New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-18
INDIAN RING APOLOGISTS.

Among the stories told to visitors mt Cha
mount, is ono of Frcnchman who an
nounced his intention of ascending Mont Blanc.
The guides wagged their heads OminOusly as
they viewed his petite figure, but at length the
party was made up and the ascent begun.
When only half way up the mountain the
Frenchman's strength gave out; he sank
10 the ground, insensiblc. A guide immc-
diately pumped the little man into a sack,
hosted him on his shoulders and carried
him back to the village. But as soon as the
Frenchman recovered from his fatigue, he
began writing an essay son the Ascent of
"MOnt Blanc" Especially elaborate was the
essay in describing the view from the summit,
and in cautiOning other travellers as to the
dangers of glacier and avalanche on the
higher parts of the mountain. We are re-
minded of the Frenchmans essay by letter
upon Indian afl;ars from DR.. c. C.. Cox, which
we publish to-day. The easy fuency and
patrOnizing tone with which the Doctor handles
great problems, are worthy of an expert. In
the pages of tho last Annual Report of the Com
missioner of Indian Affairs, we find the record
of the work and experience of DR.. G. G. &. in
these matters. 1t Is not very long and will
not tire even hasty reader
In the early part of 1874, at the instance of
Mr.. Columbus Delano, Secretary of the Int
rior, four gentlemen were appointed Especial
"SiOux Commission" OF these Dr. G. c. Cox was
one. The nominal object of the Commission was
to negotiate with the Sioux for TIE rclinqulisll-
ment of their privilege of hunting in Nebraska.
The Commission reached Cheyenne, July 90,
1874, and thence proceeded to Red Cloud and
Spotted Tail Agencies. 1t must have taken
three or four days, travelling by easy stages as
do Commissioners in charge of an Agent to
reach the Agencies from Cheyenne, and rs much
to get back again. Dr. c. C. Cox was taken
ill and obliged to return to Cheyenne, ten
days after leaving it. In the hands of the
careful Agent the Doctor had chance to see
about as much of the real condition of the
Indians as the French traveller saw of Mont
Blanc while in sack. 1t is upon the knOwl-
edge and experience of the Indian in general
and the Sioux in particular, which the Doctor
acquired during those ten days, less the time
occupied in trarel bet,ceen Cheyenne and the Agep-
cieS, that he bases the elaborate opinion he sets
forth. Here, perhaps, it is worth while to men
ton that besides tho part given in it as
quotation, the Doctors letter to The TRIBUNE
is in large measure rehash of one which
appears as portion of the report made by the
Special Sioux Commission to Secretary DelanO.
The worthy Doctor has obviously been conscious
of lack of material, while spreading these
plasters.
DR.. Cox did, however, certainly eat short
cake in the Indian camp, and from this, though
he suspects uncleanliness in the manipula-
"tion," he judges that the flour issued to the
Sioux was quite tOlerable. Certain it is that
the Doctor was taken sick very shortly after
ward, but we do not know whether his illness
was due to what he elegantly designates as
his "prairie meal" or to the tobacco ISSUED
by the same Agent which he smoked in
"ppe of peace" with the Indian chieftans,
who communicated their views through an in
terpreter hired by the Agent, while "curtains
" of jerked beef were waved before the Doctors
spectacles 1t must be admitted, however that
the experience of Indian life during a Summer
day, which seems to have proved too much for
DR.. Cox, was calculated to produce very diff
ferent impression on the mind from what Prof
Marsh underwent in the same locality when
the thermometer was 15' to 20o below zero.
There would naturally be some difference be-
tween such observers. But the Doctor, with
his superior knowledge of Indians, eau
tons the public against hastily accept
ing, as compared with his own, the
views of Prof. Marsh The latter has
crossed the Rocky Mountains dozen times,
every time being thrown in pretty close
contact with the Indians much too close,
sometimes, as when few years ago he very
narrowly escaped being scalpcd by Red Cloud,
whose tribe was then on the war path-this
same Red Cloud whose rations in Professor
Marshs hands seem to cause so much trouble
to the Indian managers. The Ncw-H Haven Pro-
fessor has, however, never visited the Indians az
Commissioner at time when everything
at the Agencies would have been fixed serene
and lovely to look upon. In this respect his
rcmembrances appear wanting in the rosy tint
that sufiuscs those of DR.. Cox, who was sent
out as a member of a Commission that was not
expected to see anything out of the way, and
met in that respect, with great success.
Along with DR.. COx's letter we also publish
one from Delegate Steele. He says that he
writes in the interest of bis constituents. 1t