The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1888-08-03

- In 49, - NV
eS0lnlsslol Is striving to keep The news OF
the opposition from being made public. a.
they lear u viii strengthen the Opposition
sentiment to the measure already known
to exist In the lower agencies. Your re.
porter, however win try to keep on the
news trail.
FIFTH DAY.
The first formal expression OF opinion
by the Indians to the commissioners with
regard to the opening OF the Sioux reserva-
tion has been given. The Indians were in
coun ell until daylight this morning, and
all tpe night their speeches could be heard
for a mile. Their orators are loud takers.
and as they looked upon the attempt to
open a part OF their vast reservation as
a blow at their future Happiness and pros.
perlty, they grew very earnest ami elo-
nhtht. The 'eafing speeches last night were
made by Chief Justice Johp Grass, Gotten.
wood, Big Head and Mad Bear, and as
every Indian was asked his opinion, the
spokesmen were well prepared to give
the commissioners a definite answer this
morning. The Indians, Gall, Mad Bear and
Big Head, who we're with joan Grass and
were chosen as the orators, for the 5000
Indians withdrew last night and by a
unanimous vote OF the tribe Grass was
made the orator for to-day. The commits.
%sioners, who have been laboring under the
belief that they would be successful! in
their efforts to secure the consent OF the
Indians, took their seats at 8 o'clock and
were soon confronted by the orators and
their tribes. John Grass, the bright
Indian chief justice. rose and addressed
the commissioners Ia a dignifed manner.
He said the Indians had been listening
for five days to
THE WORDS OF WISDOM
which fell from the lips of the smart men
who have been sent out by the great faith.
er. That IL all the big words they had
heard could be gathered together they
would be heavy enough to crush out every
Indian on the reservation. He went back
to the beginning, spoke OF Adam and Eve,
and said that the Indians now knew all
about that story, as the whites had been
among them with the Bibles. He alluded
to the Black Hills treaty, saying that
when the commissioners were out to make
that treaty they told the Indians that
they wanted their consent to Alright OF
way for a railroad. This consent was
given, but before the commissioners got
back to Washington they changed the pa.
pers SO that they made the great father be.
lieve that the Indians had signed away
their lands, and they said to the father,
'TSee What we have got for YOU" This
sally on the part Of the smiling Indian or
ator caused much merriment in the crowd.
Continuing, Grass said: 1--WE have talked
this matter all over la our councils. You
tell us II, 600, 600 acres OF our land Is to
be given to the VIII ties and we are to get
FIFTY CENTS FOR EVERY ACRE
sold; that 81, 900, 900 is to be advanced
to us, and that we are to get 8 per cent Of
that for ourselves. One hall of this is to
4 ..- 81 s-l.-A-s.I 49, - 49, -
to get the other hall. This would give us
about 81 each. Laughter among the
Indians. We do not think that this
would make us very rich. You tell us
that other Indian tribes are to be brought
among MS. This we do not want, n it is
not pleasing TO the other tribes. All these
things we have talked over for five nights,
and all our peoplstell me TO say to you that
THEY WILL NOT SIGN.
The government owes us much under our
old treaties, and we hope that when you
go back to Washington you win try to get
it for us. You have two papers for us to
sign. One black, which is Tor the Indians
who say yes, and one red, for those who
say no. Our people say they will not sign
the black nor the red. You have counted
us since you have been here; you know
Just how many we are, and we all say no.
You have been with us many days; you
have other agencies to visit, and much
work to do. You had better 60 on, for
you cannot get us to sign. This is all We
have to say.
Grass delivered
A VERY CUNNING sPEEe
and was loudly ~applauded by the In
dians. Chief Gall was then called upon to
speak by this commissioners, but he sim.
ply said: Everything that VIZ have to
say has been said. That's all" The una.
nimity with which the Indians refused to
sign was a great surprise TO the commits
s~ioners. especially to Chairman Pratt,
who is a teacher OF the Indian school at
Carlisle. Pa, and prides himself on know.
ing the Indian character. Il was evident
from the speech made by Pratt in reply
that his association with Indian chill.
dren has driven from his head what
little he might have known about
Indian men, for his remarks were
THREAryIe AND INSULTING.
and we're so taken by the Indians. He
told them that they would be forced to
sign one paper or the other, and reminded
them OF all that the government has been
| doing for The Indians. In the course Of his
remarks he made allusion TO the time they
we're fighting and killing the whites. This
was one OF the worst OF his many bad
/ breaks, forOf all things the Indians want
kept IN silence IL is their wars with the
whites. He told them that 1t would not
do Tor one man TO talk for all the Indians
and say that he represented them, and
that the commission would not stand It,
This
Wal A DIREcT SLAP
at John Grass, who had been selected by
the Indians to do their talking and an
affront 60 the Indians who had select
"a him. and who had afew moments before
applaudsd HIM so enthusiastically. Pratt
Was angry and peeyish, and showed It
nlainly ia his speech. Hehas made a sutti-
cient number Of bad breaks during his
DAYS work on the agency TO prevent the
aieniDr 81 the Indians even II they were
friendly TO the proposition, n OF which
was to hint that the tribe could DC
PURCHASER ron FIVE DOLLARS.
In reply the digni6ed John said TO Pratt
Ia 4 courteous though pointed Epeecb;
aBelore you tell US what the whites have
done for us, look at that great country
which was once ours and pay az what you
have agreed IN former treaties. Don't
upeak of that again. Pratt informed the
indians that the land co1ld not be taken
from them without the consent o. three.
lourthgof their numbsr. Then, replied
Grass. ssThe Black Hills still belongto u.s."
IN referring to one Of
THE iNDIseREET SPEECHES
81 Pratt. Grass said; You tell ue tnap y
We do NOT sign thics paper we Surn our
backs upon the great i&ther. 1hls pats =