Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1894-02-23
UNCLE NETE THLKS.

UNCLE NETE THLKS.
He Had Read Campbeil'e Inter
view and Tells What He
t .s. Thinks OF It..
| We happened to run across n.
Richardson after the appearance Of
Hon. w. M. Campbell, of the Indial
Commission, whose interview was,
contained in our daily issue of tn.
/ 18th. inst, and inquired of him if hi
had noticed what Mr.. Campbell had
tosay about the removal of the Milk
Lacs Indians. He said he sa W it, and
also saw and shook hands with the
commissioner, but said nothing to
him about Indian matters, as he had
fully satisfied himself by written cor
| respondence that the present as well
as the last administration, SO far as
the Mile Laos Indians are concerned.
intend to to go back on their most
solemn obligation, by withholding
from. them the emoneypaymentst that.
are legally and righ fully due them,
and by giving the farm lands that
were promised to them, away to
white settlers and force them away
from their old homes at Mile Lacs,
where if left alone they could live
comfortably and happy. Many
years ago, they in writing made me
their attorney and legal adviser. l
was present at the treaty OF 1889, at
their request. When asked by them
ii thought the government would
do as it promised, and let them re-
main on the Mile Laos reservation
and take all the farm lands in sew
crafty. My answer was that l was
very sure that their Great Father
would not lie to them; and that they
might RELY upon his promises, and
that they would be carried out in
perfectly good faith. Upon giving
them such assurance they all signed
the treaty. Had l advised them
otherwise my opinion is that not one
of them would have signedit. When
contemplate the situation today |
feel Inundated. l had flattered my
self that was a citizen of the best
government on earth, and it may be
in some respects, but it's treach-
erous and inhuman condnct
toward the loyal Mile Lacs
Indians, will blacken it's fair name
in the eyes Of all fair-minded persons
for all time. Mr.. Campbell seems to
think that the whites who are try
ing to get hold of the Mile Lacs In
dian lands entertain spirit of re-
venge toward some of the Little
Falls people and myself in particular.
Those fellows SO far haye reason to
be very grateful towards us for the
fact that their CORY scalps were not
long since dangling from the belt CT
an outraged Indian whose home they
had invaded and robbed him Of. My
advice to these Indians has always
been, when they have told me about
the white man taking their garden
spots, sugar bushes anu hay irUm
them, that they should meekly sub
nit to any indignity that the whites
saw fit to heap upon them. That l
felt confident that their wrongs
would be righted in time, that for
them to fight for thesr rights would
make. a bad matter worse. MygOod
advice to the Indians it seems is not
appreciated up in that country by
those whose scalps are still in place.
have always told the Indians
that they had Il legal right to remain
at Mile Laos, that the farm land
surely belonged to them, that if they
could hold on until we could get an
honest administration they would
get their rights. l had some hope
that the Democrats would do right
by them, but in that l was disap-
pointed. fear that they can't hang
on until the Populist party gets in
power so as to test their honesty
They have petitioned this admins
tration to allow them to employ an
attorney, and to allow them to have
their rights tested in court. But
such right will not be granted by
this administratiO and one OF the
excuses maze by this administratio ton
for not paying the Mile Lacs the
money that is due them is, that they
may use some of it in employing at
torneys SO as to try and secure their
rights through the courts. Their
right to remain on the reservation
still remains and by staying there
they may yet get what belongs to
them. Those who have gone to
White Earth don't report it as a
land flowing with milk and honey
They feed them there a little while
and then let them go hungry. There
are many things I should like the
public to know about this Mile Lac
business but will not encroach upor
your time further except to say that
Mr.. Campbell can well afford to re-
commend that the poor Mile
Lacs shall not get dollar of theil
money while he gets $40 a day anG
. expenses out Of the Indians and
Judge his visit at this place was to
, look more after political than Indiar
, matters.
. Well Hardly.
On Sunday A. r Davidson re