The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-05-27
President Grant Speaks to the In
dians.

dians.
WASHINGTON, May 20.
The following is the text of the presi-
dents speech to the Indians to-day: 81
want to say to the Indians to-day some
thing about the object of bringing them
here, aad few words for them to think
about, but nothing for them to reply TO at
present. have ALWAYS been friendly to
the Indians, and I am very anxious to do
what think hest for their good. The
country where they now live, as they must
be well aware, is entirely incapable of sup
porting them, should the government cease
to give them aid. by the treaty OF 1868
clothing was granted them for thirty years,
and provisions for only FIVE years. The
food and provisions, therefore, which have
been given to them for The last two years
have been given to them gratuitously on
the part of congress. These may be taken
from them at any time without any viola
ton of the treaty. My interest now is to
make some arrangement with them by
which they and their children will be Sc
cure for the future. Several Of the Indians
expressed their approval of these senti-
ments by exclaiming "Ugh." The presi-
dent, rcsuming, remarked: As said in
the beginning, it must be evident TO them
that if supplies of food should be withheld
by the government, II would be entirely
impossible for the Indians to live
where they are. Another thing |
would call their attention to is this-they
must see that The white people outnumber
| the Indians now about two thousand to
one, to king all Indians with territories
owned by the United States. This number
of whites is increasing SO very rapidly that
before many years it will be impossible to
fix any point within the limit of our ter.
ritory. Where can you prevent them
going 1t will become necessary thai
white people shall go from one place tc
another, whether occupied by Indians oil
not, the same as they 60 from ont
state to another. For this reason
it is very desirable that while they
have friend here to look after their in
terests, they should be situated where they
would be able to get support beyond an,
contingency. do not propose to ask then
without their consent 10 leave the home
where they were born and raised, but
want 10 point out to them the advantage t.
themselves and'their children, if they will
accept such arrangements as may be pro
posed to them. There is territory soutl
of where they now live where the climat
} is much better, where grass is much better
and where game is much more album
dant, including large game, sue
as buffalo, where there is goo
pasturage for animals and where teacher
can be sent among the Indians to instruc
them in the arts of civilization, means G
self preservation and support. This yea
we have had great difficulty IN keepin
! white people from going to the Black hill
in search of gold, but we have SO far PR
vented them from doing so; every yes
this same difficulty will be encountere
G unless the right of the white people
: go to that country is granted by Il
Indians and may in the end lead
u hostilties between the white peop
and Indians, without any special fault c
: either side. II such trouble should occl
and become general it would necessari
o lead to the Withholding, for the time bell
s at least, supplies which the governme
n has been sending to them. All this tro
BILE want to avoid. want to see the
q well provided for in such a way that 4
= arrangement will have to be respected
'e my successors and other administrator
N for the future. | want the Indians to thil
A. of what have said / don't want them
a. say anything to-day. want the
to talk among themselves and be pl
T. pared to hear from the secretary
N the interior and the commission
II of Indian affairs who are authorized
~ speak for me and will be governed by l
III advice. This is all want to say to the
Nv q bllci tohNSiootioh pNs"SNh
as president and Rev. Mr.. Human, the pre-
" dent turned to the Indians and said throu
I'd the interpreter 81 will say to them Il
Or what | have said will be written out o
Id they will have the words repeated to tn
ed by interpreters. Spotted Tail then
at vanced towards the president, q
I'd looking towards the representatives
of OF the press who were taking notes mad
I'M short explanation, in relation to publish
is- statements, to the effect that the 1ndi
he had stigmatized the secretary of the in'
th Tor and commissioner of Indian affairs
en- liars. He said such charges were
RS. made by him and whoever put them in
M paper made them up themselves as he
his not call his strongest friends liars.