Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-07-25
CHEF GALL
ADDRESSES THE SIOUX TRIBES UPON
THE CONFERENCE.
c.~pc,I Of 5000 Indians Attended by
the Leading Chisfs-ThsJ Distrust the
wss.. na.-Disinciination of the
Braves to Open the Reservation to

sr.rp.xp Rock, OAK, July 25.-Never
rince the granting OF the great tract OF land
TO the Indians 1t the close OF the sioux war
have the Indians been SO thoroughly
avakened or the white settlers so deeply
interested. 1t has been supposed by
rreat majority of the reading people that
the Sioux reservation. con tanning 3, 22,OOo,OO0
acres of land, was opened for settlement by
the recent act of Congress, but the clause
making il necessary to secure the consent
of three fourths of the Indians may keep
the land from the public domain for many
years.
The commission appointed by President
Cleveland to confer with the Indians has
arrived. Nearly the entire 5000 Indians
of this agency are camped within two miles
of Fort Gates and additions to their camps
arrive hourly. Without regard to the
merits of the proposition made by the gov
erument, and with no definite understand
ing of the proposed treaty, the tribes
gathered here oppose the opening OF the
reservation. Sitting Bull is the only well
known Indian not present and he will be
brought. He left the agency for hunt.
but it is believed the sly old trickster has
been at work among the Indians OF other
agencies sowing seeds OF discord ana urg-
The Indians called council and in the
center of tents which were pitched at day
light Sunday morning, they formed the
circle. which was composed of wagons,
ponies and nearly 5000 Indians. The In
dams selected Chiefs Gall, John Grass, Mad
Bear, Big Head and Running Antelope for
their orators at the commission confer
ence.
John Grass, one of the head chiefs, was
the first To speak. He advised the Indians
to be careful in what they say to the COM
mission and, no matter what is said, to
make no decision until mature considera-
ton. He said: ..The treaties made before
by the whites have been broken by them.
l think these men sent out by the Great
Father to make this treaty about our land
have come for some purpose. The govern
ment will support us for twenty-five years,
and after that time We will have to pay
taxes and will be poor"
Mad Bear, another of the great chiefs.
said: These commissioners have come to
talk with us about our lands. They come
here with an interpreter, and we must baye
one to look after our interests. You have
chosen five of us to do the talking for the
tribe. and we will work hard. Do not for
get, fellow-wsrriors, that if you sign this
paper, giving away your lards, you can
never get it back again, no matter how
much you pray. 1t will be gone forever
Mad bear repeated that the whites had
broken all former treaties with the Indians.
and at the close of his speech there were
numerous grunts of applause from the
circle
Up to this time the council had been
quiet and comparatively cold. The ap-
plause, which is given by grunts and gut
teral explosion, was mild, but when Mad
Bear took his seat and Chief Gall arose ma
jestically, the Indians went wild. Gall is
the handsomest and most commanding
Indian of the tribe, and as field general led
all the brilliant maneuvers during the Gus
ter campaign, for which Sitting Bull was
given credit.
He is unquestionably the finest living
Indian orator, and his speech at this coun.
Gil is pronounced by the Interpreters to be
the most eloquent ever delivered on the
reservation. Among other things he said,
in alluding to the arrival of the Commits
sioners. and the proposed new treaty:
These Commissioners have come to talk
about our lands. Five of US have been
chosen to speak. When we confront them
in council we must not speak fast; we
must know what We want before we ask
for it.
I'VE should listen to the whites and
learn what they care to offer, and then we
should, without foolish speaking, think
what We are willing to give. When l was
At Fort Rice many years ago there was q
treaty made with US. In this treaty the
whites made great promises They told u.
that We would have many cattle and that
our horses would cover the plains. l re-
turned in few years and learned that we
were again deceived. They did not keep
their word and we were as fools. When
they made that treaty they told us that our
lands went north to the river of the Cannon
Ball. Now they tell US it goes no further
toward the great north light than the Cedar
creek. Again we are deceived.
when the commissioners have come
out, they have made us many big promises.
They would not tell us what the great father
said, but they would talk to please the In
dian's heart. We believed them, but we
have lost much of our lands, and our chill
dren have become hungry. In the past
have not complained believed the great
father was honest, and have acted with
good heart but unless this treaty with US
is fair, and we are told the truth, my heart
will not be good.
I'VE cannot accept land apart (meaning
severally) We want grazing lands, Our
reservations have been growing smaller and
smaller, and soon we will be without
hunting ground. They come, / hear, with
to keep them. They tell US we must sign
one or the other and our names will be |
This is the first time ever knew
that an Indian can be made to sign paper |
against his will
At the close of Calls speech the applause
was was savagely enthusiastic. After |
speeches by Running Antelope. High Bear |
and Others, and the reading Of the proposed |
treaty which was printed in the Sioux Ian
guage, Mad Bear again addressed the circle |
and called upon all opposed to giving con- |
sent to the treaty to rise. Every indian in |
the circle sprang to his feet with q whoop,
and this performance was so satisfactory |
TO the orators that it was repeated three |
times The pacific speech OF the day was |
made by Running Antelope. who advised |
his people to be calm and deliberate in the |
conference with the commission.