Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1891-10-09

A Trip to Mile Laos.
LITTLE FALLS, MIMI, Oct. 8, 81.
Ito The TRANSCRIPT:
After undergoing perils BY sea ant
land, I am back from the Mile Laci
reservation At the request Of Hon
D. 8. Hall, chairman Of the Minneso
ia Indian commission, ! leftshome on
the I'd inst. snd went out to the res
ervation via. Brainerd. Major
Rufie and Hon. ]. Simmons accom-.
panied us. Capt. G. 81. Beaulieu went
out two or three days ahead to no.
tifiy the Indians that the commits.
honers were going to make them q
visit. The Indians were widely scat
tered, and upon so short q notice but
few got together to meet him; only
about sixty men in all, but among
them were the principal chiefs. The
place Of meeting was near the camp
OF Chief Mo,se-ma-na, a beautiful 10.
cation on long pointextendinginto
the lake from the south east. The
commissioner gave them a pleasant
talk, and to the point. He informed
them that he had come to ask them
to remove to the White Earth reser-
walton; that he had a good place
picked out for them where they could
all be together, and that 1t was a
good country-in many respects like
their old home here-that they would
be well treated up there-that the
government would do nothing for
them where they were-that thegov-
(ernment had opened up the Mile Laos
reservation to. settlement by the
whites and thAt: already it was near
[iy.an takens that it would
be impossible for them to set it back.
Hon. Jonathan Simmons substanti-
ated Mr.. Hall and advised them
that it would be greatly for their
benefit to remove to the White Earth
reservation. The Indians replied that
they were pleased to receive a visit
from the new commissioner-that
they would consider his words and
reply on the morrow. At the ap-
pointed time the commissioner met
them and several of the chiefs spoke.
They said that it seemed strange to
them to see so much anxiety manifest
for their removal to White Earth,
and that they should rely upon the
promises made them by their Great
Father through Mr.. Rice and the
commission which made the last
treaty with them, and remain where
they were. They had all confidence
in Mr.. Rice, and when that gentleman
was there he told them to pay no at
tentiOn to any one that might come
around telling them a different story
than he had told them; and before
they touched the pen at the time oil
the treaty they required Mr.. Rice and
the other cOmmissio to raise their
right arm toward heaven and declare
In the most solemn manner that II
they would touch the pen all things
that he had promised them would be
honestly and faithfully carried out.
The promise that they might remain
ON their Mile Laos reservation and
take their allotments there was clear
and precise, and that they still believe
that the promises made to them
would be faithfully carried out by
the government, and that they did
not believe the statements made by
their distinguished visitors were true.
Mr.. Hall asked them If there was any
one in whom they could place conf
dence. They replied there was; that
they placed all confidence in the law
yer that was there from Little Falls,
(Richardson); he was an old and tried
friend to them, and had, at their re.
quest, attended all their treaties and
wrote down the promises made to
them that they might not be forgot.
ten, and they desired him to still look
after their interests.
They seemed to be firm in their de.
termination to remain at Mile Laos
and that the government would full.
fill it's promise made to them, in the
most solemn manner.
As to what the outcome will be, II
is at present impossible to decide.
Under the late ruling of the depart.
ment at Washington, throwing open
the reservation to settlement, it has
been all taken up, and still large mum.
bers Of white men are comingi in, eager
to get a piece Of it.
Yours very truly,
n. RICHARDSON.