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109

Omaha Agency
July 16th 1878

To the President of the U. States.

We write to you to ask your help.  We are trying our best to improve.  We have already good farms.  When we look on our farms today our hearts feel glad, but when we think of the future--- We men of the tribe [[marginalia -- "who [[?]] to improve"]] have gathered together to consult each other as to the welfare of the tribe, and we write and send our words to you.  We wish to improve and adopt the White man's ways.  We wish to throw old habits aside and adopt better ways, but we are hindered in this by our chiefs.  They stand in our way and do not allow us to go on.  They throw obstacles in our path and keep us from improving.  We wish these chiefs to be set aside.