Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-10-31
As to Sitting Bull.

From Thursdays Daily, 3Oth.l
The eastern press is considerably
wrought up over reports from Standing
Rock agency regarding the probable up
rising of the Indians and the possibility Of
another reign OF terror among the white
settlers. Sitting Bull was at one time a
warrior with great deal OF influence. His
word was law. But now he is old and de-
crepid and his followers have dwindled
down to not more than dozen, whom the
other Indians term "coffee coolers" Sit
ting Bull has not the power to incite rev.
olution. He has got large amount of the
prophets religion into him at present and
is endeavoring to work upon The supersti-
tions of the Sioux. In the east Sitting
Bull is generally believed the greatest In-
dian warrior of the present generation,
lar with early frontier history will attest.
In Indian warfare there were greater
chiefs and leaders than Sitting Bull
among them might be mentioned Chief
Gall, who is without doubt one of the
greatest and wisest American Indians that
ever lived. Sitting Bull is too utterly far
beneath the Indian social plane to be
compared to Gall. The former is and al
ways has been bitterly jealous of the lat
ter, who does not deign to notice Sitting
Bull as a rival for tribal honors, though
Bull is enjoying more false fame
than Gall probably ever will have
of the real. How this wrong
impression ever got abroad is difficult to
surmise. Gall is credited with all the fine
scheming and head-work that character
lied the Indian campaigns prior to 1876.
Sitting Bull was certainly more cruel and
bloodthirsty in his treatment OF defense
less whites than was Gall, who exhibited
more real bravery and generalship while
leading the Sioux forces in the battles with
Uncle Sam's troops. Some Indians
are said to possess noble traits and ii
such be the case Gall possesses them. The
diminishing in numbers. 1t is only a
question OF time when there will be but
few left to talk over their deeds of daring.
Their offspring are compelled by the gov
ernment to be brought up educated like
white people, and thus inherit but little of
the vengeful spirit of their fathers. The
Indian of to day is pretty well civilized
thousand redskins at Standing Rock, also
a strong military force stationed at the
same point in active readiness to Quell any
sudden disturbance. The Dak0tas can
now, with their several strong military
posts and splendid militia. easily take
care of the few thousand lnlians within
their borders should occasion demand it.
1t is believed that a great many of these
reds have gone daft over the visit of an old
griZzled medicine man who styles himself
their prophet and savior, who is in a meas
ure responsible for the rum0rS of an up.
rising among them. Indians are no more
subjectto such superstititious spasms Of
religious belief, than are the white people
frequently mentioned in the. newspapers.
The Indians will doubtless all be rational
and just as hungry and clamorous as
ever when ration day rolls around
again: Sitting Bull never fails to avail
himself of all opportunity to sow the seeds
Of dissensi0n on the susceptibility of the
savage heart Sitting Bull will practice
his evil doings till the Great Father calls
him to the happy hunting grounds His
dozen or less fellow coffee coolers are the
only ones who listen to his words Of wis
dom. A coffee cooler, in Indian parlance,
means a worthless buck who sits around
his tepee all day slipping coffee and is
heartily despsed by the other reds.