The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-08
Hayes.s Sioux Commission.

In the fall Of 1871 the great chiefs RED
CLOUD and SPOTTED TAIL, with many sub
chiefs, visited Washington to protest against
the removal of their people to the Upper
Missouri River. They bore witness that
the lands so picked out for them were i'll
wooded, i'll watcrcd, unhealthy; and they
said "You white men have children
would YOU send them where they will die Z"
Mr.. HAYES, begirt with bevy 81 smiling
flatterers. male and female, apparently en-
joyed the grand pow-wow as n theatrical
show, and promised that II the Sioux Of the
two agencies would go TO the Missouri for
the winter, they might pick out homes 10
suit themselves in the spring. The Indian
circle looked moody, dclibcratcd, then shook
hands on the bargain. Thanks TO the
energy and skill OF two departments com
bined, those Of Messrs. SCHURZ and Nc
CRAZY, the removal of the Indians was
timed TO the cruel eve Of winter, and griev-
Gus were their surerngs.
Spring came. The Sioux awaited the full
flment Of HAYEs's promise. April passed,
May. June; then news reached Washington
that unless tho Sioux were moved at once 10
their chosen homes, they would move them
selves. Mr.. HAYES suddenly recalled that
he had said something to his beloved red
children about new homes, and, hastily
pouring scores OF companies Of infantry
and cavalry into Dakota, between the hos
tile Sioux of the border and the friendly
Sioux he sent Il commission TO the latter
with view to-earrying out his promise, Of
course Oh. no. not at all-with view to
breaking the bargain and buying or begging
l..1l q
pledged liberty Of choice, and to accept
permanent homes on the banks Of the
Missouri.
The result OF this duplcty il now told by
HAYEsS three Commissioners. Gen. ID. 5
BTASLEY, Colonel Of the Twenty-second
Infantry; Mr.. J. NJ. HAwoRTH, ex-agent OF
the Kiowas and Comanches and the Rev. A.
l.. RIGGS, who breaches at the Santee Sioux
agency in the Dakota tongue. In its hunll-
lating failure, HAYEss embassy resembles
It's predecessor, his last years embassy to
Biting BULL. 1t was received at Spotted
Tail Agency in silence and sullenness, with
disdain TO exchange the friendly How"
bulking and moody SPOTTED TAIL did not
conceal his coltempt for its errand nor his
defiant purpose to hold the doublc-faccd
Great Father 10 his pledged word. With
ugly-tempered abruptncss he said.
my Great Father told lac, when you 20 back pick
sut good country have done ! now want to
move inside Of ten day. II any tells that must
wait twenty days | Will burn M all the houses here
aen III 20 have been waiting for you The Great
rsher has soldiers 10 hayeI The squAws are sick the
'hi'ui'u are dying out, AMI am in hurry
Inc e'eat chief even refused to owth
the commissioners to the land he had picked
put on the south fork Of White River. 1.-The
ground has been ti'7.e a lopg time. and we
were raised there; we kr4w every hole in il:
We want TO go There, and we don't want You
~ go. nave stuck to what niv Great Father
told me, Now you can go to RED CLOUD,
and will 20 to my agency" The report OF
the Commissioners admits that SPOTTED
TAIL RECALLED their ears with "a long list Of
Government promises uniulnllcd, that he
was rather arrogant and dctatoral," and
that he would not settle on the Missouri"
RED CLOUDS reception Of IlAYEs's ambns-
sailors was less insulting, but not less de-
olsive. When Gen. STANLEY offered the
band thousand extra cows costing so 600
10 stay on the Missouri, RED CLOUD said:
liam Sioux Ican't speak ahead speak aside. nor
speak behind to say anything more than told Great
bAtcT about The land Ny lNcnds have decided about
he country | am going to, and don't wish to have any
argument with you the Great Father ahoutit White
Clay Greek j. he place 80 TO suppose that skuown
ell around
This Is the way the red chiefs pinned Mr.,
HAYES to his promise When the Commits
honers found the Indians resolute, it oc-
Cured TO them to examine the rival sites,
anu ..-' now segely think thai -" Mis-
souri, lands are Inferior Yet they had been
urging them on the Indians Disappointed
experts in Indian jobbery charge the faill,..
Of the Commission to Pacific Railroah RIM.
ners intriguing among the 70 mon "a
secure transportation Nv all -, ,ho ann.
Indians, carr ,,,,or mt vithont
eontr- ,ho M w." N' sito nrood nv Mr.
poHULz's and Mr. MCCRARY's men, and re-
jeoted by RED CLOUDS and SPOTTED TAILS
with the well-wooded healthy interio,