The most serious feature of the situation lies in the probability that the many roving bands who live in the country north and west of the Black Hills, and who are thought to be in sympathy with Sitting Bull, and to have experienced more or less injustice at the hands of the whites, will join with the small band which is creating the present alarm at Deadwood, and thus bring about an outbreak which it would be quite beyond the power of our present reduced military establishment to suppress. The opinion is expressed by officers at the War Department, that the removal of troops from the Black Hills region to the Texas border, may result in the protection of people in the latter section, at the expense of the lives of those who are exposed to much greater danger. Meanwhile, the Ponca Indians have sent a deputation to Washington, to remonstrate with the President against their removal to a new reservation. They are a peaceful and civilized people, who cannot bear to leave the houses, schools and churches they have built and maintained. The assurances which they received of restitution for their losses, and protection in their new homes, though liberally made and with honest intent, were a poor comfort to them in their enforced removal. * * * * * The Sitting Bull Commission report that that doughty chief will not return to this country at present from his retreat across the Canada border. His camp, however, keeps up communication with hostile tribes, stimulating dissatisfaction, and inciting hostility; it furnishes an asylum, also, to fugitives from justice—one hundred of the defeated Nez Percès are now there. The commission suggests, as required by international comity and usage, that they be removed so far into the interior of the neutral State that they can no longer threaten in any manner the peace and safety of our citizens. * * * * * The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs has reported a bill for enabling Indians to become citizens of the United States. The conditions of admission to citizenship are that the Indian shall belong to some organized tribe or nation having treaty relations with the United States, and that he shall appear in a United States Circuit or District Court and make proof to its satisfaction that he is sufficiently intelligent and prudent to control his own affairs and interests, that he has adopted the habits of civilized life, and has for the last five years been able to support himself and family, and that he shall take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States. The bill also provides that the Indian shall not, by becoming a citizen, forfeit his distributable share of all annuities, tribal funds, lands, or other property. * * * * *