St. Paul daily globe., 1888-07-29
Formal Expression Of the In
dians on the Sioux Res
epvatiOn.
Chief John Grass Chosen by
the Tribe as Leading
Spokesman.
An Address Whose Meaning
Could Not Be Mis-
taken.
Commissioner Pratt Replies,
But Makes Some Very
Bad Breaks.
Special to the Globe.

Special to the Globe.
STANDING Rock AGENCY, Dak., July
2S.-The first formal expression of opin-
ion by the Indians to the commission
ers with regard to the opening OF the
the Sioux reservation was given to-day.
The Indians were in council until day
light this morning, and all of the night
their speeches could be heard for a
mile. Their orators are loud takers,
and as they look upon the attempt to open
part of their vast reservation as blow
at their future happiness and prosperity,
they grew very earnest and eloquent.
The leading speeches last night were
made by Chief Justice John Grass, Cot
tonwood, Big Head and Mad Bear, and
as every Indian was asked his opinion,
the spokesman were well prepared to
give the commissioners definite an
swer this morning. Gall, Mad Bear and
Big Head, who were with John Grass,
and were
CHOSEN AS THE ORATORS.
for the 5000 Indians withdrew last
night and by unanimous vote of the
tribe Grass was made the orator for to-
day. The commissioners, 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 9 O'clock and were soon
confronted by the orators and their
tribes. John Grass, the bright Indian
chief justice, arose at 10 O'Clock and ad
dressed the commissioners in dign-
fed 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 father. That if all the big words
they had heard could be gathered to-
gether they would be heavy enough to
crush out every Indian on the reserya-
ton. He went back to the beginning,
spoke of Adam and Eve, and said 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 right of way for railroad. This
consent was given, but before the com
missioners got back to Washington they
changed the papers so that they made
the great father believe that the Indians
had signed away their lands, and they
said to the father, "See what we have
got for you" This sally on the part of
the smiling Indian orator caused much
merriment in the crowd. Continuing,
Grass said: ''We have talked this mat
ter all over in our councils. You tell
us 100000 acres of our land is to be
given to the whites and we are to get
FIFTY CENTS FOR EVERY ACRE
sold; that 81, ,000, 900 is to be advanced to
us, and thet we are to get per cent of
that for ourselves. One half of this is
to be used for industrial schools, and
we are to get the other half. This would
give us about 81 each. Laughter among
the Indians.l We do not think that this
would make us very rich. You tell us
that other Indian tribes are to be
brought among us. This we do not
want, and it is not pleasing to the other
tribes. All these things we have
talked over for five nights, and all our
people tell 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 will try
to get it for us. You have two papers
for us to sign. One black, which is for
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
other agencies to visit, and much work
to do. You had better go on, for you
cannot get us to sign. This is all we
have to say"
Grass delivered
A VERY CUNNING SPEECH
and was loudly applauded by the In
dians. Chief Gall was then called upon
to speak by the commissioners, but he
simply said: "Everything that we have
to say has been said. That's ALL" The
unanimity with which the Indians re-
fused to sign was great surprise to the
commissioners, especially to Chairman
Pratt, who is teacher of the Indian
school at Carlisle, Pa, and prideS him
| 1t was evident from the speech made by
Pratt in reply that his association with
Indian children has driven from his
head what little he might have known
about Indian men. for his remarks were
THREATENING AND INSULTING.
and were so taken by the Indians. He
told them that they would be forced to
sign one paper or the other, and re-
minded 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 were fighting and kill
ing the whites. This was one of the
worst of his many bad breaks, for of
all things the Indians wants kept in
silence it is their wars with the whites.
He told them that it would not do for
one man to talk for all the Indians and
say that he represented them, and that
the commission would not stand it.
This
WAS A DIRECT SLAP
at John Grass, who had been selected
by the Indians to do their talking, and
an affront to the Indians who had Sc
lected him, and who had few moments
before applauded him so enthusiastic
ally. Pratt was angry and peevish, and
showed 1t plainly in his speech. He
has made a sufficient number of bad
breaks during his days work on the
agency to prevent the signing of the
Indians even if they were friendly to
the proposition, one of which was to in
innate that the whole tribe could be
PURCHASED FOR FIVE DOLLARS.
In reply the dignifed John said to
Pratt in courteous though pointed
speech: Before you tell US what the
whites have done for MS, look at that
great country which was once ours and
pay us what you have agreed in former
treaties. Don't speak of that again."
Pratt informed the Indians that their
lands could not be taken from them
without the consent of three-fOurths of
1.-The Black Hills still belong to u.s."
In referring to one of
THE INDISCREET SPEECHES
of Pratt Grass said. StYQn fell ne fhof