Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-10-05


day, at the Executive Mansion The Indians
were in citizens dress Messrs. Schurz,
Eyarts, Key, Mccormick and Gen. Crook
were present.
The President having remarked that he
was ready to hear what further his friends
had to say, Spotted Tail took Il seat at his
side and informed the President where he
had desired to have his agency, lie said
The portion OF land he held he looked on
as his own and there he wanted to raise
not only his own children but all his
people. lie wanted them to become pros
porous and intelligent, like the white people.
When the Great Council (COngress) decides
anything they all wished to abide by it. lie
loved his land. lie could not throw it away
for nothing to the whites. The place for
the agency you picked out was on Wounded
Knee Creek, and he wanted his provisions
and clothing sent there; and he wanted
his Great Father to agree to this. When
his Great Father decided, it was all right
and good. You see,'' he said. g." the
representatives Of our people here. We
are very poor. We have no wagons to help
with. No servants: none to tell us how to
do. How can VIC and the whites who have
married among our people know how to get
along unless you help them. They don't
want to move Just now. They want some
time to sell what property We have 1t our
present homes. We will move in the
Spring or any time after that. You told
us that your nation increases. We want to
increase, too, in prosperity and in numbers
You said you wished us to live like white
men and 50 we are here to day dressed in
white men 5 clothes Whatever you saw to
us shall be known to my children, my grand
children and grandchildren children You
told me You would give me great many
things, including horses and cattle, and
big school house. want the kind of cattle
the whites have and we want to raise cows
We don't want animals with long horns, but
short ones. want everything in writing
before % home, 50 there may be no mis-
take. We want English teachers Those
now among Us only teach Us to read and
write the Sioux language We want to have
priests, those who wear black dresses, to
teach us. We should like to have a saw
and grist mill and agricultural implements
and seeds. | look round and find you have
plenty OF stores We have only one store and
when We pay our money there we have moth
ing to show for it We want five or six
stores because then We could buy cheaper at
one than We could at another Some of
those before you have never been in civilizi-
ton before. They had no idea what the
whites were before they came here. Look at
me and the men before you. | am very well
dressed and so are they. They want $40
apiece to buy things for their women and
children, and they would like to have a
trunk apiece to carry their clothing in. As
the weather is getting to be little
cold We should like to have an over
coat apiece. We see YOU wearing over
coats and We should like To have them.
Red Cloud next spoke. lie said he had
come here to-day to find out whether he
could have his agency changed. lie had
roauet the country where he now lived Tor
fifty-Six years and should like to have his
agency at White Clay Creek. That ground
he could not give up. lie did not ask for
horses. They had plenty of them, but for
wagons, moving machines. plows, saw mills
and grist mills. They did not want cattle
with horns like ciks. but short-horns, and a
big schJSl-housc. They would like to have
Catholic priest and nuns to live among
them and teach them. lie did not ask these
things for nothing. Half Of the Black Hills
had not been paid for. lie wanted the
Indians here to have forty dollars apiece and
OvcrcOats and trunks. His people were poor
and have nothing to move with. and they
could not move this Winter. lie would
like his provisions to be moved. If they
should be sent to the Missouri the long tailed
rats there would get into the boxes and de-
stroy them. If, he said, you were in our
country and looked at our people the water
would come into your eyes. As to myself |
am poorer than any them. The army officers
took my horses and other horses have been
stolen from me and the crops were destroyed.
The injury is at least $4,000. want hall
of this in money and the remainder in other
things.
The President then addressed the Indians.
lie said
My iriends-I am glad to see you thi.
morning-glad to see you dressed like white
people. lOu look well in your clothes like
white people. 1t shows you wish to look like
white people. | have not much to say about
the business that brought you here in addi-
ton to what | said last week. You have
SPOKEN about thSpaces where You wish to
have your agencies. | am glad You would
be satisfied to have agencies on the reserya-
tions allotted to you. But, as told you.
it is too late in the s,ason TO change your
present agencies. In the Spring, places can
be selected near White River. You want
trunks, oyereoats and money. The great
council of my nation has put money and
property for You in charge of the Secretary
of the Interior The winter viii soon come
on, and the streams will be frozen. We
wish you to help your people to move near
supplies and General Crook will assist you
next ever the Great Council has authorized.
lie will be glad to give you what he
can, and think he can satisfy you, and this
is the end of our grand council. am glad
yOu came. Let me advise you to 90 as near
TO the supplies As you can and next Spring
you can 90 to your reservation. | am glad
you are satisfied with White River hope
you will all reach your homes safely and in
good health. Before YOU 20 the Secretary
will give you as many of the things you
have asked for as he can and now | will be
glad to shake hands with each of you and
wish you well.
The Indians than separated. They shook
hands with the President and Secretary Of
the Interior. They appeared satisfied and
departed smiling. They left Wednesday.
The office holder having been disestablish-
ed, the Springfield Republican discovers that
after all it is 1.-THE machine" that assemblies
at Rochester. When convention is con-
trOlled by the professional relormers, then it
is ''independent' and represents 1.-THE peo-
pie" but when the relormers are not allow
ed to run it, why, then, it Is only a machine
This recalls the definition of orthodoxy as
being my doxy. "-N1r HarcH Palladium.