New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-07-10
4 LIVE NDIAN.

A letter dated July 1, from the agent of the
Ogallalla Sioux, has been received this week
by Mr. William Welsh, in which it is stated
that the late visit of Red Cloud and his depu-
tation to Washington has been productive OF
the most healthful effects upon the tone and
temper of that people. The Chiefs hopes of
real aid and forbearance from the whites in
the future were, it appears, much enlarged by
his conversations with leading politicians, ana
he has returned home eager to have his new
agency built and the schools started. we
hone there may be no further disappointment
for HIM in this matter. Red Cloud Is not only
a lust and able thinker, but steady, earnest
worker, and man too grave and honorable HIM
selftO suspect clIcanery or cxaggeratedprOmlses
in others. There was something pathetic, as
well as admirable, in the steady practical per-
sistence with which, after his fiery, elo-
ouent appeals to the justice of the whites two
wears ago. he went home and set himself to work
out with his people their share of the treaty
of peace and industry into which they had en-
tered Red Cloud has never been indOctrinated,
probably, with the phiosophic necessity accord
ing to physical laws that the weakerraces should
give way to the strong, which proves so con-
EOlItOIy 10 every lIODlltl ClbNtl NhV mas hit'
sacred the Piegans OF their fellows. With all
his fiery velemenCe his logic is dull. "lf a
"man do well shall he not be rewarded y he
reasons as was done eighteen centuries ago
He went to work, therefore, to make good
citizens out OF his savages, set them to work,
made them study, kept them patient IN
halr-starving condition through the Win
ter A few weeks ago Red Cloud
came back TO Washington one of
the truest patriots there, grave and quiet and
simple in the great hurly-burly, caring for no
Office nor gain, but only for the handful or
his children who had sent him again to know
what was to be their chance for life among
the nations Yea was yea to him in this mat
ter and nay, nay. The promises made to HIM
were large and many. 1t suited the political
emergency that Red Cloud and his braves
should be turned into capital. The "Presi-
dents benevolent Indian policy is one of
his most successful cards to play with the
kindler part Of the people. But how was
Red Cloud to suspect that he was but a
lay-fgure playing part IN the cleo
ton show? The mass meetings here and
at Philadelphia in which he was prompted, and
urged, and spurred to eifuse into gratitude to
Grant he took for friendly expressions of
sympathy. He was duly humble, and satisfied
with five minutes interview granted by the
President, and contented with his abrupt dis
missal to agents "whO would attend to his
80 case, as affairs of moment called the Great
Father away" How should he, truthful,
grave man, carrying the lives of perishing
people in his hands to the President, suspect
that the Great Father was called to horse
racef
He has gone back and to work, as it ap-
pears from Mr.. Welsh's letter, placing implicit
faith in all these promises, as earnest and in
tent on his hopes as ever. He has neither an
election to win nor is he devoured by any
taste for tobacco or horse-flesh; he has. there
fore, a clear head and unselfish aims with
which to serve bis people.
We trust, as we said before that something
more than barren promises, intended as sharp
election lodges, may be given to Red Cloud.
But until we find that the grant has actually
been made, we confess we remain doubtful.