Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-29
INTERVIEW WITH RED CLOUD.
The Cranky Old Sioux Chief Sub
mits to q Talk.
MORE MONEY THE BURDEN OF 1T.
Major Warner Makes Speech &C
the Pine Ridgers-1hc Commits
sion Leaves For the Lower
Bruie Agency.
Red Cloud Unbosoms Himself

Red Cloud Unbosoms Himself
PINE RtDGE AGENCY, OAK, (via Rushville,
Feb.,) June 2s.-[Special Telegram to The
BEE. The representative OF The BEE was
fortunate enough to secure an interview
with Red CloSd to-day. Up to this time he
has positively refused to be interviewed by
any one, either by members of the commits
sion or reporters, and for this reason your
representative, although friend for years,
has left him alone on the subject of the bill.
This morning, IN bidding him goodbye, he
was asked if he had nothing to say on the
subject.
"Yes, my friend, will tell you. We have
been good friends for long time.
am your friend and believe you
are good one to me. So
l will tell you two of my main reasons. l
have made four treaties with the Great
Father-in 1851 and in 1855, when we gave
up our hunting grounds, in 1868 for our an
nuities and in 1876, when l gave up the
Black Hills. Every treaty we signed, giving
up our land, we had many promises made to
Us about the great many things we were to
receive, and the big amount of money we
would get If these promises had all been
filed, as we were maze to believe we would
now be wealthy like the Indians i'll the
Indian territory, who have plenty OF
money to spend, but, as it is, we
have no money in our pockets and are poor.
If we go on selling our lands we will soon
have none for ourselves"
"What is your opinion of the present billN"
at is good bill, the best the Great
Father ever offered u.s. but it is not good
enough. 1t does not give US enough for our
land. 1t is worth more and will bring much
more money in q few years, so 1 want to
wait When l do sell, we will be richer
than we are now. My best friends advise
me not to sell our land at present."
"What is the second reason which is dis
agreeable to your'
"When the commission came here at our
first council l asked that all half and
all white men and MeXicans who were not
in the treaty of 1868, but who had married
into our people, should be allowed to sign
the bill, although, without our full consent,
they had no right here. This was granted
by the commission. Instead of these men
waiting the action ana listening to the head
chiefs they at once undertook to run every
thing and dictate to me, telling me and other
chiefs what we should do when they really
had no right to say anything. The commits
sion allowed it, and 1t made us mad. have
done.n
~ learned that Major Pollock was to be
here on the 25th to assist you. Will you tell
me the reason he did not comet"
ayes. He intended coming, but to come
here while the commission was here might
have complicated matters and they might
not nave understood it. Pollock is my
friend. What he would tell me l would
think he would believe for our best interests
He will come after the commission leaves.
How soon do not know; perhaps next week,
when we will have long talk"
The interview was interrupted by others
and it was impossible to continue, as
the farewell council was about to
take place The great reason why
the chiefs oppose the bill is
that they fully realize that when the
Indians take land in severality, each man
will have his individual rights.
At the farewell council an immense body
of Indians was present and gave deep atten-
ton. Major Wrner addressed them in sub
stance as follows:
''My friends, two weeks ago we came to
bring the words Of the Great Father. Dur
ing our stay we have spoken only words of
kindness, and we leave you as we met you
good friends. 1t is true that much we have
said has fallen on stony places. Strange as
it may seem, there are those who listen to
self-constituted Indians in Washington in
stead of to us, sent by the Great Father-men
who, as the Great Spirit reigns above us,
live off your necessities instead of honest
work. In leaving you go feeling that l
have done my duty, not having tried to fiat
ter or threaten you into signing. We have
waited long and patiently to hear objections
to this measure but none has come Fully
one-half the legal voters have signed the bill.
They have not done it IN the dark, with
blankets over their ewes, but openly, in the
light of day. They were men among you,
and, believing that what the Great Father
said was to their best interest, they signed.
Another class among you have slapped
listening to enemies instead of those the
Great Father sent to you, having closed your
eyes and ears before the commission came
here. II is not to US but the future of the
ItnItn date at,,t.,r
who have signed this bill will be gracefully
remembered, and but tell you the truth
when say that these against it are enemies
to themselves and to their race. / believe in
the future of the Indian race-that it will be
onward and upward as the sun. | believe
you will have homes like the whites, and
those VINO oppose the advance toward civili-
zatIon and prosperity will be like the fly on
the wheel trying to stop its revolutions.
Those among you who are striving for the
path of the whites are striving to get through
the clouds cut of the darkness into
light, and are true friends of
the Great Father. The men
who stand in your way can no longer beyour
leaders, but those who lead you forward and
their actions should be received with bless
ings, not curses. The Great Father has at
tempted to make no man sign the bill, and he
will protect those that did. MANY have re-
fused TO listen, and blindly follow those who
slapped the Great Father in the face. ask
you TO listen and open your eyes, for / ad-
dress you as free men. We leave the bill
with your agent, so you can sign. Your
chiefs say they are not keeping anybody
back, but the young men could do as they
pleased. This bill offers you more than any
bill ever offered to any people. When we
meet again you will say told you the truth,
that it was best for you ana your families,
and you will honor those most in the future
who tried TO lead you as the Great Father
wished you to go. l talk to you as a friend
and as the Great Father is above. part
with no unkind feelings. Think about the
bill and talk it over when we are gone. l
hope TO see you when visit you again living
in line houses, with hocks and herds about
you"
Speeches were made by General Crook,
Colonel Gallagher, American Horse and Lit
tie Wound. which are too long for this dis
patch
The commission left the agency this after
noon and arrived here TO enjoy o'clock
dinner on special car, where Governor
Foster was awaiting them on his return
from Santee. The commission left TO night
for the lower Brule agency.
Gobbled by the Standard Oil Co.
PITTsBuRo, June 2S.--An Oil City special
says: The Derrick has positive and reliable
m fo hat ba O,I comnonu