New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-17
RED CLOUDS TRIUMPH.

RED CLOUDS IRlOUfH
The remarkable triumph of Red Cloud, yes
terday. in the great speech he delivered before
the assembled multitude at Cooper Institute,
was one of the most striking incidents in the
history of the aboriginal race His appear
ance. his manner, his language, and his Ideas
were of such a nature as not only to interest
the audience. bnt TO make a deep impression
in favor of the cause he represented. When
he presented himself on the platform he was put
at a disadvantage in the eye OF the spectator ny
his uncouth dress; he had discarded all the wild,
barbaric trappings of the war-ehlef, wearing
but shirt and vest on the upper part OF the
body while around his waist was wrapped
blue blanket, which descended to his feet after
the fashion of petticoat; but even this gro
tesque costume did not deprive him OF dignity
His manner was natural and graceful. Though
he had never previously stood before white
audience, he was entirely self-possessed and
easy. His opening invocation TO the Almighty
Spirit was solemn, earnest, and highly ORA
matte and as he went on to recount the
wrongs of his people and demand justice
for them. in words that were at once
simple, strong, and heartfelt, the audience was
greatly impressed. The OratOrical effect OF his
discourse had severe trial in the fact that he
was compelled to stop at the close OF every SEN
tence during the time required for It's translation
from Ogalalla into English; but even this dis
advantage did not destroy its unity. During
the intervals of translation, he stood statuesque
and impassive, which was quite as striking as
his animation in the more earnest passages OF
his appeal. AS he passed from point to point
| in his remarks, he carried the sympathies as
well as the intelligence of the great audience
| with him-an audience which had gathered at
midday from the business places, workshops,
and households of the city to listen to this repre-
sentative of the hereditary foemen of the
white race of America.
| After Red Clouds speech was finished there
was short discourse from Red Dog, who il
| an orator by profession. Red Dog is an artsul
| speaker, and knows how to entertain even
white audience. He made a very effective
point, for example, when, turning round and
| pointing to a number of Indian braves who
were seated in line on the platform, he said
| that these "were his young men, all of whom
"were poor young men, because they tcere hon
| "estr Even this, however, was not so
neat as a point previously made by Red
| Cloud, who, after quoting with great
righteousness a remark made to him by Sec
| rotary Cox, that the riches of this world
"cannot be taken into the next" forcibly in
0uired, eff that be so, | would like to know
why the Commissioners who are sent out to
Gus do nothing but rob lis all the timef" Red
Dog was humorous when he said he had
"grown fat on the lies with which white men
chad filled him;n but Red Cloud was alto
gether too serious to indulge in any small
| - i. i-ap
Red Cloud stood eminent and prominent,
though he displayed only the art of nature
and the eloquence of truth.
When, few days ago, we spoke, perhaps
somewhat lightly, about the prOpriety of Red
Cloud entering upon the career of OratOry and
assuming the championship of the rights of
the Indian race before the American people,
we had no such proof of his remarkable capac-
ity as he furnished to his audience yesterday.
We wish that he could s!ye in every city Of
| the United States such a speech as he then
| delivered. 1t would do more to secure fair
dealing toward the Indians than all the efforts
heretofore made by white philanthropists. 1t
would stir up the people to demand that the
Government shall enforce policy of justice and
honesty toward the Indians. 1t would enable the
country to understand the aboriginal side of a
question which has been heretofore misunder-
stood because we only knew the white mans
side. Why should not the friends of Red
Cloud, the friends of the Indian race, and the
friends of even-handed justice, take these
things into consideration If he made as deep
an impression wherever he spoke as he made
on his New-York audience, the difficulties of
the Indian question would disappear in the
establishment of policy of justice which
would ultimately secure peace. This is the
purpose of President Grant and it can only
be carried out by the cooperation of the Indian
leaders and the American people.