The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-12-15
A Priest with Sitting Bull.

who met him, gave an interesting ac-
count of his recent travels through the
wilds of the Northwest. The Abbot, it
may be stated, is one of the most dis
tinguished men of his order in the
United States, and is the governor of
twenty-five priests, who make their
home at the Indiana monastery when
not away engaged in Catholic missions
under his direction.
When Abbot Martin set out to find
Sitting Bull his object was to persuade
him to return to American soil and oc-
cupy a reservation, where he would
have an abundance of food and cloth
ing, and the facilities for being Chris
tianized and educated into civilized
ways. He had an idea that the Sioux
region, where inclement weather and
want of food would soon decimate them
to fearful extent, if not eXterminate
them. 1t was mainly for this reason
that he was induced to search for them
in the wilderness, and induce them to
return to their old home and submit
themselves to the American Govern
ment But when he saw the magnifi-
cent country along the border, waving
with rich grass, over which the buffalo
roamed undisturbed and in countless
numbers, he almost concluded that Sit
ting Bull had acted wisely, and it would
be better if he remained on British soil
On the day after his arrival he had
conference with Sitting Bull, on which
occasion he explained the object of his
mission, but having seen the country
he had almost changed his mind about
the propriety of advising him to return.
Sitting Bull smiled and replied that the
country was not only better, but the
people and the Government better. He
liked the English because they had not
interfered with him, while the Ameri-
cans had never allowed him or his peo-
pie to have peace.
Abbot Martin said there had been
several ridiculous stories afoat concern
ing the origin and education of Sitting
Bull. twas not true that he could speak
English, French or any other language
except the Sioux. He could not speak
nor did not understand a syllable of
English or French, and had never re-
ceived any education. He was proud
that he knew nothing of the language
and the customs of the pale face, and
avoided learning them. He obtained
and maintained supremacy over his
tribe simply by superior natural cum
ming. He was essentially demagogue,
following the will of the majority in
stead of shaping their good opinions.
He was originally medicine man, and
the warriors rallied around him because
they discovered in him the qualities of
personal courage and shrewdness. He
was never chosen chief, nor do the
Sioux ever elect chief They simply
follow the man they believe to possess
superior wisdom until they lose faith in
him. Then they rally round some other
person who happens to have the ascend
ency in their good opinions. One secret
of Sitting Bulls long-continued popu-
larity is his extreme reserve and humil-
ity. He is among the poorest of his
tribe. He lost his tent in crossing the
Missouri River, and when he arrived
on British soil he had no shelter for
himself and family. He obtained a
small tent, the shabbiest in the village,
in which he, his wife and five children,
and his unmarried sister, a mature
maiden fifty years of age, lived. He
was also very devout, according to the
savage idea of devotion, and this quail
ty Won him respect. He observed with
strict fidelity all the ceremonies of his
pagan religion, such as the sun dance
and the new moon dance. He worships
the sun, the moon and earth, and be-
lieves that he can hear the voice of God
in the wind and the roar of waters.
His personal habits are simple by choice
as well as by necessity. He despises
the costume of civilization. A shirt,
pair of leggings, and moccasins are all he
wants. Buffalo meat is all the food he
will eat. Whisky he looks upon as the
drink of evil spirits and will not taste
it. He is as unOstentatious in his man.
ner as he is simple in his habits. He
claims no deferential treatment and laws
no claim to being chief, though he is
implicitly obeyed. He treats his wife
and children with consideration, and
does not believe that one man should
have more than one wife, though some
of his braves have two and even more.
In appearance Sitting Bull is not unlike
the ordinary Indian, except that he bears
some external evidences of greater cum
ming than his associates. He is swarthy
and fierce, and his hair hangs in long
separate tresses, the middle tress being
much longer than the others, and al
ways neatly plated and ornamented
with a single eagle feather He is
fifty years of age, but his hair is still as
black as a crow. His eye is as keen as
the eagles, and he is the most expert
riheman of all the Sioux. 1t is said of
him that his aim is so sure that no man
at whom his rifle has been pointed has
escaped. 1t is believed by the young
braves that the atSpirit has ordained
that Sitting Bull cannot shoot at a white
man without killing him. He is also
the best bowman of his tribe, and often
uses the arrow in battle and in the chase
Abbot Martin said that during his
eight days stay in the Sioux camp his
tent was almost constantly crowded
with visitors. The young men came,
laughed and talked with him, told
stories and sang. Their songs have no
words, merely tuneful sounds, many of
the airs rich with melody and music.
Though their songs have no words, the
sentiment and subject, whether gay or
sad, are easily distinguishable by in
tonatiOn eXnrpssion and attituda In