Omaha daily bee., 1889-07-20
PROGRESS WITH THE INDIANS.

IFOtHESS WITH THE INDIANS.
The success OF the negotiations for
opening the Sioux reservation is not
yet assured, but the outlook is not al
together unfavorable. On Thursday
the commission encountered, at the
Cheyenne river agency. the first threat
of violence that has been offered it,
and although the incident was confined
to couple of young bucks who may
have acted in a spirit of bravado simply
and to gain notoriety, it was, neverthe-
less, suggestive OF strong undercur-
rent OF hostility to the proposed ar
rangement. The value Of General
Crook as member of the commission
was again conspicuously demonstrated
by this occurrence. He told the Indians
in forcible terms that no Interference
in any way with the signing OF the
treaty would be allowed, and that IL
there were not police enough to protect
every siguer he would bring soldiers
enough to do so. This warning was
quite sufficient to produce order, for
the Indians we'll understood what was
meunt when General Crook told them
that il soldiers were brought he would
make ii warm for them. The commits
sion has had trying experience, and
it is not surprising that it should be IN
disposed to falter with painted, ,breech-
clOuted Indians who for what
ever reason manifest n willing
ness to make trouble and ag-
gravate the difficulties of the stu-
alton by stirring up the passions of
their fellows.
There appears to be no room for
doubt that the progress of the comm is
sion would have been much more rapid
and easy, and tho prospect of a success
fui termination of the negotiations
much brighter, but for tho outside in
f1uence that has been insidiously
brought TO bear on the Indians. 1t is
not questionable that members OF the
Indian defense association have boon
active in creating and stimulating op-
position to the treaty, and with u de-
gree Of success that has greatly embar-
iassed and retarded the negotiations.
Referring to the reported meddling
of these alleged philanthropists, the
New York Herald pointedly says
"These men deserve the condemnation
of the whole country. To put straw in
the way OF the Sioux commission now is
a crime against civilization. 1t is al
most impossible to conceive of man
who pretends to have e. particle of pa
triotism in his bosom conspiring to
keep the Sioux in the thralls of super
stition and barbarism, and dwaring a
magnificent state for the sake OF a senile
and false theory that the Indian is al
wavs ruined by contact with white
men," That there are such men, how
ever, there is abundant reason to believe
from the evidences OF an adverse
outside influence which the progress of
the negotiations has disclosed. In talk
ing to the Indians at the Cheyenne
lusJration from his experience III re-
moving miners from the Black Hills
country which ought to make an impress
sion on the more intelligent Indians.
LAS fast as took tn EN- away from one
place." said General Crook, "they came
| in at another. 1t will be the same here,
and the white man will soon be here in
numbers to crowd you out.' That is
inevitable, and those who advise the
Indians to reject a treaty which pro-
vides for them and their pos
terity permanent homes, and
proposes 10 give them every
opportunity to obtain the advantages of
civilization and enjoy the privileges
of American citizenship, are their very
worst enemies, whether they profess to
be governed by philanthroplc interest
| in the Indians or are otherwise actu-
ated. The demand for the opening of
| this great reservation will not cease
until this is accomplished, and there is
no probability that the Indians will
| ever be offered better terms than are
now proposed. The fate of the nego.
| tiat,ons cannot much longer remain in
doubt, as it Is likely the commission will
1 conclude its labors within the present
month.
A TALE OF TWO CITIES.