The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-01

D..
Fiandreau special tsiouSI .,......" 100
MONTANA.
Blackfeet Agency (Blackfcet, Bloods, and Pie
MIX Riyer Agency s,our
AT other agencies aud wandering
WYOMING.
Red Cloud Agency Csioux and Cheyenncs)....... e177
Total number in hostile country ............. 0sOs
According to the estimates given In the same
report, about sixty per cent. women ; this
gives q, 900 Indian warriors within this Terrific
~ which. considering the number OF nds that
have never settled at any Of the reservations. Is
the same calculation the Sioux and Cheyennes,
now openly at war, would be able To bring nearly
1000 men into the field. From all accounts re-
ceived from the seat Of war, me fact ems
clear, and II u that the estimate made as to the
mum er Of Indians actually on the wsrpath aud
operating against the troops Is below the real
humber.
destruction Of Gen. Custer and Ills command,
agents AT nearly AL the agencies reported the
wholesale decampment OF the Indians under
their charge. ali Of tuem taking care 30 be well
provided with arms and ANN unitioD. The al
most hel pless position OF the troops since the
disasters of Rosebud creek and the Little Zig
Horn river has done mucn to increase THIS dc.
sertton OF the agencies 10y the Indians, for these
victories have given them perfect confidence
In their ABILITY to whip ANYTHING aud ever, thing
white, and this confidence has added a large
number Of warriors to sitting Bulls com m md
who would otherwise have consumed their nil
| itary ardur by dancing hun 40 and dog dances
anu stunne themselves with rstions at their
/
Tue Indian question has assumed PROPORTIONS
| within the past fow months that It has never
before had within the history Of the country.
Aud this Is not surprising. for the treatment the
| Indians have received at the hands Of tue Gov
| ernment during the past eight years has been as
| bameless as dishonest.
Itisaflct certified to in one Of the late re-
| ports OF the Interior Depertment that out OF an
Indian population OF spo.0Si. the number under
| the iunurnce OF the agencies Is not more than
1861. In tue same report the estimate for tue
| wear was over fl.DOVOO IL 10 provided for in
| all treaties made with the different trOes thar
tney shall reside on certain established reserva-
lions ana I'll 4 their supplies depend on fulfill
| ins this pant Of the contract. lnis being the
| case. the cost OF feeding and caring for eacn
| agency lnoian amounts to about fs5O Der year
| Late luvtccs IRON the West state that num-
| beis Of the Indians who fought under sitting
| Bull IN his several encounters with our troops
| are returning to their agencies In order to re-
ceive food and also medical {. eatmeut for the
wounded. But these things should not be
siven them till they are placed In such a con-
| duon AS to render them armless for tue future.
| Inc writer mas, within the past three years,
visited nearly al the seencies oamed ABOVE, and
bad an opportunity 70 judge Of the condition Of
the Indians, and the effects produced by the
| policy OF the Government
! One Of the principal sources Of trouble has
| been that tue Government hos treated the
ferent Indian tribes as So many Independent
nations. While tnis Is done. and while the To-
tioos a. H.dependent, II Is TO be expected that
| ther Jnduct Will be governed by their sense Oh
! A lust and proper regard should be paid to
| the rights Of the Indians, and sui able pro-
vision IN ade for them, out stitl they should not
! he recognized or treated, as fr as toe laws are
| concerned, other than as citizens OF the Union.
| In nearly all cases the " treaties made with the
Ind iaus found inco plete and unsatis factofy
10 the Government witnin a lew years after the
making, aud then commences the process OF
| terrorism aud fraud on the part Of The Indian
| agents toward their charges. In order 70 beneht
| the great or lesser - Indian Rings that my be
interested in the new deal.
IL il lmposslOis for ans who has not been
All actual eve witness To the CONDITION OF lndtin
uopulation az tho different agencies, To believe
| 4 h.ft Na mi I'M AM I lat
carried py the agents OF the Government
could 81 unpunished Tor 80 many wears. Inc
most internal ingenuity could not out in force
a system more calculated TO keep the In ian
tribes constantly at war with NJ thsn the polic'
| Of the Government. Congress make. ampl,
| provision for tho III aintsnADco of the different
tribes, nut tine actual fact Is that system oi
plunuer aud starvation has gradually forced th'
more INDEPENDENT and manly lnuians OF tn'
Northwest TO openly opp 1se the GOvernment
blames them? Treaties broken, promises un
fulfilled. starving when plenty Is so near u
hand. able 10 obtain rifles. CARTRIDGES, an'
whiskey when they cannot obtain TODD or cloth
ing, dying from diseases the result u their IN
teTcourse with the whites aud OF ths " tnt .
medicines and medical treatlnent-such Is atru
picture Of the average Indian agency during til
How mucn OF the appropriations made b
Congress the Indians actually receive no one ca
tell. Inc clothes are Of the very poorest qua
ity, and entirely insufficient to protect tnel
| from the severity OF their northern winter. In
! blankets supplied are more Tor ornament tha
| use. Food is usually Of tue most inferior KIN
|
supplies submitted 10 the Interior Departmei
D | in Wasnngton being 10 criterion uf tue good
delivered on the Upper MISSOURI river. lndla
agents sell aud change the goods under the
| charge Tor their own use aud brneht.
Inc following receipt, taken from report
| the Department OF tue Interior. gives IA f-ir ide
OF Indian supplies:
One pair Of Day horses year. old act OF dOub
= harness dozen i7inoh mill nles li-inrh plOuRls,
OK wagons, s GuZen selditz pONd r., poun,s COZ
pound syruD OF sqnlr d ecu ayers piils. gallon
ier cent ale hOl bottles 81 rose water COOK stow
White ieter envelopes. reLm and Exec siOr les
cap, " Tcam nTutclas Congress cap, l fcain quar-
pust, reaIn and 4 nrst-vass note, seal penkn
n i railing pen, gross peas dozen cau pencils ! ca
bottle quartz AtLOlda nuif uOtti"r Is lunt
mutilage. DUtiire t2Ouncel carIiur, pouhu Of va
Memorandum DOoA, rcan OF vouch n, pOrtfonO.
9 To this receipt the agent makes certinca
in these words:
A / certify honor that have actually delivered
= the chiefs ana head men OF the lanAtun sioux all
= thu goods aud property mentioned ia the foregoing
celpt. W. A. BURLkiuH. United sta,s indian Ascent.
!, It'll hardly necessary to state that the lanktC
, Sioux Indians, whose agency the writer visie
/. mad no possible use for rose wafer, sealing Wa
a OF any Of the other supplies.
= Until the present lnuian policy OF the Cover
" ment Is changed and tins can only be accom-
: pished ny a total and complete removal of II
- thieves anu gaOonds OF the lndi ~ Ring an
y their OH cIal accompces In ctime-it Is usele
= for che party IN power 10 say that tney wish Il
. Indian war TO end.