The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-06-03
THE INDIAN INTRIGUE.

TIE PLOT THICKENS AND THE UNFORTUNATE
VICTIMS ARE GROWING SUSPICIOUS AND
SULLIVAN ADMINISTRATION THAT OUGHT
TO BE ASHAMED OF ITSELF.
From the New York sun Indi.l
It is now manifest that the Sioux chiefs
were taken to Washington solely for the
promotion of stupendous job. They were
not even permitted to recite to the president
the grievances of which they justly
and bitterly complained. When they
appealed 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
which they know nothing about.
This was the marrow of the presidents cold
and harsh speech TO Red Cloud, Spotted
Tail, and other chiefs. who had been deluJed
with the hope that they were at last to have
a fair hearing in his presence, and long
sought opportunity to tell OF their wrongs.
That expectation was rudely dismissed at
the outset, when he told them, II expect
no reply on your part" and
turned them over to the secretary of the
interior and the commissioner OF Indian
affairs, in whom they have no faith. Threat
ened with the power of the government on
one hand and with starvation on the other,
the poor Indians have no alternative left
them but submission TO this edIct, by which
it is intended to
ROB THEM OF LANDS LONG COVETED
by the plunderers who infest the White
House. The scheme was invented by Mr..
Delano rs a means OF getting possession of
a rich territory, about the value of which he
and others interested with him, have the
most accurate information. In every aspect
this is a scandalous job, made more glaring
and offensive by the Presidents completely
and support His sen, Fred. Grant,
and a chosen set of companions,
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 everything is put in
shape, Fred Grant is 20 resign his commits
sion in the army; and then, as a
private citizen with the interior de-
partment to sustain his pre-emptions, the
best 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 his
corruption and the demand of the country
for his summary dismissal. He is the pivot
upon which this spoliation has turned, and
his aid, therefore, Is necessary TO the con-
summation, by which
GREAT FORTUNES ARE TO BE REQUIRED
by abuse of official trusts. There is one
admission in the presidents speech, the ef-
feet of which he and his advisers did not
cree the Sioux chiefs into obedience, by
threatening them with starvation. He
said: "By the treaty of 1868 clothing was
guaranteed to you for seven years, and pro-
visions only for five years. The food given to
you for the last two years has been a
gratuity on the part of Congress-" Now,
although Congress has many sins to answer
| for, this is not one of them for which it can
; be held to strict account. The appropria-
| tions made for the support of these Indians
/ rested upon estimates sent to Congress by
the president himself, and furnished to him
by the secretary of the interior. They are
presumed to be made in compliance with
| treaty stipulation. If not,
fraud was perpetrated on Congress
| by the interior department, in
asking for this money for the last two years
when, according to the presidents state
|
Several millions of dollars were thus OBJ
| tanned, not for the benefit of the Indians
but for the profit of the ring, of which tht
secretary of the interior and the commits
sioner of Indian affairs are conspicuous
members, and Measurer Bsbcock its worthy
representative at the White House. We
have at last reached the bottom of the peace
policy, which was
4 FRAUD FROM THE BEGINNING,
I - ~ ~, bn lie
tinguished commissioners who were en-
trapped into its support by false and decep
tive professions. Self-respect compelled
them to resign in body, when they founc
Delano and his associates the pillars OF {
Indians and the treasury at the same time
During Mr.. Lincoln's administration the
Indian service cost SIG, 034, 79S 92, from 1856
to 1865, inc .usive. During the last five year:
of Grant, from 1870 to 1874, inclu
sive, - cost $50 SAC, S31 80, with far les:
number of Indians to feed and clothe. The
difference of expenditure between the two
| SIC, SOC 032, represents the amount stolen By
the ring and its confederates, or abou
s., $685. 900 in round numbers every year. No
wonder they grow rich fast at Washington
and that Grant, Delano, Babcock, Robson
and the whole crowd who went there poo
in 1869, are now cited as millionaires anC
can splurge like shoddy princes.
From them Y Times, Repl
There is now going on at Washington
what is styled-in diplomatic language pos
sibly-a negotiation between the Uuitet
States and the chiefs or principal persons o
the Indians recognized as having right t.
the reservation in which the Black Hill
are situated. Red Cloud, Spotted Tail, ant
other Indians of picturesque names, ar
Ism rarl1C ar fr,H a of ho Taz
this negotiations; and we again cal
attention to the attitude OF our gov
eminent toward these Indians, as an illus
tration Of our method of dealing with thes
so-cslled wards of the nation. So far a
negotiating for a sale of the Black Hill
country is concerned, it is evident thes
: Indians did not come to Washington Q