| Show THE INDIAN LANDS MUST GO THE rapid increase in population of the united states caused by the foreign influx added to the natural increase creates a demand for more tillable land vast areas on the western side of the missouri river have been gobbled up by railroad corporations english companies and speculating capitalists of this and other countries besides the millions of acres thus held back from popular settlement for private interests there are the immense reservations to which various indian tribes have the title and towards which covetous eyes are continually directed the reservations are naturally coveted by white prospectors after easily acquired homesteads while the large tracts ol of land owned by the speculating companies and individuals indi visuals are held at comparatively high figures and these are likely to be rai raised sed rather than lowered with the lapse of time the indian possessions will become more and more a temptation to the superior race it is not unlikely that the oklahoma territory will yet bo organized throwing open a disputed area for settlement by the whites other encroachments encroach ments upon the red mans lands will surely follow and it will not be long before the descendants of the primal owners of the soil will have to content themselves with an ordinary white mans allowance of real estate the great sioux reservation in dakota is one of the most recent objects of the laud land seekers desire A bill has already passed the united states senate for the surrender of about half of that famous tract to white settlement the reservation was set apart for the sioux in 1868 1869 and is about as large largess As the state of indiana it once abounded in game ame but is now considered unsuitable for hunting grounds and better fitted for grazing and agricultural purposes civilization as represented by the farmers and stock raisers on the east and south and the miners on the west is pressing closely upon its borders and the savages wandering u upon 0 1 n its broad acres are chiefly depente dependent u t upon the government for or a scanty livelihood lili the bill which contemplates the opening of part of the reservation for white settlement does not propose to taka the land by force or dispute the title of its possessors but to purchase acres the united states to furnish tile the indians cows and 1000 bulls and to place on deposit a permanent fund of the interest of which at five per jer cent is to be used for the benent benefit of 0 the sioux three fourths of the adult male indians of the reservation will be required the agreement before the cession becomes complete the land is then to be sold to actual settlers only at fifty cents an acre this will brin bring in a return of when the lang land is all sold it is believed that the indians will gladly cede the land they will have am abal ample e territory left as there are only about t of of them to occupy the remainder ma inder the government will be relieved of the burden of their annuities but will continue for twenty years the educational feature of the existing treaty and a large area will be thrown open to industry and skill and will make possible thousands of new homes while the establishment of at least two large states out of the territory of dakota will become almost certain senator dawes who is considered by some people almost a crank in defense of the rights of the red men introduced trod and championed the bill and it has the support of the indians rights association which in arguing in its favor remarked it is the deep conviction of the association that sound policy now demands the opening 1 of a lawf lawful ua channel for the ad advance vance 0 of I this mighty tide of civilization hesitation at the present critical time invites a possible catastrophe thus the vast domain which was thought to be a worthless desert until mormon courage and colonization demonstrated its capabilities and opened up the way for its occupation and redemption is being gradually taken from the hands bands of the savages and utilized for the sustenance of more advanced races and the dusky tribes that once roamed the wilderness are huddling up into smaller spaces either to go down before the advancing tide of civilized dumani humanity 1 or mingling with its flood and following in its ways become settled members of or the land is wanted the hand of the strong is reached out to grasp it and the weak can oni only make the best terms at their commary command |
