Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-08-09

The abandonment of the conference
at Standing Rock agency without
single signature to the agreement for
the cession OF portion OF the great
Sioux reservation in south Dakota be-
tokens the absolute failure OF the con.
gressional enactment under which the
effort was made. Without the written
consent Of three-fourths the male adults
of the Sioux nation the act is void. The
Lower Yenktonais through their chief
Mad Bear, the Upper Yanktonais
through their chief Big Head. the
Uncpapas through their chief Gall and
the Blsckfeet through their chief John
Grass have unanimously declared
against the cession and these four bands
include ell the Sioux Indians, $500 in
number, who exist upon the Standing
Rock division of the great Sioux reser-
yation. The failure there would not
neoessitate failure in the accomplish
ment OF the mission If the Indians at
the other agencies were in good temper,
though it must under any circumstances
be deemed a bad start. There are outside
the Standing Rock division about 81 900
Sioux and among these, with tolerable
unanimity, the necessary three.fourths
could be secured. The commission can
reasonably count upon friendlinebs st
Grow creek, where there are about q
thousand Indians OF the Lower Yank-
tonais family ,and at Lower Brule, where
there are fourteen hundred Lower Brule
Sioux. AT the other agencies no definite
conclusions have been made public in
favor OF the cession. Information from
Pine Ridge, where there are six thous-
and Ogalialia Sioux, and Rosebud,
where there are SIX thousand Upper
Brule Sioux, is that strong feeling OF
hostility to the proposed cession exists.
Councils have been held at both these
agencies in advance of the coming OF the
commission and ii reports are correct
the solid sentiment OF the Indiana there.
at is in opposition to any negotiations
with tks commission. From Cheyenne
agency, peopled by two Thousand Sans
Arc, Bisckfeet, Two Kettle and Mime
coniou Sioux, come conflicting efforts
and the conclusion is reached that the
Indians there are divided. But Cheyenne
agency sympathizss naturally with
Standing Rock agency and the power
of Sitting Bull extends over the red
people OF Cheyenne, as it does also over
those at Rosebud and Pine Ridge, and
Sitting Bulls influence, ss has been seen,
is against any further concessions to the
whites. So the prospect is far from
promising.
The outcome of this failure, il is hoped
in the west and half believed in the east
will he the abandonment by the genera
government Of its time honorei
and unlawful policy which
recognizes its Indian wsrds VI
a foreign power and treats with them
accordIngly. With departure from
this policy will come an end OF embarass
ing negotiations with Indians and inev
liable failures to overcome their stupid
ity and their suspicion. They are total
ly incompetent to transact business TO
themselves and If they are ever improved
In their intellectual and physical condi
tions the government must assume ant
exercise full guardianship. 1t may b
the failure we now lament will prov
the best result that could have occurred
This will certainly be she case II is in
duees the government to abandon th
: treaty making policy.