National Republican., 1875-06-07
THE SIOUX DEPART.
The last Interview-Speech Of Commissioner
Smith

Smith.
The combined Sioux delegation had final talk
with the Commissioner of Indian Affairs Satur-
day morning, and in the evening left for their
homes, the Red Cloud and Spotted Tail delega-
tions going direct, while Lone Horn and his men
went by the way of New York. The main part
of the interview was spent by the Indians in
urging the payment Of the traders who accom-
panied them, and also in explaining what they
expected from the Government in compensation
for their trip here. The Commissioner, in reply
TO these requests, made characteristic and frank
statement to the delegations, the following of
which is the substance:
There are some things to be said about those
men who have come along that would rather
not be obliged to say to you. They have not
come by the wish Of anybody but themselves, SO
far as know, and they have been sources Of mis-
chief and trouble ever since they came here.
They got you to insist on going TO the Washing
ton nTue aHG MA t3ey S fes ss yGu 70 &c
for you. They have led you into bad practices
since you have been here. They have taken you
impudence to come and ask me to pay them for
that sort of service and leave IL to you to Judge
whether had better do II or not. That is all
agents to sDend for you In getting such presents
as you want twentyf five dollars apiece. This is
in addition to what you ayealready received in
suits of clothes and every other thing that your
agent has bought for you. wish could make
it more, and do for you what you ask in that re-
spCct and to furnish each of you a horse with
saddle and equipments, but that am not able to
DO, because l have not the money to make the
purchases.
l would net give you guns If could. II could
give you horses and saddles would, but have
power about it; cannot do 1t, and so it is not
worth while for me to encourage you in any way
to expect il. About those men that you speak of
as interpreters In the first place, they are not
Interpreters at all; the best Of them, Todd Ran
dali. when he came to interpret for Red Cloud,
broke down, and Red Cloud had to get some one
else. Palliday, the only one who did belong to
could interpret he is good Interpreter, but he
likes whisky SO well that he broke GOWN whisky
broke him down. He got so drunk that | could
not see him for several days. shall pay him for
what he did and send him home. Randall will
also be paid he came at my request. But those
other men who have deceived you and have kept
you from doing your duty, and have led you into
bad houses, have no claim for anything: and they
may be thankful that they are not driven out Of
when they 90 home, to tell what was done here;
men that will DO all they can to defeat the
INTO G disgrace in Washington? What do You You
want Of them when you get home? Now,
this is a plain talk to you, but l may just as
we should deceive one another. Now 1 want to
say word to Sitting Bull. / have heard, with
great pleasure, Of your conduct an Of the con-
l have heard from your agent, and from the mill
tary officers at the agency. of the great service
you have rendered the Government. You have
proved yourself to be great brave and true man
"a friend to your own people, and a friend to the
whites. Your good conduct has been reported to
the President, and am instructed by him to give
you n token OF his regard in recognition Of your
good services.
The Commissioner then made reference to the
traders accompanying them, and said: You will
find, now and then, men living amenE you, Of that
sort that you can trust; but as a general thing
you will ind them only mischief makers. When
you ind one disposed to be a mischief maker,
ready to come between you and your agent, and
between you and your Great Father, you may be
pretty sure be is yOur worst enemy, and the less
you submit your affairs to him, or pay any atten-
lion to what he says, the better it will be for you
l am very glad 10 have met you here, and very
glad to have seen you this morning. hope you
will have a pleasant journey home, and that
when you report to your people what the Great
Father wants done about the hunting privileges,
about W. oming and the Black Hilis, that they
will see thai he is your Good Father, and wants
to 90 the best thing for them.