The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-10
Fierce Arrangement Of the
Secretary and Smith.
The Insinuations of the Interior
Department Denied.
Their Charges q Catalogue
Of Lies.



to continue their investigation. The members of the
Commission who here x-Governor Fletcher, of
Missouri, Chairman; Hon. b. w. Harris, member of
Congress from East Bridgewaer, Mass Hon. Charles
J. Faulkner, member of Congress from Martinsburg
W. Va and Professor George W. Atherton, of Rutgers
College, New Brunswick, n. J. Senator Howe,
of Wisconsin, the remaining member of
the Commission has not yet arrived but
is on his way from the West. The Commission
held informal meeting this evening, at which Pro-
fessor Marsh, who had been notified was present
ATTACKS UPON PROFESSOR MARSH.
The Professor referred statements affecting
his position which he said had been inspired by the
Interior Department. and asked leave to reply them
He alluded especially to a pamphlet
prepared for the use of the Commission con-
tanning a number of official documents, to which
the following the Introductory atement:-'The
traordnary efforts of the New York Tribune to give
publicity the charges of Professor Marsh thereby
possible njure the administration of President Grant,
by striking at Secretary Delano and Commissioner
Smith, have led to the following statement for the
better information of the public 1t is proposed to
make bare statement of facts in order that the reader
may draw differences regard to those charges
OF Professor Marsh the writer knows but little and
that consists mainly of information gained
since he became the ostensible author of
certain charges against the Red Cloud Indian agent.
He professor Yale College, which institution
ceved endowment from the late Mr. George Pea
body who a relation of the professor and which
endowment probably intended to advance his in
terests His speciality is paeontology
Last or fall Professor Marsh visited some of
the Western Territories in search of fossil remans
and desiring to explore the territory coded to the
Sioux Indians it necessary that he should obtain
their friendship and protection. Before entering
this region he had interview with Red Cloud
chief of the Ogallalla Sioux Red Cloud exhibited the
usual grumbng and complaining propensity of his
in regard to the assistance he received from the Great
Father Having heard these complaints, Professor
Marsh seized the occasion to put himself friendly
terms with Red Cloud in order to his con-
idencee A and assistance, and promised him
to make known to the President his return
the nature of his grievances. This secured Red Clouds
friendship, and the Professor entered the Territory un
der his auspices and such protection the chief could
afford. Fort Laramie is not far from the Red Cloud
Agency and Professor Marsh needed also favor and
protection of the military. He kindly treated by
the army officers receiving both courtesy assist
ance.
II is fact well known that the younger officers of the
army generally friendly to the civil management
of the Indians The latter furnish the army its only
hope Of activity in time of peace and therefore, the
active and ambitious young officers gen.
orally DESTROYS of having charge of Indian affairs.
AS result of this feeling the of the Indian
agents magDihed and published in aggravated
FORM and misrepresentation and
are frequently made in order to damage the Indian
service, to create If possible, public sentiment that
will result in turning the management of Indian
affairs to the army. An effort to this end made
with great vigor at the first session of the last
Congress- and renewed with less force the second
session. Professor Marsh received many unfavorabe
impressions from this source In reference to Inoan
management which fact will be clearly established be-
fore the present investigation is closed There is also
large body of ex Indian agents who served the
former regime and before the religious denominations
had authority to designate agents, who dissatisfied
with the present system and who omit opportunity
TO disparage, misrepresent and embarrass it.
These influences were all brought to bear upon Pro-
fessor Marsh which may also added the misrepre
sensations of traders disappointed contractors dishon
hafbreeds and whites of bad character intermar
ried with Indian women. 1t will readily be seen that
of limited general business experience whose spe-
caty scientific research such Professor Marsh
engaged in, might be easily mislcd by the influences
surrounding him, and which he failed to comprehend
About six months after his return from the Indian
country Professor Marsh to Washington to fulfil
his promise Red Cloud. and being from New Haven
Conn, and acquainted with the Postmaster General
from the State, he him and presented in
general the impressions obtained under the in
huencc of the circumstances already mentioned. The
Postmaster General took the Professor to the Prcs
dent after announcing to the Secretary of the In
terror his purpose to do so, and promising that the
Professor would call upon him and give him all the IN
formation that he possessed in regard to affairs
at the Red Cloud Agency. Professor Marsh
aftcrward the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs, and the complaints which he made to him as
coming from Red Cloud simply to the effect that
the supplies Of coffee sugar, tobacco, flour and beef
were not as good they ought be- The result Of his
interview with tho Commissioners satisfied film
that Red Clouds statements were exaggera-
TONS and up to that time no charges of
fraud, such contained in his pamphlet
were alluded to. 1t must be borne in mind that Pro-
fcssor Marsh returned from the Indian country in the
fall Of 1874, and waited six months before bring
ing Clouds complaints the notice of either the
department, the President the public He had
promised Red Cloud, in consideration of pro-
lection, to lay his grievances before the
President on his return. Had ho then
supposed that the mismanagement at Red Clouds
Agency as serious he represents II to be,
no not guilty of great neglect in sooner lay
ing the facts before the President the department,
and he not guilty OF breach OF contract with Red
Cloud in long delaying tho presentation Of those
compIaints9 Professor Marsh slept on these grave
charges until the last of April the LIST Of May, 1885,
and when he concluded to make them known he went
before the public through the New York Tribune,
newspaper known to be pronounced in its
hostility to the administration and in various forms Of
oxaggeraton and msstatcment what he said appeared
and reiterated with unjust and abusive comments
and criticisms During these assaults of the Tribune
the Sioux chiefs to Washington to treat
in reference to the REIMBURSEMENT of their privileges
in the State Of Nebraska, and their hunting rights on
the Smoky Hill Fork Of the Republican River, as well as
such portions of the Black ILLS country as might be
found to contain minerals sufficient to Justify mining
During these conferences Professor Marsh volunta-
rily presented himself He must himself explain his
object In so doing He not invited, nor was his