St. Paul daily globe., 1888-08-09
THE SIOUX COMPLICATION.

Ine obstinate course pursued by the
Sioux Indians at the Standing Rock
conference adds one more complication
in the way of solving the Indian prob
lem. The very reasonable proposition
submitted by the government has been
treated with contempt, and there seems
to be no possible method left by which
the Sioux nation can be induced to
abandon its tribal relations and to fall
into line with the policy adopted by the
government for permanent settlement
of the Indian question. The refusal of
the Sioux to sign the treaty submitted
to them at the Standing Rock confer
ence devolves upon the government
the responsibility of inaugurating a
new policy toward those fool-hardy In
dians, who fail to realize that they are
an obstacle in the way of an advancing
civilization. which will suffer 10 check
to its onward course. The demands of
our civilization require an immediate
Obliteration of Indian tribal relations,
for the time has come when all the in
habitantS of this great country must be
brought into the conditions of common
citizenship.
The Sioux Indians have no use for
the vast area of valuable land included
i'll their reservation. 1t is section of
country 80 miles long by 100 miles wide,
and three times more than could pos
Sibly be utilized by the Indians for
farming or grazing purposes. Neither is
1t of any value to them as a hunting
ground, for the game has been driven
out long ago. Therefore there can be
no excuse for the Indians pursuing the
dog in the manger policy of holding
territory that is not needed by them and
Withholding it from the uses of a civil
ization which requires its occupa-
ton by white settlement. Railroads are
willing to extend their lines through
the Sioux country, white settlers are
pressing forward to occupy it, the de-
mandS of commerce require that this
obstacle shall be removed from its path
way, and so it is every consideration
lmpels the government to acquire pos
session of it.
Shall the purposes of great govern
ment be thwarted by a few bloody
handed Indian chiefs like GALL and
SITTING BULL, who are actuated solely
by motive of revenge and feeling of
vindictiyeneSS. The crisis which the
Sioux Indians have precipitated should
not be met by the government in spirit
OF boobyish Sentimentality. The occasion
is one which demands the most vigorous
measures, and the issue should be
dealt with in purely practical and busi-
ness-like way. The phase of the Indian
problem presented by the results of the
Standing Rock conference is disease
which requires heroic treatment.
Just what the commissioners will rec
Ommend in their report, Or what course
the president will pursue in acting upon
the report, is beyond our ken. But we
do know that congress should promptly
empower the executive department to
take all the steps that are necessary to
establish civilization on every acre of
American territory, even if it be-
comes necessary in doing it to wipe
the Indians from the face of
the earth. We do not believe that it
will ever be necessary to adopt so harsh
policy, but if the necessity exists. then
SITTING BULL should be made to under
stand that the government of the United
States is not to be trified with. The
government has dealt fairly with the
Sioux and has made them square
proposition. which they have spurned.
Now let the government couple might
with right and proceed to such settle
ment of the Indian question as comports
with the requirements of our progress
sive civilization, without regard to
whether it is pleasing or displeasing to
the murderers of CUSTER and his brave
troODerS