Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-09-11
THE SIOUX RESERVATION.
op,n,ons by DIR. Bland, a Wen Kno,

Opinions by DIR. Bland, "a Well Known
Crank on Indlau Matters,
Washington Critic: DIR. T, A. Bland,
the corresponding secretary OF the ma
tioDal Indian defense association, return.
ed to Washington after o ten weeks trip
through the east. He was seen by a re-
porter and questioned concerning the
prospect OF an early settlements Of the
dispute with the Sioux, concerning the
proposed treaty DIR. Bland is emphatl-
cally opposed to the treaty, which he
says, is o fraud upon the Indians. The
Dawes act proposes that the Sioux
tribes shall cede one-half of their reser-
vatlon, amounting to IL 600 600 acres,
and receive in return %, 600 COWS, 1000
bulls, agricultural Implements, seeds,
school houses and the means of educat-
ing their children.
l ether words" said DIR. Bland sit
simply provides for the extensions of
the treaty made by the government In
1868. The exchange is unfair, because
the government agreed to give the Sioux
in tie 1868 treaty, Just what it proposes
to give o in exchange for their land.
The same attempt was made in 1882. A
commission sent to the Sioux returned
with the report that they had obtained
the requisite signatures of three .fourths
OF the male adults. 1t was proven to
the senate that the report was false,
and q committee composed OF Senators
Dawes, Logan and Cameron, of Wiscon.
SID, who visited the Sioux, found that
the commission had perpetrsted stupen.
dous frauds. Senator Dawes then intro
Quoted q bill in all essentials like the
other. IL passed the senate in the
forty-nlnth congress, but failed in
the house. Last December 1t was
again introduced and advocated by
Mr.. Herbert Welsh, of the Indian
rights association. 1t was passed, but
the prospects CT inducing the Indians
to yield their best land for something
that is theirs by right now is not
promising"
"Who are at the bottom of this move
ment2"
"The st. Paul, Milwaukee & Chicago
railroad"
"What about the chances for war ?"
"There will be no war, unless it is
forced upon the Indians. Wal to them
means the loss Of their reservation. II
the soldiers arrest those who have gone
from the Pin Ridge to The Cheyenne
agency, q fight would probably result.
The Indians would not be to blame, for
they would be acting on the defensive
"What sort of an Indian is the Sioux? p
"He is the best representative OF the
genuine American Indian now on this
continent. In bravery, intelligence and
moral power he stands pre-eminent
Red CLOUD, their leader, is o man OF
great character and wise statesmanship.'
"Do You believe that the Sioux shonld
hold their land indefinitely. shut 1t of
from the whites?"
81 advised them in 1884, should the
government present an agreement to
them, that they should select the land
they we're willing to part with and sell
1t to the government. They agreed tc
do 80. This they will do shen the gov
eminent has paid them for land prevl-
ousiy sold. An honest and fair agree
ment the Indians will sign. But should
it be stated that q sufficient number Of
signatures had been obtained to the
agreement in dispute, | would know
that they had been scored by false rep
resantatIon. or not obtained at alIu