Wichita eagle., 1888-07-25

daylight Sunday morning, they formed
their circle which was composed Of wagons,
ponies and nearly 5000 Indians. The In
dams selected chiefs Gall, John Grass,
Mad Bear. Big Head and Running Ante
lope for their orators for their commission
conference. John Grass, one Of the head
chiefs, was the first to speak. He advised
the Indians to be careful in what they say
to the commission and no matter what is
said, to make no decision until mature
consideration. He said: 1.-THE treaties
made before by the whites have been
broken by them, and ! think these men
sent out by the Great Father to make this
treaty about our land have come for some
purpose. The government will support
Us for twenty-five years, and after
that time will have TO pay taxes and will be
poor" Mad Bear, another of the great
chiefs, said: these commissioners have
come TO talk to us about our lands. They
come here with an interpreter, and we
must have one TO look after our interests.
You have chosen four of US to do the talk
ing for the tribe, and we will work hard.
Do not forget, fellow warriors, that if you
sign this paper giving away your lands
you can never get it back again, no matter
how much you may pray. 1t Will be gone
forever"
Mad Bear repeated that the whites had
broken all former treaties with the Indians,
numerous grunts of applause from tie
Indians.
Up TO this time the council had been
quiet and comparatively cold.
The applause, which is given by grunts
and deep gutteral explosions. was mild, but
when Mad Bear took his seat and Chief
Gall arose majestically the Indians went
commanding Indian OF the tribe, and as
field general led all the brilliant manoeu-
vrcs during the Custer campaign for which
Sitting Bull was given credit. He is I'M
questionably the finest living Intiian orator,
and his speech at this councils pronounced
by his Interpreters to be the most eloquent
ever delivered on the reservation. Among
other things he said in abiding to the
arrival of the commissioners and the pro-
posed new treaty: "These commissioners
have come to talk about our lands.
Five of us have been chosen to speak
When we confront them in council we
must not speak fast. We must know
what we want before we ask for it. We
should listen to the white folks and learn
what they care to offer and then we should
without foolishness think what we are
willing to give. When l was at Fort Rice
many years go there was a treaty made
with us. Ia this treaty the whites made
great promises They told US that we
would have many cattle and that our
horses would cover the plains. l lie surned
in few years and found that we were
again deceived. They did not keep their
word and we were as fools When they
made that treaty they told us that our
land went north to the river of the Can
non Ball. Now they tell us it goes
no further toward the great north light
than the Cedar creek. Again we were de
ceived. The commissioners have come
out, they have made us many big promises.
nav -,I116 f.n hat hn
Father said. but would talk to please h
Indian heart. We believed them, but We
have lost much of our lands and cur chill
dren have been hungry. In the past
have not complained. / believ; d the Great
Father was honest, and have acted with
good heart, but unless this treaty with US
Is fair and we are told the truth, my heart
apart, (meaning severally). We want
grazing lands.
Our reservations have been growing
small and soon WIS will De without a
hunting ground. They come, hear,
with two papers, one to take our lands
and one to keep. them. They tell us we
must sign one or the other and our names
will be counted. This is the first time |
ever knew that an Indian can be made to
sign paper against his will" AT the
close Of Gall's speech the applause was
Savagely enthusiastic. After speeches by
Running Antelope, Mad Bear and Others
and the reading of the proposed treaty,
which was printed in the Sioux language,
Mad Bear again addressed the circle and
called upon all opposed to giving consent
TO che treaty to rise. Every Indian in the
circle sprang to his feet with a whoop.
This performance was so satisfactory to
the orators that II was repeated three times.
The pacific speech of the day was made by
Running Antelope. who advised his people
TO be calm and deliberate in their council
with the commission