The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-10-17

II desperation born of want is til"
most terrible. In his report to the
general of the army, for 1877, Gen.
Pope forcibly says of the Cheyenne
Indians:
"But l must urge upon the authori-
ties, the absolute necessity, both in
view of the safety of this frontier, and
in the interest of humanity and fair
dealing, that these Indians be better
fed than they are now, or have been.
Notwithstanding the fact that they
have been away six months subsisting
themselves upon buffalo, without aid
from their supplies, yet
these supplies, intended for a whole
year, were barely sufficient on the re-
turn of the Indians from their six
months hunt, to furnish them with
half rations for the remainder of the
year. 1t is an injustice to
the character of the government, and a
wrong to the Indians, that they should
be compelled to remain at their reserva-
ton, and there slowly starve, and it is
a painful and unhappy duty for the
troops that they should be kept in large
numbers in their presence, with no
power or authority except to force them
to starve TRANQUILITY.
Such a state of things as now exists
cannot lastlong without some violent
outbreak alike fatal to life and to con
fidence. The con-
dition Of the Kiowas and Comanches
in this respect, is so nearly the same as
to require no other special mention"
In several subsequent u%tterances
Gen. Pope deprecated the unfair deal
ing toward these Cheyennes and APP
pealed for humanity's sake for better
treatment. But the Indian Agent,
Miles, made no change in affairs, the
Indians bore all as patiently as Indian
nature could, which, in this instance,
was remarkable; patience pointed to
restitution and the Indians struck out
for themselves. This much any band
of white men would have done rather
than starve.
Gen. Drum, the assistant adjutant
general, is confident that the outbreak
was provoked by the failure of the
Indian department to provide for the
Indians, and is well entrenched in
documents.
1t was Lieut.. Lawton who made M
investigation of the charge of lack OF
food, under orders from Gen. Pope.
The lieutenant reported that '.full ra-
tions are not and have not been issued
for a long time" All the
Cheyennes are dissatisfied, and complain
that they are not receiving what was
promised them: that they would be
satisfied if they received what the
treaty allows"
Col. Mackenzie, too, who commanded
TT. Reno, corroborated the above state
ments in u letter, and concluded: 81
wish to say that l am sure that the
fault of any outbreak among those In
dams will rest at the door Of the gov.
eminent, and will be brought on by
starvation"
Gen. Sheridan thus endorsed Gen.
Pope's report:
$50 make the delinquency of the In
dian Department at the Cheyenne and
Arrapahoe Agency appear in its proper
light, it should be borne in mind that a
large number OF these Indians were
mep. 1a' W tne my ra dn,;no
which neriod tl,ey received mo supplies
from the government, yet, notwith-
standing this, the supplies are found to
be largely deficient
IL Is therelorc pam 'iH'' .no i'u
nave goou cause ior ieaYihs .no
agency. we neither excuse nor pailiate
the depredations of the Cheyennes.
But we contend that Int for the neali-
- 49, 80 1na;,n a.
senoe VI 'ne "se"'' az
partment there would nave been nc
ontrages.
The question then arises. how are
s,oh a,throoLs n ,o rrevented i,
So 80,
iuture' firsV' there must DC regularity
and system; n second, honesty, IL
the ADMINISTRATOR OF indian AFFAIRS
In these requisites the ihdiah depart
menu mas repeatedly proved sauly deh'
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