The Progress., 1888-10-20
SIOUX 10 Til Il FRONT.

&
the letter Of Chief Grass reached us.
This last reached us III time for pub
lIcation. and we presented both to the
,sublic in order To afford the American
people all opportunity to Judge the
argument from the view point of tho
Indian. And however much the aver
Aal oninoker may be disposed to view
lightly the logic OF the Indian, he
must now confess that the Sioux chief
has presented a mastery and logical
argument from the standpoint Of the
Sioux nation.
We are pleased therefore, that our
columns have afforded Grass the medi
um tor public expression, both with
reference to the presentation of his
views, and those of his colleagues, and
also tor the clearing away Of false
opinions respecting ultimate action.
The commission has now closed it's
labors, having discovered what was
long ago apparent to the many,
that defeat was a foregone conclusion.
Still at this time we would review
the situation in order to make clear
Tho grounds upon which our Sioux
brethren stand.
On the second dcy of the council at
lower Brule Agency. The substance
Of Secretary Villas message to the
Sioux vas given by Capt. Pratt, chair
man Of the commission in the follow
ing words:
.lhc government does not UNDER
stand your reasons for refusing the
bill bciore you hear it, nor why you
90 not take up your allotments and
support yourselves. It does not un-
,ttrstand why it has to clothe and feed
you when you promised in 1876 to do
IT tor yourselves; nor why
yon do not take land in sew
crafty, like the white man
who starts without anything, but
makes his own living and supports
you, too. The government has found
out that your young men can go out
in the East and work like anybody.
1t does not take more than three years
to give up Indian ways and live like
white people. The old men ought to
be smarter than the young men. You
refuse year after year to take allot-
,nents of 100 acres free gift and
make a living out of it, The man
over the river pays for his 100 acres,
when it is no better than yours.
The government is ashamed and is
losing heart in asking appropriations
to support you. It begins to think
your leaders are not wise. It does not
understand why, after so many years
it has to use force to put your children
In school. The government says you
violate your treaty in not sending
your children to school, and by not
taking allotments. By your own acts
you are released from any further sup
port. The government is afraid you
have been listening to men who are
enemies to the government and to
YOU"
The Secretary said some pertinent
things, but they were answered.
Newspaper reports are meagre but we
presume that the answers given were
substantially the same as the
REASONS given us by Chief Grass
In his communication for his
his opposition to the bill. His argu-
nent substantially is this:
The Sioux believe that the treaties
of 1863 and 1876 already provide what
IS now offered under the new Sioux
bill. excepting the proposed loan of
S1,O00,OO0 to be funded at per cent
per annun,, and which the chief does
hot look upon with great favor.
In other words, they claim that un-
der the treaty Of 1868, each famil,
locating, was promised yoke Of oxen
and cow, and upon receipt of certif-
cate Of allotment, 500 worth Of agri-
cultural implements for the iirst year,
and S25 worth per annura for the three
succeeding years. They further claim
that this same treaty promises schools
and instructors for period Of twenty
years. They also claim under this
treaty, 9 per capita Of $40 in necessary
articles Tor each rowing Indian, and
$50 Tor each actual settler during the
Eariod Of thirty years. We do not un.
Aerstand that they claim violation Of
This clause, but that they do insist that
sood faith has not been maintained ID
regard to other stipulations. For in-
stance, they hold that failure to have
Fheir reservation surveyed, deprives
khetn of the benefit Of the sl75 worth
Of implements during the four years,
and they show also that tbs schools
we're hot established Until ten years
after che Treaty.
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