Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-03-02
Red Cloud.
AN IRRUPTIoN OF SENSE


WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. 26.-The
committee on appropriations had its
monotony broken to-day by the unex-
pected appearance of Red Cloud, the
great Sioux Cnief. He was accom-
panied by an interpreter, who mad a
very red face, although 3 white man.
Red Cloud had become civilized enough
to ask for congressional app opriation,
and he did it well. Jeferson's speech
of Logan was not more inter esting and
terse. The treasury would be in more
danger if there were more Clouds {
hanging over it like this "red" one. The
big chief WAS not arrayed in blankets
or feathers. He was without paint.
The tariff is too high for him to afford
paint. He wore black frock coat, a
purple cravat with seventy-fve cent
breast-pin, with alligator shoes. He is
net tall nor short, but has long, glossy
black hair and weak eyes. and
alter the manner of "Simon says wig
gle woggle," aud, after preliminary
"ugh !" began:
"Look at me Big law chiefs l
am Red Cloud, bigger chief. l am
from the land of sunset (smiles) Look
at me-ugh L am an Icdian, but l
have sense (sensatiop). My people
have sense. Irepresent them-ugh !
know how to manage my own private
business. Seven hundred and fifty
horses were wrongfully taken from
me and my people. They ue-e
taken by General Crook, in 1876,
when was at peace. l want pay ;or
them. | am man Of scnse-ughl
Secretary Teller SAYS: Pay me in
cows Me no want COWS. Let Sitting
Bull have COWS (smiles). We want
money-ugh! l am man of sense.
When get all the cow promised al
ready by the government l will have
all the COWS want Ineed money.
am in debt. I must take care of my.
self and family. ask the great law
chiefs, and especially the friend OF
my people, Sunset to pay me for my
Look at mew
After an explanation from the inter.
prete., Chairman Hiscock arose and
addressed the chief:
"Red Cloud: Observe mel You have
been pleased to compliment one of our
chiefs, whose plumed name is "Sun-
set For this we thank you. Here
Red Cloud bowed stiffs. 1t seems at
first sight that cows are not proper
pay for horses, but this committee has
no power to appropriate cow=-only
money. You cay you are in debt. /,
is an evidence of civilization. We con
grat,ilate you. One of our big medi.
cine men have sung of your condition:
a' Lo the poor Indian, whose untutored mind
Sees God in clouds and can not raise the wind
"We are pleased to know that your
family is large. This is encouraging.
but we wonder that you are not con-
tent with COWS. They are useful In q
family"
When this vas explained to Red
Cloud he gave some expressive grunts
and shook hands all around, including
the clerks Of the committee. He came
hack twice to shake hands with Sunset
Cox. Cox seemed overwhelmed by Red
Clouds manners, but it was noticed
that he kept his bands over the little
tuft Of hair left upon his glossy scalp.
Red Cloud Is an impressive aud I'm
teIesting Indian. II Is said he Is > per
feet tySant among his people. He al
lows no one to cross his viii. He has
tried to run the interior department
and the Indian Office, asking them te
remove certain bad agents. 1t is GER
tain that he Is good strategic warrior
| and he has learned enough to know
that money ie the great motor of civ
iIizasion. These ''blg Indians" are get
| ting scarce. Bel Cloud, however, vii
be remembered, as he is gilded by the
glory Of Sunset.