The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-11-01
sitting-Bull and His Power.

The New York HerGld'S correspond
ent with the Sitting Bull Commission
telegraphs: Sitting-Bull has never been
either chief or a warrior, and yet his
influence over his tribe is stronger than
that which he would exereisein either of
these capacities. The head soldier is
not Sitting-Bull, but Long Dog, one of
the most notorious of the Sioux chiefs.
Though be is neither chief nor war
rior, Sitting Bull is a necromancer. lie
is medicine man. of such uncom-
mon ability as to have retained his pow
err 10 consecutive years. In this respect
his position as the counselor of his peo-
pie is greater than that of any cabinet
minister in the civilized world. Yet his
course has been extremely simple. He
merely marked out clear line of pol
lev, and had the pluck to pursue it un-
der all circumstances. He said in 1867,
4" Let us have nothing to do with the
Americans; let US make no peace with
them; let us live and die like Indians"
Adhering to this policy, never swerving
from it, always succeeding with 1t, he
has naturally carried his people with
him. This is the secret of his power
and of the apparent infallibility OF his
advice. His dictum is relied on IN
every emergency, his dreams
are reckoned by the Sioux
around him as more infallible than New
toms tests or Hersehell's observations.
His omens of the war-path, his pres
cience regarding the buffalo and other
game have never failed him. Conse-
quently he is to-day as secure in his do
minion over the minds and fears of
( those about him as the war chiefs are in
the confidence of their followers in bat
tie. Indeed, he directs the events OF
war and peace with the skill of Senate
and the authority of President united
in one man.
Two or thee days prior to his de-
parture from his own camp Sitting-Bull
had lost a son. He was therefore in
mourning, which was signifed by red
handkerchief, wound around his head,
as he sat in corner, mysterious as ever,
among the shadows. Throughout the
\ night-a bright moonlight one above
the roof and walls that encompassed
him and his chiefs-he made "medi-
ciner and told his dreams. Near him
was squatted solitary squaw, who
moaned and groaned occasionally in re-
sponse to his adjurations. In the mean
time sentinels passed to and fro. The
calls of the night sounded, and the de-
cision between peace and war, on the
part of 1000 savages, Ishmaelites and
outlaws, in respect to the people of the
: United States, waited in the brain OF
their abIest man. There he sat on a
: dirty floor in his blankets, in rapt medi-
tation, mute and motionless............
At 3o'clock Sitting-Bull entered, fol-
lowed by Spotted Eagle and the
. rest of his train. Now for the
I first time was visible to the white men
since the beginning of the late Indian
wars the most noted Indian of the period,
and now was made real COoper's often
a derided vision Of an Indians face.
I Neither ignorance nor cruelty nor saw
aces as barbarous as any displayed in
0 savage history has detracted in the least
: from the expression of manhood and
s womanliness combined in Sitting Bulls
t physiognomy. Less rude than San
| tanta's, less sharp than Spotted Tails,
S more intelligent than Red Clouds, his
I features, like Goethe's, made music to
4. the senses. He wore quiet, ironical
smile. His black hair streamed down
: along his beardless and swarthy
J, cheeks over elean-cut ears not burdened
with ornaments. His red mourning
e handkerchief was replaced by wolf
e skin cap. His shirt was q black calico
i specked with white dots. His blanket
o wrapped negligently around him reveal
n ed below its edge pair of rich beaded
!, rnoccasins, the only finery he wore.
: Silently, stately and impassive, this alb
t original leader, this scoundrelly 'smed-
: icine man." this rascally foe and treach-
d erous friend, this model, in sooth, OF
;. Machiayelli's own sort, squatted HIM
e self on buffalo robe next the wall and
s took out his pipe and smoked it, and
e expressed, with his insolent manner, the
T following sentiment "This commits
t sion which has come to interview me
r can 90 to the devil"