The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-08-24
STILL PoW-WOWING.



wood and Commissioner Price. This morn
ing's delegates represented the Winnebago
and Omaha tribes. Most of the former were
well dressed men and spoke English
fluently. OF the latter only two had been
educated, but all wore the garb ofciviliza-
tion, blue flannel or black cloth suits.
Chief ST. Cyr, of the Winncbagocs, an in
tclligent fellow, was the first to speak. He
wanted an advance on the cash annuity of
about $4,000 to purchase teams for his
people, TO set their saw-mill in operation
again and enable his tribe to secure much
needed lumber for building purposes 1t
was developed, however, through this chief
that, although many Of his tribe were paid
for their labor and material they never
cared to pay for work or material required
for their own use, considering that the Gov
eminent should bear the expense.
Secretary Kirkwood did not think favor
ably of such a system, aud he thought that
the Indians should show disposition to
help themselves. st. Cyr replied that no
assistance was expected by those Indians
who did not work He was appealing for
the industrious class.
White Breast, an angular, raw-boncd
chief, spoke next, through an interpreter.
He said: "Crcat Father, am always glad
to talk to a good man like you. We know
that you take care Of US"
Secretary Kirkwood-"Pleasec correct him,
Mr.. Interpreter, just there. Say to him
that do not care for the Indians, their
welfare rests with God and themselves. 1t
is the duty of the Indian to strive to take
care of himself"
White Breast" That is all right. But
Great Father the Winnebagoes have had a
bad year, their crops have failed, and what
we want to know Is whether the Great
Father will not help us. We want an adj
vance on our cash annuity The white man
has been good to us, and we want to be UNI
der the whites"
Secretary Kirkwood-" But that is not
the wish of the whites. They want the In
dams to be their equals, to enjoy all rights
alike, and the Indian can do so by working
and asserting their independence"
White Brcst-" Umph. We need money /;
that is all have to say"
Secretary Kirkwood, to st. Cyr-"I UNI
derstand that number of your tribe are
well off, and own large and profitable farms.
Now would you be willing for us to advance
money to the needy class only, or do you
desire an equal division p
st. Cyr-" Why we will want our share
of course. We are entitled to it,"
Secretary Kirkwo0d-"T Then you rich
men are not willing to make q sacrifice in
order to assist your poor people?"
st. Cyr-" No, sir; If there is to be an
advance we want our share"
The Secretary said he would consider the
matter
Chief Payr, of the same tribe, who was
living on portion of the Omaha rcscrva-
ton, made request for an advance of
money also, and urged that his people were
under no obligations to the Omahas with
reference to their occupancy of o portion of
their territory. The two tribes were peace
full and about to form a mutual agreement
with rcferencet to this matter, Of which he
desired to speak tomorrow and hoped the
President would approve.
The Omaha's were heard next. Two
Crows, q broad faced, bushy headed chief,
was the first speaker. He'said he had long
waited for this opportunity to speak face to
face with the Great Father. He had a
1 grievance and proposed to speak nothing
but the truth. eve work hard, he said,
"and do not expect the Government to
support us all the time. We are yet in the
pendent, but are working to that
end. NJ We need protection. We arc
living with some Winnebagoes who are
not good ncigfbors They owe us money,
and we want them to pay it. am here to
have the Great Father settle this matter
for fear il it is left to us to decide there
will be trouble. / have no charge to make
against the Winncbago delegates here; but
some of their people who live on our res
eryation have stolen 154 Of our horses
They are of that class who steal and won
work at all. We sold them land but oul
horses are worth more than they paid fol
our land. Now, we want either our lane
back or pay for the horses. These horses,
Two Crows added, {" had been stoleI
from time to time, ever since 1866, ant
although complaint had been lodged will
the several agents from time to time M
notice was taken of the matter" Secretary
Kirkwood asked the Winnebago delegate
what they had to say to this charge. The.
ldid not answer Eb Humber, anOthe
Omaha Indian, stated that his people, VIII,
had farms and were doing well, feared tina
| the Government would move them OF
again, and wanted to know whether the,
could not assure clear titles to their prop
erty.
Secretary Kirkwood said that was mat
ter which had been under consideration 70
some time, and should be laid before tn
next Congress, with recommendation tina
such law be passed.
DEMONSTRATING as u Science.
At las this afternoon the Secretary me
the Omahas and heard their complain
ancnt the Winnebagoe's DEMONSTRATING pro
clivities.
Harry Fontinelle of the Omabas-hc
with the delegation as a member of tn
tribe and as interpreter also-said:
g ] wish, Mr.. Secretary, first to refer
the treaty made between the United State
and the Omahas in 1854. The Omahas the
relinquishcd large portion of their land
west of the Missouri specifying the name
on condition that if the land they kept ft
themselves did not prove satisfactory, tha
the United States would either give thei
other land or in lieu thereof pay them ft
it. My understanding of this is that if whi
land they occupied, after the cession of !
did not suit them that they should |
allowed to take back land within the col
fines Of the estate which we coded, and thu
we should have payment for the entil
amount FIST coded, minus the amount
acres, 100000, which they took at the tin
, of the cession of the rest of their land. "
have never received q cent for it,
wish also to refer to article in I'll
treaty, in which we gave up all claims
, land located cast of the Missouri river
return for the $4,000 given us in 1856
We don't know whether we have gotten a
. of that. We acknowledge the receipt I
some, but don't know whether we got
all, and we wish a detailed statement of n
~. Lodi