The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1918-04-12
Conference To Be
At Grow Greek

History may yet do justice to
the Sioux Indians, with whose
name is coupled, and almost in
yariably in a reprehensible way,
the annihilation of Clusters COM
mand. 1t has come to be eener-
ally assumed that the Sioux pro-
voked the trouble which eventu-
ally led to that episode, that they
were the aeeresSorS, and that, OF
course, they were in the wrong.
Custer himself did not blame the
Sioux for defending the last rem
nant of their once great inherit |
ance. FIe did not like the quar-
rel in which he was forced to
take part. His feelings were
shared very largely by Sheridan,
MERIT, Crook, Miles, Terry and
other military officers connected,
directly or indirectly, with Rose
bud, Powder River, Little Big |
Horn and Tongue River expedi-
tons, says the Christian Science
Monitor.
As has been stated in the news !
columns of this paper, the Sioux
Indians have for several years,
been attempting to arrange with
the Government for conference
on their claim for compensation
for the Black Hills country. In
support of this claim the Indians
alleee that when the Government
allowed the miners to enter that
section, in 1876, and to take it
from the Sioux reservation, the
action was without compenSa-
ton and without their consent
In this they are putting their case
very mildly. The action was
without excuse, without warrant,
without the shadow of justice.
The facts are easily accessible.
AS result of numerous a9gres-
sion by the whites. and in con-
formity with various one-sided
treaties, or settlements,the SiouxS
were finally forced into the Da-
kotas, where they were assigned
a reservation which included the
Black Hills. This was IN 1868.
Before the middle of the next de-
cade, miners and adventures had
begun an invasion of the Black
Hills, where gold had been dis
covered by some trespassine pros
pectors. The Indians protested
to the Government, but were at
forded neither redress nor pro-
lection. The miners and their
followers continue to pour in.
Collisions between white and red
men became frequent Then
some white men were shot. This
act called for military interven-
ton not on the side of the Indians
but on the side of the whites. The
Sioux, a warlike tribe, under com
mand of able chiefs, with Sitting
Bull at their head resisted. Final
" Custer was placed in charge
of an expedition for the purpose
of destroying the Sioux, but was
itself DESTROYED. The whole mil
itary power of the United States
was, immediately following this
disaster, brought into reauisition,
with the avowed purpose of
''wipine out Sitting Bull and his
warriors. That chieftain, how
ever, found sanctuary for his
forces in Canada. Time assuae-
ed bitterness, and the Sioux re-
turned to their own country.
Some of their descendants are
now fighting with the Allies in
France. But their lands have not
been restored. nor have the In
dians ever received compensa,
ton for them. Deadwood and
some of the richest mining prop,
erty in the country are situated
within the Black Hills.
After forty years, the Govern
ment has given the first real sign
of recognizing the Si:ux claims
by granting permission to all the
Sioux bands to send representa-