Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-01-25

In the twenty-five years trusteeship
clause of the Dawes Indian reservation
bill waR included the strip of land be-
tween the Niobrara river and the forty
third parallel of latitude, known for the
past twenty years as Todd county, Da-
kota. By an amendment this strip was
excepted from the provisions of the
Dawes bill, under the statement that
the land was "set apart" to keep
the liquor sellers away from the Indians.
This vas not the case. The strip was
originally part of the great Sioux
reservation, with the exception of about
one township, which was known as the
Ponca Indian reservation. Some three
or four Years ago bill passed congress
making the forty-third parallel the
nc:thern boundary of Nebraska from it's
Intersection with with the Keya Paha
river to its intersection with the Mis-
souri, river, to take effect when the In
dian title thereto was extinguished.
This action transferred from the terri
tory of Dakota to the state of Nebraska
nearly all of Todd county and fraction
of an adjacent county, but the transfer
yet remains subject to the surrender of
its title by the Sioux Indians. The
amendment to the Dawes bill excepting
this strip from the twenty-five years
trusteeship clause, if adopted, will prac-
ticaily convey to the state of Nebraska
about nine hundred thousand acres OF
Sioux Indian land without the consent
of the Indians, and it is land which un-
der the natural process of legislation
would come within the boundaries of
Dakota on the extingulshment of the
Indian title 1t is valuable land, be
ing wstered on two sides by the Missouri
and Niobrara rivers, with Ponca creek
extending through its entire length. The
township (more or less) OF land within
this strip set apart long years before the
Sioux acquired title to this strip for
the sole use of the Pcnca Indians still
belongs to the Ponoas and under any
equitable settlement Of the case would
be patented to them and their heirs and
assigns forever. They were forced by
United States bayonets to leave it and
to take up residence within the Indian
territory, where the band has become
nearly extinct. Most OF the survivors
have wandered back to the nelghbor-
hood of their former home and are
living along Ponca creek and the Mo,
brara river, content to exc out an exist
ence for the privilege OF remaining
amid the scenes of their former pros
porous days. 1t Is not often
that western people plead the
cause of the Indian, but this
is an instance of white mans inhumanity
to the red man too palpable to be passed
over even by their pale face neighbors
The Ponca Indians are entitled to theil
old home or to adequate compensation
therefor, and their good behavior from
the days of Lewis & Clark down to the
present time strengthens the obligation
of the governmenG to accord fair treat.
ment to them. For some unex
planned reason the state of Ne.
braska has for years coveted thls
strip of Dakota soil, which includes
| within its boundaries the ancient home
OF the Poncas, ana has bsen quietly
legislating to obtain lit. Our wise mel
IN congress shouli remember that i
belongs-not to the government or the
territory of Dakota to give away-bu
to the Sioux and the Ponca Indians
Also that 1t is the most valuabl