New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-05
CRAFTY SITTING BULL.
HE VISITS THE COMMISSIONERS.

PROGRESSING PROFOUND FRIENDSHIP = THE
OTHER CHIEFS STILL oBDURATE-rHE
BLUNT SPEECH OF JOHN GRAss-PowER
FUL APPEALS TO FJJD1CE BY
ALL THE GREAT CHIEFS AT
A WAR COUNCIL
IDr rEIEGRIrH TRIBUNE.
Standing Rock Agency, Aug. 4.-Blood is up among
the chiefs at the reservation over the charges msdc
against them By the Commissioners. They are
chargrned and enraged at the attempt OF the COM
missoncrs to force them tell the Indians that they
might walk up and sign the paper II they pieasea'
This was an inslnuaton that they were no oc''er
than the common people Of their tribes, ana mas
stung their pride In his reply TO the commissioners
John Grass said "You have said many things 10
shame the Indians You accuse us OF sal'hs
that the Great Father I'm Washington lies We
did not say that: we say that tho Commissioners
whom he sends to liars. We have tolh you
that we do not want to sign the papers, and VIC
meant IL. We do want 10 sign, because "o
arc not getting enough for our lands That Is Ius'
what mean. You talk too much to u.s. You
tell many things that not in the biil' we
have had our young read the bill to US ana
know that you telling us many
things that not true. You may say tha'
am not authorized TO speak for the Indians say
am. and stand here talking for all the Indians
Here the Indians supported Grass I'm his siateihehl
with big cow" Continuing Grass said ifou
have kept here many days and we want 10 go
home and attend 70 crops. We have looked al
the red paper and at the black, and we can see no
difference
During this speech sitting Bull moving around
among the Indians, giving them advice The sensa-
tional charge of the Commission, and the spirited
speech OF Grass created profound sensation among
the Indians and It was plain that many OF the reds
were dumfoundcd They surprised and da1ed
and were placed in condition of wild expectancy.
ut fhp
all Of the Indians of the reservation, squaws ana
children, were present, and the Commissioners had
great opportunity to work upon their gratitude. ~
a good day for explanation, and the Commissioners
believe that they have made break In the ranks Oh
the opposition The main objections so far advanced by
the Indians that the Government has not observed
treaties, that fifty cents per acre Is not enough
for their lands that the present boundary lines Of their
treaty are what the Indians given TO under
stand they would be. They also object very strongly
to the Ssntecs and Poncas being brought mo
their lands TO interminge with them. The Com
mssiOners have told them in reply that the Govern
has done than promised, that their ratons
largely increased BY the treaty Of 1876, and mat
upon the expiration of the time during which they
were TO be fed they we're fed
for four years by the Government The Indians
have been told what the Government has expended
for them, and they have been shown s plainly as
possible that II they will accept this treaty they VIII
be one Of the richest communities on the continent
At the council OF the Indians last night, the chiefs
spoke bitterly Of the Commission and asked the In
dams II they would follow the advice Of men who
would insult their chief. Sitting Bull spoke Of the
vast areas Of land tho Indians havo gvcn to the
whites and said now they trying 10
crowd up upon a pasture not big enough for cows.
He called upon the chiefs, whom the Commissioners
had told they could speak for thor Indians, to
say something the shame which had been
placed upon them.
Call who is proud and mpcrious. amid the
wild applause Of the Indians, and said that he had
been among them many years, that they knew him
their chief, and knew that he haa
always been true to them He asked
them II they would follow in the lead Of these
Comm ssoncrs whom they have never seen before,
or follow their chiefs, who have led them to battle
and fought for them He recalled the time that the
whites pinned him the ground with bayonets, near
Fort Stevenson and left him for dead. and said that
with all they had done, he had never been so badly
hurt as when these Commissioners tell him that he
cannot represent hs people Calls speech was FIRE
Quenty applsuied and those who heard him say that
he swayed the Indians with wonderful effect.
John also spoke Of the aifront that he and the
other chiefs had received from the Commissioners,
and said that this alone sufficient TO prevent the
Indians from signing. Mad Bear and Big Head also
spoke. and Rainn-theface moved about on his pony,
urging his friends do the chiefs advised them
1t is now war OF Influence between the chiefs and
the Commissioners and the fight IS being waged with
all known tactics on both SIDES.
Sitting Bull IS by far tho most cunning OF the tribe.
and is either doing all he can 10 deceive the Commits
sioners. or he IS dcCeiving his own people
He called on the Commissioners Today. He
IS the only chief that has made call thcm and
has endeavored TO gain their confidence. He told
them that other cnefs were vcry foolish, and that
they did not know what they ought 20 do. He en-
deavorcd 10 convince the Commissioners that nc Is
their friend and that he will do all he for them
This together with his speeches to the Indians pls old
Bull very strange 9rcdlcamcnt and his call upon
the Commissioners becomes known to the other
chiefs, there will be lively row in camp,
unless II is the result of understanding =
between all the chiefs. From the fact that nearly
every known lieutenant Of Pull is opposed 10 the
treaty and that they have worked vigorously against
It, the sincerity of his words to the Commissioners
L. d,nif Oh