New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-08-07
READY FOR FAILURE.
The Indian Office Prepared for the
Failure of the Sioux Commits
siOn's Work.
Passengers in st. Paul Coach Re-
lieved of Valuables by Masked
Robbers.

leVed OF Valuables by Masked
Robbers.
WASHINGTON Aug. 1.-The Indian Office is
fully prepared for the failure of the nego-
tiation with the Sioux for the opening of the
great Dakota reservation. The new COM
missioner, who is Rhode Island man and
particularly green in Indian affairs, has little
to say about the negotiation, having received
no information from the commission since it
went out, and possessing no other data for
forming Judgment But experienced Off
Gals, interpreting the news that comes from
the agencies in the light of their knowledge
of Indian character and habits, do not
think that the opposition to the
treaty developed at the less civilized
agencies will be overcome. The first success
at Rosebud was neutralized by the failure at
Pine Ridge and all that was gained at the
lower river agencies threatens to be lost at
Standing Rock The Indian Office people
have no confidence in the motives and inten-
tions of the leading chiefs at Standing Rock.
The original tribal relations are more COM
pletely maintained and the influence of the
chiefs is greater at Standing Rock than at
any Of tho southern agencies. Much the
same condition of things still subssts there
that existed at Rosebud before the power of
Spotted Tail was broken, and that is still
found to a degree at Pine Ridge There may
be no single chief at Sta ding Rock who has
the same power and influence with mis- tribe
as Red Cloud, but the whole body of chiefs,
including Sitting Bull, Gall and John Grass,
are more potent in the affairs of the tribes
than the head men of any other agency.
Knowing this and remembering the bitter
opposition OF these chiefs to the sale of any
reservation lands last year the Indian Office
has little confidence that the requisite num-
Der of signatures yet required to make up
three-fourths Of the whole will be obtained
at Standing Rock.
The opinion already begins to be firmly
expressed by persons Interested in these
matters in Washington, that only one course
will remain for the governments after a
second refusal by the Sioux to negotiate for
the opening of their reservation. Congress,
of course, has power to declare the reserva-
tion, or such part Of it as is not needed to
meet the requirements of the land in severalty
act, open to settlement and part of the
public domain It is believed here, even by
persons who have always had the interests
of the Indians at heart, that this should be
done as soon as the legislation can be gotten
through congress. Due provision will have
to be made, of course. for the protection and
maintenance of the Indians, but it will not
be necessary to give them the
liberal terms offered in the pend
ing bill. The super1uous lands in the
reservation can be opened to settlement
under the homestead law, without the for
mality of sale, and the government can as
sumo the responsibility of compromising the
Indians, by appropriating lump sum. to be
invested for their benefit, and it's interest ex-
pended for schools and for stock and agri-
cultural implements as fast as they can be
induced TO take and work land in severalty.
There would probably be little opposition 20
such a measure in the next congress, ii the
real interests of the Indians were carefully
protected, except from selfish schemers of
the Bland type, and the sentimental cranks
who lend them responsibility.
Such simple measure as I have described
would, in the long run, be better for the In
dams than the present bill, with its cum brous
machinery for the sale of the lands, and The
loan of money to the Indians from the gov
eminent, to be repaid from the proceeds
There is clumsy fiction in this that deceives
nobody and irritates everybody. The con-
veyance Of the land is made to look to the
Indians like a sale, and to the settler like a
gift; the payment of money is construed to
look like bride to the Indian, and like a
purchase to the taxpayer. Nobody is hum
plugged, and nobody is grateful TO the gov
eminent Glad as the people of Dakota
were to get any bill, this measure is poor
makeshift. The proposed substitute, suppos-
ing the pending measure to be rejected, will
be vastly more just and fair to the settlers
who shall enter upon the reservation
lands. Too little has been said,
in the eagerness of the people to
get these South Dakota lands open in some
way, OF the gross unfairness of making the
settler pay ST.. % an acre for lands west of
the Missouri river when those east of that
stream have been acqu Tired under the home
stead law for nothing but an entry fee The
government should bear the expense of ex-
singuishing Indian title, not saddle it on the
settler. This is what was done in the open
ing of Oklahoma. The government bonpht
the Indian title to the lands for two or three
million dollars and threw it open to settle
ment under the homestead law. This is
what ought to be done in Dakota The gov
eminent should extinguish the Indian title
to the superfluous lands in the reservation at
its own cost and then throw them open to
the settler.
This result can probably be brought about
1HS1uO AcAO COi1SIeSS, LII CiiSe UuG present. ne
gotiations fail If it can. such failure will
be blessing in disguise to the people of
Dakota and to the home seekers of the coun-
try. The Indians will never again get as
good terms as are offered to them now. The
people will get vastly better Dakota will
stand in a new position in the next congress.
with four senator's and three representa-
tives, instead of one voteless delegate.
and half dozen more new members
from the Northwest to back her. Instead OF
being glad to take what she can get. Dakota
will be apt to get what she wants, so long as
she only wants what is reasonable and vi hat
other communities have had. IF congress is
disposed to be just to the people in the mat
ter of opening this reservation, there is not
likely to be much resistance fron the Indian
Office, which has lost patience with the
arrogance, Incidence and greed of the Sioux,
and thinks it is time the government stopped
them like other Indians, who are made TO dc
what is good for themselves and the public