The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-07
THE BLACK HILLS.

IGNORANCE OF THE INDIAN CHARAcTER DIS
PLAYED BY GOVERNMENT oFFIcIALs-IM-
PoLr1c TREATMENT or THE cHrEFs-
FAILURE on THE TREATY PREsAGED.
OMAHA May 81, 1875.
TO THE EDITOR or rHR HERALD
IL - beginning be very generally believed That
the present negotiations going on az Washington
with RED Cloud and Spotted Tail VIII end in
allure. Evidently the people who are managing
'ihe treaty for the Black Hills do not understand
the Indian character. Hardly proposition mas
been made 70 REQ Cloua since his arrival AZ the
Capitol that mas not been coupled with threat.
To a brave man ike the great chleitaln thus must
BE- disgusting. Nor is this the hrst time the
government has TAXED so 10 Red Cloud. In
lsc6 the troops occupied Inc Powder River
country and the chiel protested. No attention
was paid 70 ms protest. anu he began war which
Ia ,ess han year cost the government 200 lives
ana more than hall i million IN money. Then the
government blew up It's f0Its and abandoned the
country Red CLOUD has not forgotten this, and he
Btill has 10. 600 Indians ms back-enough, II be
were 10 go 10 wac 10 destroy millions OF property
tne Union Pacific Railroad, ana drive back the
settlements 10 the Missouri II Is 10 this great
cher the little men who now hold the ofrces at
Washington address their
NEGOTIATIONS COUPLED Win THREATS.
Aside from the cowardiee or such proceeding,
lhe impocy Of 1t must be apparent every one.
For a strong nation TO treat weaker one
would be shame, but FOR the American govern
ment to so treat its own Indians is dlsgraceful.
II some ambassador from fifth tenth rate
Power had come TO Washington a mission he
would have been politely received ana perhaps
essted, yet Red Cloud, whose good will IS really
jery impor' ant TO Us, is snupbed ana turned over
70 the Indian Ring. IL is believed the great In
has in he
he diplomats around Washington, and that he re-
sents in not language the snghts put upon nlm Is
not 70 be wondered at. Perhaps q year or two
aence we may ina him at tue head OF his warri-
,rs avenging botn real ana Imaginary insults.
We fear the whole matter OF negotiation with
The Indians for the cession OF the Black Hills has
been wrongly managed. Tue real hereditary
Then, from the twenty-five or thirty chiefs VINO
desired 70 come TO Washington, dozen
sent back. OF course every chief lett
nome had MS pride hurt by seeing chiefs (wno
he thought OF less, put who the government
thought OF more mporTance tnan nImselD selected
70 20 on and conduct negotiations or the sale or
their country Ihese disappointed INDIANS are
now ar home
among the bands and preparing 10 resist any
agreement mace by Red Cloud and spotted Iall
with the whites. Then the government would not
allow Red Couu and spotted Tai TO have their own
interpreters but Iorced them to accept lnterpre-
tiers chosen by the Indian agents, against Whom
the chiefs wished 10 enter Complaints before the
Great Father. An Indian IN deaing with whlte
men Is naturally suspicious. He has been cheated
aud robbed so otten ne IS always on the Lookout
Tor new frauds. the failure 10 accord chief MS
proper place IN the circle, giving a chair 20 one
and not 70 another, lnaT rum tue council Tney
are solemn, dlgnlned and clrcumspect In ther pro-
eeediEgs, and regard treaty making as matter
OF some importance.
We believe the Indians began negotiations for the
cesson Ol the Black Hills IN good spirit ana Win
the determination 10 give up the coveted coun-
try, but 10 get as good price as possible Tor IL
Their treatment ny the government mas soured
them. and II 10 Is now as III they would refuse 10
eede any part OF tEeir territory. In the event or
q failure fear II VIII lead TO trouble. Tor our ad-
veSturous iront!ersmen determined 70 oc-
cupy the Black HIS. This piece OF lnalan bus-
is greatly 10 be regretted; II could not posi-
bly, have been managed worse; and should we not
accomplish the end .des red-tne opening or the
Black Hs-the administration will nave no one
20 blame but Itself, and the people OF the West
and the whole country Will hold II responsible Tor
al the trouble and Dloodsned that may follow
failure. WESTERN CITIZENS.