The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-03
Grant and the Indians,

1t is now manifest that the OlOuX cnlefs
were taken to Washington solely for the
promotion of a stupendous job. They
we're not even permitted to recite to the
president the grievances which they justly
and bitterly complained. When they ap-
pealed to him for justice, he sternly re-
fused to listen to their petitions, and. in
stead of showing any willingness to redress
their injuries, he gave them to understand
that they must submit to the requirements
of their oppressors without murmur. Not
only this, but he further told them that
they must give up the homes secured to
them by solemn treaty. and move into a
country which they knew nothing about.
This was the marrow Of the president 3
cold and harsh speech to Red Cloud, Spot
red Tail, and other chiefs. who had been
deluded with the hope that they were at
last to have fair hearing in his presence
and a long-sought opportunity to tell their
wrongs. That expectation was rudely dis
missed at the outset, when he told
them, Il expect no reply on your part; 7"
and in the end, when he cody turned them
,ver to the secretary of the interior and
the commissioner of Indian affairs, in whom
they have no faith.
Threatened with the power of the gev-
ernment on one hand and with starvation
IN the other, the poor Indians have no al
tentative left them but submission to this
edict, by which it is INTENDED to rob them
IF lands long coveted by the plund0rers
who infest the White House. The scheme
was invented by Mr.. Delano as means of
getting possession of a rich territory, about
the value of which he and others interest
ed with him, have the most accurate infor-
nation.
In every aspect this is scandalous job,
made more giarlng and offensive by the
presidents completely and support. His
son, Fred. Grant, and chosen set of com
panions, are now on their way to the
Black Hills, backed by every facility which
the government can bestow, to select the
choicest lands in advance Of new treaty
opening them to settlement. Meantime
the army is to keep out intruders, whom
the gold fever is already attracting by
| thousands, under pretence of protecting
the rights of the Indians. When every
thing is put in shape Fred Grant is to re
| sign his commission in the army; and then
| IS private citizen, with the Interior De
partment to sustain his prescriptions, the
oest of the Black Hills country will pass
into the hands of ring, which has been
IN process of organization for the last two
| years, And this is one of the reasons why
Delano has been upheld so persistently by
the president, in spite OF the proofs of hi'
corruption and the demand Of the county
tor his summary dismissal, He is tn,
pivot upon which this spoliation has turn
ed, and his aid, therefore, is necessary tt
the consummation, by which great for
tunes are to be acquired by abuse of oficia
trusts.
There is one admission in the president
speech, the effect of which he and his ad
visers did not foresee, when using it as al
argument to coerce the Sioux chiefs int
obedience, by threatening them with star
vation He said:
"By the treaty of 1868 clothing was guaranteed t
you for seven Years, and prov siuns only for fv
| Sears The food giCen 10 you for the last TIC
years has been gratuity on the part of Congress.
Now, although congress has many sin
to answer for, this is not one of them fl
which it can be held to strict account TIL
appropriations made foY the supper
Of these Indians rested upon estimate
sent to congress by the president himself
and furnished to him by the secretary c
the interior. They are presumed to /
made in compliance with treaty stipulation
If nOt,a fraud was perpetrated on congress
by the interior department. III asking fC
this money for the last two years, whe
according to the presidents statement Ut
dollar of it was legally due. Sever;
millions of dollars were thus obtained, NJ
for the benefit of the Indians, but for tn
profit Of the ring Of which the secretar
of the interior and the commissioner of Ii
: dian affairs are conspicuous members, all
! Measurer Babcock Its worthy represents
tive of the White House.
We have at last reached the bottom c
the peace policy, which was fraud fror
the beginning, and soon discovered to b
such by the distinguished commissioner
who were entrapped into it's support b
false and deceptive professions. Self.re
spect compelled them to resign in body
when they found Delano and his associ
ates the pillars of a corrupt combinatio
organized to cheat the Indians and tn
treasury at the same time.
During Mr.. Lincoln's administrator
the Indian service cost $l6,034, 1893. 81
from 1861 to 1865 inclusive. During tn
last five years Of Grant, from 1870 to 1874
inclusive, it cost $32 1881. 39. with
far less number of Indians to feed an
clothe. The difference OF expenditure be
tween the two, $l6,506,O32 represent
the amount stolen by the ring and its con
federateS, or alb out So, 500, 600 IL round nun
bers every year. No wonder they grow rio
fast at W ashington, and that Grant, DelanC
Babcock, Robson, and the whole crow
who went there poor in 1899, are now cite
as millionaries and can splurge like shodd
princes. Y. Sun.