Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1888-07-28
STILL S0JOURNING.
Sitting Bull Making Medicine
and Gaul Calling Uncle
Sam.
Reception rendered the 22nd In
fantry a Grand Success-Mob
Law at Forsyth.
UNCLE SANS WARDS.


The following editorial article from
the Pioneer Press IL stinging arrsigp-
meut of the government policy of
maintaining worthless Indians in
idleness on reservations, and Is partic-
ularl, applicable to the situation In
Montana where growth and settlement
is in so many localities retarded by the
presence Of these aboi .g;ral loafers,
whose rights are superior to any intel
ligent white citizens.
The initial experience of the COM
missioners appointed 10 secure the sly
natures Of the Sioux Indians TO the
treaty by which the great reservation
is to be opened, bring to light some
more Of the fruits of the seDseless poi
icy which the government has always
followed in dealing with the native
tribes. We are now about to reap an
other harvest sprung from the "ward-
ship theory. Here Is an act of con-
gress passed after many years of dis
cussion, and at least three years OF
hard work on the part of our ablest
Representatives, in framing its terms.
As 10 stands, no one denies that IL is OF
great moment to the public, and that
it confers the greatest possible benefit
upoi the Indians themselves. II has
been examined by the ablest men OF
those associations organized expressly
TO defend the interest OF the Indian
against the rapacity of white men,
and it has their unqualified approval.
1t would not be easy to find any other
piece ofIecent legislation SO dilligent-
ly perfected and so generally approved
as the bill for opening the Sioux reser.
walton.
Now comes the ridiculous part Of IL.
Under the system that we have fol.
lowed in our relation with the Indian,
a system provocative in the past Of
Iucslculable bloodshed and wrong,
this bill caa become effective only by
consent OF the so,called Sioux nation.
The future OF the great territory oi
Dakota, the lal ors of Senator DAVE es
and his equally able colleagues in the
house, the opinions of those connected
with the administration of Indian
affairs and the approval Of the exeeu'
tive, count for nothing until the In
dian has been brought to the same
way of thinking. From all appear.
ances that will be something Of task
The Sioux do not really propose to
compel the abandonment of the treaty
But the Indian has learned something
in his DEALINGS with the government.
He has plenty Of white advisers, ard
they are net slow to instruct him IN
the advantage that be oDgs to him in
theoretically independent and
sovereign power. Whatever may he
offered to him il Il his policy to de.
mand more. He has been cheated
enough, heaven knows. And now
though the government were 10 pro-
pose TO actually purchase his land at 4
price higher than IL could bring aftei
lapse Of ten years, he would stand
out in refusal until he might discoy o.
whether he could get something let
ter. The burlesque features Of thi'
negotiation between the United States
on one band and lot Of Sayage'
OIL the other is brought out clearly In
the great objection which the Sioux
offer to the treaty. They ore not sat
isfied 10 be curtailed 10 the matter oi
hunting grounds; and sitting Bull
especially, does not approve. Th!i
willy old barbarin, responsible for ont
OF the most horrible massdcres in al
our Indian wars, is OF on an expedi
/ tlOll, Dll lut HsShA5 VI NhS iNpP' "
the republic must wait to see II the.
can overcome the objections of a saw
age and a murderer before the will O
the people can take effect,
The maintenance of this flctitiou
relation Of assumed equality betweel
the nation AID its "wards" wrough
nothing but ruin aud death in the lon
years when the Indians were still in
position 10 resort to arms. Then
was the instrument by which land'
m ght he stolen in peace, and TN
thieves be enabled to cover their track
by melting an indian war. Now tina
the last hostiles are subdued, II stand'
as a stumbling block in the way oide
Weeping a strong, sensible equitable
Indian policy. II always operate
against the weaLer or the more reason
able psIty. ia community wishes T.
build M ailroad nefoss the farm Of tn
most law abiding citizen, u assume
the authority to do 40, paying him jus
oompensatlon. Iisuch road Is to b