River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-08-02
WILL HOLD THEIR LANDS.
Ehe sioux Indians Refuse EmphsticalIy to
sign the Treaty to Open Their Reserva-
tiOn-ElOoneuea Of chief


Sign the Treaty to Open Their Reserva-
tion-Eloquence of Chief Grass
STANDINB Rock AGENCY, ID. T., July 30.
Inc nrst formal expression of opinion by
the Indians 20 the commissioners with re-
gard 10 the iopening Of the Sioux reserva-
ton was given Saturday The Indians
were in council until daylight, and all
night their speeches could be heard for a
mile. Their orators are loud takers, and
as they look upon the attempt to open a
part of their vast reservation as blow at
their future happiness and prosperity they
grew earnest and eloquent The leading
speeches were made by Chief-Justice John
Grass, Cottonwood, Big Head and Mad
Bear, and as every Indian was
asked his opinion, the spokesman
were well prepared TO give the
commissioners a definite answer. Gall,
Mad Bear and Big Head, who, with John
Grass, were chosen as the orators for the
5000 Indians, withdrew, and by a unani-
nous vote of the tribe Grass was made
the orator. The commissioners, who
have been laboring under the belief
that they would be successful in
their efforts 10 secure the consent of
the Indians, took their seats at 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 addressed the commissioners in & dig
nified manner. His speech, in subst ance,
was as follows:
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
together they would be heavy enough
to crush out every Indian on the
reservation. He went back 20 the beginning
nnYrn NF
Indians know all about that story. as
the whites had been among them with
their Bibles. He alluded TO the Black Hills
treaty, saying that when the commissioners
were sent out 10 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 commissioners got back
to Washington they changed the papers so
that they made the Great Father believe that
the Indians had signed away their lands.
Continuing, Grass said: We have talked
this matter all over in our councils. You tell
us 100000 of acres of land is TO be given %
the whites. and we are to get 80 cents for every
acre sold; that 100000 is TO be advanced to
US, and that we are to get per cent. OF that for
ourselves. Onehalf Of this is 10 be used for
industrial schools, and we are 20 get the other
half This would give us about one dollar
each. Laughter among the Indians.l We
do not think this would make rich.
You tell us that other Indian tribes are
to be brought among US. This we do not
want and il is not pleasing TO the other
tribes. All these things we have talked for
five nights, and all our people tell me to say to
you that they will not sign. The Government
owes much under our old treaties. and we hope
that when you go back TO Washington you VIII
try 20 get IL 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
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
been with US many days; you have other
agencies TO visit and much work to do. You
had better go on, for you can not get us TO sign.
This is all we havs 10 say
Grass delivered a cunning speech and
was loudly applauded by the Indians.
Chief Gall was then called upon by the
commissioners to speak, but he simply
said Every thing that we have to say
has been said. That's ALL" The unanim-
ity with which the Indians refused to sign
was great surprise TO the com
missioners. Chairman Pratt replied to
Grass. He was angry, and showed it
plainly in his speech. He told them that
they would be forced to sign one paper or
the other, and reminded 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 fight
ing and killing the whites. This had a
bad effect on the Indians, for of all
things they want kept in silence it is
their wars upon the whites He told them
it would not do for one man TO talk for all
the Indians for the commission would not
stand it. This was a direct slap at John
Grass, who had been selected by the Indi-
ans TO do their talking, and an affront to
the Indians who had selected him and who
bod 70 hot Id Jim
so enthusiastically.
In reply the dignifed John Grass said to
Pratt, in a courteous though pointed
speech: Before you tell us OF what the
whites have done for us 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 in
formed the Indians that their lands
could not be taken from them
without the consent of three -fourths OF
their number "Then,'' replied Grass,
1.-THE Black Hills still belong to US" In
referring TO one of the speeches Of Pratt
Grass said: g You tell us that if we do not
sign this paper we turn our backs upon
the Great Father. This puts great
burden of shame upon us and makes US
feel badn Pratt told the Indians that
they should not be hasty in their decision
and they should consider. Grass replied
that the Indians had all come in
out of respect TO their agent, Ma
jor Mclaughlin, to listen to what the
commissioners had to say, and they
would remain in council four months
rather than be disrespectful. But" he
added, our crops arc suffering and we want
to go home, and we would rather you would
tell us who will pay us for our crops if they
are ruined by this conference than TO talk
10 us of this treaty"
Notwithstanding the positive decision of
the Indians the commission adjourned the
conference, in the hope that by steady
pressure the Indians can be induced
20 sign. Sitting Bull refuses TO return
to the agency until the commission
ers have left, and it is more than
probable that he will be forced
in by the police or the military. He
says he has talked with many commits
sioners; that he knows just what they
have TO say and he does not wish to hear
them. All Of the people Of Dakota arc
anxious that the reservation should be
opened and the result of this first confer
ence is great disappointment
-
French Fishermen Drowned.
PARIS, July 80 A fearful storm has
caused much destruction in Northwest
France, and many fishermen have been
III 4 -. -