require His ideal Of goo'
living is no, 4 lofty one, and he wi
= submit To severe prlvalion If he think
Q he can finally secure horse or two
1t last he secures his prey and b
= the time the unfortunate victim dis
covers his loss the thief is fifty, slxt,
or seventy miles away, for these Ind
an thieves are desperate riders all, an
their flight is always up TO the limit {
!, the speed and endurance of the horse
stolen. and in this country. unless
considerable number OF horses al
taken it is extremely difficult to fin
!. and if found, to follow the trail, an
the loser is confronted with the que
ton OF which direction did they 90
,; for We are surrounded by Indian re.
:. ervations. which means ., thieves.
: found and followed, the trail of cours'
leads to some reservation, and here
new trouble is encountered, for /
Is strictly forbidden to inter upon tn
poor Indians i:ttie pi.ch Of lan'
y l-sUALiN ABOUT ONE HUNDRED Bl rw
:, HUNDrD MILES sQu,RE) without fir
\ obtaining the consent OF resides
aitocrat known as an Indian Agent