New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-09-12
The Sioux Treaty.

The Sioux Treaty.
The Indians at Crow Creek Agency are still
considering the treaty for opening the Sioux
reservation. The outlook is very bright at
this agency and very gratifyin reports are
also received from the lower Brule, where it is
expected that still less difficulty will be en-
countered in securing signatures. Capt.
Pratt is confident that if a comparatively
clean sweep can be made at these two agen-
cies no serious difficulty will be met in secur-
ing sufficient signatures to render the bill
operative. The prospects of a successful ter
mination of the labors of the commission are
not by any means hopeless.
The fountain head of all the opposition en-
countered here lies with a certain few who
have forged ahead of the great mass and now
possess considerable stock, and they are fear
ful that they will not have the entire earth to
Craze over. They seem to lose sight of the
fact that it takes but fifth of the proposed
land upon a 320-acre farm and that an
abundance will be left, They are opposed
from selfish purposes and seem to be
willing to sacrifice schools and all
the privileges of civilization and adj
vancement to the great mass OF Indians SO
long as they are allowed to occupy thou
sands of acres with their comparatively
small herds Of cattle. Still this bill would
would not interfere with them in any respect,
but they allege that any change would
necessarily do so. Chief White Ghost at the
last council said:
Now. my friends we want to do this work
peaceably and quietly. That is good, that
is right; am glad of that. We want to
put our attention closely to the work you
how ~
it quietly and peaceably. We were to come
forward with the pen, but this is not the
day; we want to put it off another day.
White Ghost WAS about to retire, when
Judge White called his attention to a brief
which the Indians had referred to him for
consideration, which covered two requests
which the Indians made, one being remuner-
ated from the Northwestern road for about
seyenty-fye acres of land which that road
had taken possession of when extending to
Pierre and the other calling for the transfer
OF number of their people to this agency
from Standing Rock. The judge stated thatl
he had examined the papers carefully, and
would call the attention of the government
to both matters at once. White Ghost then
said:
| thank you for that that is good. The
Great Father when he sees he has an impor-
tant work to do work that must be done
quick and properly, he takes his soldiers by.
the hand and tells them to do it right.
The great father will choose a man from
among the multitude, good and wise
man, for judge. A man who has
of the man, the greatfather generally chooses
for judge. And among you all there is a
great spirit who watches over him who is
chosen and it will be well with US. Why am
happy at this. | have suffered from this
earthly work, this land work, and / hope
that every thing will be Strengthened out.
have wished for that, and it will make me
happy. Grunts of approval We're frequent
during the speech of White Ghost. He was
Immediately followed by other prominent
speakers, none of whom spoke in reality
against the bill, but laid great stress upon the
proposition set forthin White Ghosts speech.
The real sensation of the day came when
Bowed Head, an Indian, sprang into the
circle and delivered the following urgent APP
peal to the Indians:
You are my friends, and what am going
to say may hurt you. Nevertheless I am
going to speak. Ny friends, am on a differ
emit path from some of the rest of you. [ am
not one of the chiefs sitting there, but am a
member of the tribune, and want to make
a lead for the children. | am not a bit afraid
of you, because you are men. The only man |
am afraid of is the God in whom | believe.
| want to save the young generation of this
and sweats for him, believe in him. | am
going to say a few words to you Indians. l
am not going to act for my own personal
good. have no children, but have grand
children. / do not wish to impose upon the
rights ofyou chiefs who are sitting in front.
No, my friends, only look at it for myself
individually. You know my allotment.
There il large, fine tim Der on it, fourstacks of
wheat, and I have self-binder. I feel that
am at liberty to say what want to. If
anybody is a friend Of the great father
thought you chiefs were his friends. Now,
you chiefs have spoken Of our fore
fathers and their graves upon the
hill, and then | thought to
myself like this: When our forefathers died
did they do for us? | will tellyou what works
they left behind them. An old campfire,
where even now the grass does not grow and
old buffalo lanes that we can see on the
prairies That is all that is left oftheir work.
We can see the old stones that they worship
ped still piled up. Young men, do you wish
your children to go in this way? You chiefs.
my brothers, my cousins, my relatives, Ipray
you to have mercy on the young people who
are beginning life and have no property to
start with. I do not say these words because
| seek to gain honor for myself personally.
lido not say them because | expect my great
father to remember me hereafter for it,
Come forward, you chiefs, and set us an
example. ["How."] We are waiting for
you because you are chiefs [.'how''], but if
you do not come forward; we will go for
ward regardless of you. [s'How."] White
Ghost, you are poor in health and death is
waiting for you every day. But / have
something deeper than that to say to you.
My friends you may hate me, but tell you
what is good. know it is good. You may
not think it is good, but / know, that it is
good. have finished.
FOLLOWS HIS EXAMPLE.
A young Indian named Williams then
walked into the circle and placing his hat
gently on the ground said that in the pres
ence of older men he uncovered his head.
He then made the most feeling and
effective speech that has yet been delivered
by the Indians, calling on the Indians if they
loved their children and wished them to be-
come educated, made happy and prosperous
to come forward and sign the paper, and then
walked bravey up to the table and regard
l., c1f4h