The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-09-28
TaE VISITING SIOUX.
Grand Council Fire Lighted in the
White House.
SAVAGES LONGING FOR CIVILIZATION.
Addresses of the Chiefs to the
Great Father.

pahIe delegations IRON the Rcd Cloud aud Spotted
Tail agencies at the Executive Mansion. There were
present. among others, Secretary Evarts, Secretary
scnurz Commissioner OF Indian Affairs Smith, Gen
oral Crook, Lieutenant Clark, who commanded the
Indian scouts at tho Red Cloui Spotted Tall agen-
lrvin the agent nj the Red Cloud reservation
Mr.. Hayt, recently appointed Commissioner OF Indian
Affairs, who VIII succeed Mr. Smith tomorrow; Will
lam Welsh OF Philadelphia, formerly OF the Board OF
Indian Commissioners; Bishop whippic, Assistant
Secretary Mccormick and several ladies, including
Mrs. Crook, wife OF General Crook.
Arrangements were made In the East Room for the
conference, n circle of chairs being formed the
south side. the President occupying u place on the
outer range full Wow OF tho Indian visitors For
the lrst limo IN tho history OF the mansion liberal
accommodations provided for reporters OF the
press.
THE IREsESrArIoy
Tho Indians arrived u tow minutes before noon.
They full costume with plentiful application
Of paint and ornamentatons OF feathers -Four inter-
proters--half brceds--acco mpanied them. Tho Prcs
dent alter appeared. The Indians soveraly
presented TO HIM by name, the ceremony being con-
Quoted by Lieutenant Clark, Spotted Tail being the
first introduced Some OF them merely shook hands
with much gravity, while others proudly smiled and
uttered enthusiastic Flows" White Tail was partic-
ulary happy to shake hands with the President and
do, /" before releasing the Presidents hand.
THE CASE
After the ceremony OF Introduction Mr.. Welsh ad.
dressed the President, saying that the Indians had
asked him 10 present their case They wished to
thank him for hts Interest In their behalf tho
evidence Of his desire to DO President OF all the
people These red men claimed 10 De bis children,
and therefore had claim upon his generosity ana
justice. Thoy had some regrets to utter and some
requests TO make. They complain of tho fire.
quent changes in the rintendencics, and say
that permanent officers would give thom
great advantages, and this they asked. They
say II would be unwise to mako frequent changes
in tho coast survey the Indian
but the special subject OF their visit Is present their
objcctons to removing to tho Missouri They bud
tor gong there, and think that tho only
purpose OF the government was TO drive them tho
river. They could not there become civilized, their
women would become corrupt and other evils follow
the by the influence OF bad white There.
fore something should be done 10 them. Thcy
select lands the government them agricu
tural pursuits. They all anxious for civilization
and want 10 become citizens Mt the earliest possible
time.
RED CLOUDS SPEECH
The Osalaas were then heard, Red Cloud being the
FIRST speaker Alter shaking hands with the President
he spoke substantially as follows, through the inter-
prefer
''Great Father look at me. In behalf of my people
have 10 see you again. This IN the fourth time
have been here. My people way to-day that they
want To walk in the broad road that they grow
and prosper like tho white people God Almighty
made earth Tor US and everybody. There good
streams and good land. wish you would pick me a
good place to my children. Tho Great Father
advised me to pick the place whore ivo ut present
My wish Is to have everything Tor farming, including
ploughs, and / should like 10 have a school,
so that my children may learn TO read ana write,
only an lndan aud don't know how TO ROAD write,
and know nothing about tho telegraph. ! should
like to have man TO write Tor whenever have
anything 10 say dont ask Tor horses have plenty;
but want wagons 10 do my work. feel tho same
raise them IN the Same way. That Is the reason why
ask you for wide road. don't want to 60 TO the
Missouri River; there Is TOO much whiskey there. If
90 there will como TO nothing at all. In winter tho
river freezes up and VIC can't get our supplies. want
to 1.-Two we'll where am"
Having concluded, the orator shook hands with tho
President and resumed his seat
ROADS REMARKS
Big Road was the next speaker Ho said no had
come to tell HIS Great Father only few words he
not man 70 argue with anybody. Tho reason he
was now here was to say he did not want move un
til all the buffalo had disappeared He wanted 10 SEQ
his children grow up Ike white people in tho country
where bo lived. Ho wanted his Great Father 10
give MIN 900 boxes OF money, ana 1000 head cat
ile half cows DC civilized with; 1000 head Of sheep
hogs, that he ana his children might live like
white men. lie had never boen here before. He
10 listen TO tho words Of his Great Father. He
dbl ask Tor horses rs he had them, but wanted
wagons. The Missouri River freezes and they
heard their supplies Could 60 there IN winter
up the river he could not read and write and
II school house forever that that might become civ
ilizcd.
Mr. Welsh remarked that this speaker had never
been in the midst OF civilization until now. Nc
clear thinker aud leading man, but was somewhat
embarrassed by the present surroundings.
LITTLE WOUNDS WISHES.
Little Wound said to the Great Father that he did
rot want TO remove: did not want 10 % To INV oth'r
place IRON whore he now lived, where there was good
ground ana many streams. Ii food had boon sent up
The Missouri River he would like have IL brought
back by railroad He wanted two, four and six horse
wagons, all the agricultural tools and wanted a reli
glon-meaLing, was explained, "a Catholic priest
Big Luc Man said he had heard tho summons OF
his Great Father and now appeared 10 lston TO his
words. Ho would like to get all the Ugaalias ut
Red Cloud Agency to como with him aud his people.
He liked his home and did not want TO remove. They
were not yet civilized. but wanted wagons and school
houses and instructed agriculture aud learn
tho ways OF the white people.
Iron Crow dressing his Great Father said he ba not
big things to tax about but only lev works speak,
He wanted to know how to become civilized; that was
the way he wanted 10 1--we He wanted good grub and
10 know how 10 raise his children.
Three Bears was the next speaker. Whenever orders
were received he did just as he tod everything
was now quoted down-no disturbances. Hc Wanted
TO live In his country and live like white people
American Horse, Young Man Afraid of HIS orses,
Yellow Bear aud He Dog sevcray spoke. Their W
terances were IN the Same dirccton--narcly they
wanted to he civilized. They always had b. en- obedi-
ent to the orders gwen by General Crook. They
lind out the wido road Of civilization and would
listen TO whatever they wore to do.
Spotted Tail was then invited speak but said ho
would prefer dong so tomorrow
WANTS or THE ARRAPAuoEa
The Ogalalas having spoken, with this exception.
Black Coal, oil the Arrapahoes, next spoke his inter-
prefer being Friday, native Of that tribe. lie
wanted to live tho way tho whites lived. lie wanted
school houses Tor his children. He asked his Great
Father 10 take pity on him to-day The Great Spirit
was good. Ho put Us here the ear tn and the
ground on which he BLACK Coal livcd belonged 10
him.
Black Coal, like others who spoke to-day, said he
had been good toward white men AZ first he was a
little FOOLISH but had learned better hc had not two
hearts, aud spoke truly. lie ani his people
wanted to live where they were To
cultivate tho soil. If the Great Father
would give them good land they would
be happy. They were small trlbo anu would ike
TO JON the Snakes. Tho Snakes did not know ARA
pahoe, but could make signs tao Arrdpahoos could
understand, whc the Arrapahocs could talk little
Snake. The orator, like those who preceded hun,
asked Tor tho appliances oil civilization all tue whites
use, and particularly grub and annuities.
The conference horo closed, the President saying no
had much business TO attend TO- but would be ad to
sec them all tomorrow morning Tho Indians wero
then separately presented to Mrs. Hayes and Mrs
Crook by Lieutenant Clark and " Secretaries Evarts
and McCrary. Attorney General Dcvens, Postmaster