Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1888-08-03
Governor Church Delivers IN Inn
pressive Address in Favor of
Opening the Reservation.
John Grass Wants to Know Why
The Whites Want the In
dians' Land.
Sitting Bull Returns, But He Re-
fuses to Join the Circle
And Talk.
The Work at the Agency.

Especial. .]-To.day's conference was by
far the most interesting yet held between
the commissioners and the Indians. 1t
was the most interesting in the first place
because new influences were brought to
bear upon the Indians and because the In
dians showed more than ever their opposi-
tion to the treaty. Last night the Indians
held council in which every one OF their
number over 1S years of age was present
and speeches more earnest and fiery than
ever were made by the chiefs. After
speeches by Gaul, John Grass, Mad Bear
and Others of prominence, vote was
taken on the proposed acceptance of the
treaty and every dusky warrior shouted
"No." Not satisfied with this. the most
solemn scene of the week was enacted by
every Indian
TAKING AN OATH
to the Great Spirit that he would sign no
paper relative TO the treaty-that he would
sign neither the black paper, which meant
yes, nor the red paper, which meant no.
Had the commissioners been cognizant of
these facts when they met in conference
this morning they would not have been so
hopeful. The commissioners opened the
conference promptly at O'clock this morn
ing, all the Indians being present, includ-
ing Sitting Bull, who arrived last evening.
The old rascal is sullen and reticent, but
he informed an interpreter that he would
never consent to the signing of the
treaty by any of his friends and that he
thought the proposition was all in favor of
the white man. After opening the con-
ernOr Church, who arrived at the agency
last evening. The governor spoke to the
Indians for thirty minutes and delivered
what was considered a very convincing
and effective speech. he did all he could
to convince the Indians that the treaty was
for their best interests and evidently
MADE QUITE AN IMPRESSION
upon their minds. Agent Mclaughlin
then spoke, and as he has the utmost con-
fidence of the Indians it was thought he
would be able to win them over in favor of
the treaty. He pleaded earnestly for the
measure and was followed by Judge
Wright, who occupied about thirty min
utes. But all of the speeches were without
effect so far as any evidence of change
could be found in the replies of the Indians.
JOHN GRASS WAS THE FIRST
of the Indians to reply. He said: "Why
do you want our lands? Have you not
enough land for the white people? Look
across the river (pointing to the opposite
side of the Missouri). You will see house
here and there miles apart. Why do your
white people not take that land and let us
alone? You are not paying us enough for
our land. Fifty cents an acre is not enough.
Our land must be worth much to the white
men, for when they first come here they
are very poor and after they have been
commissioners and the gOvernor) dressed
very we'll. l will not sign either paper"
Grass maintained his reputation as
A CUNNING SPEAKER
and won applause from the Indians. Mad
Bear spoke next. He opposed the treaty
strongly. Among other things he said in
reply to the statements of the commits
sioners: 81 do not believe the great faith
er's heart will be bad if we do not sign
and Twill not sign" This was pretty
discOuraging to the commissioners but
they will not give up yet and will hold an
other conference tomorrow. Sitting Bull
said this afternoon that he would not con-
sent to the opening of the reservation, and
the chiefs informed the commissioners Of
the action of the Indians in taking an oath
to the Great Spirit that they would never
sign. All interest centerS in
$,5y, SITTING BULL,
but he refuses to have much to say. He
would not enter the circle to-day, but
during the conference sat outside on his
pony with Rain-in-the- Face, who also de-
clined to become part of the circle. Sit
ting Bull, Rain-in-the Face, LongkDog and
Circling Bear are the most bitter of the
Indians, and those who think they have
no influence among their race are mis-
taken. 1t is worthy of consideration that
within few hours from the time Of Sit
ting Bulls arrival at the agency the oath
to the Great Spirit was taken, and as Sit
ting Bull was the medicine man of the
nation during the great Indian wars, this,
lis known to be
ONE OF HIS TACTICS
in controlling the tribes Sitting Bull did
not propose the oath in open council, but
his emissaries and lieutenants were
sprinkled through the circle and did his