Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-11-10
JUSTICE FOR THE INDIAN.


JUSTICE FOR THE INDIAN.
THOSE who have investigated the
subject of the ''Indian Messiah"
movement among the aborigines
seem to be of the opinion that this
religious phenomenon among them
is not liable TO lead 10 an uprising.
Its tendency and genius are the
reverse, being, according to the as
sertions OF its most ardent votaries,
decidedly pacific. The ''Indian
Christi has taught those who have
seen him the doctrines OF Chris
tianity, pure and simple-tO cease
shedding blood, stealing, bearing
false witness and the practice of all
bad habits. There is, however,
cause that might lead to trouble -
the mistreatment of the Indians.
That is the only source from which
danger may be feared. 1t can be
removed by strong effort to make
right the wrongs which have been
inflicted on the red men. The New
York World of the End inst. contains
an elaborate correspondence from
Pine Ridge Indian Agency, South
Dakota. From it we take the fol-
lowing extract purporting to de-
scribe the disgraceful treatment ac-
corded the Sioux:
THE opinion in this part OF Dakota
is that the Sioux have been so badly
treated by the Government lately that
their disaffection has much to justify
it. The settlers along the edges OF the
great Sioux reservation are undoub.-
edly alarmed.
These are the facts, to which there
. is abundant testimony, on which it is
said the Sioux make out a strong case
in equity against Uncle Sam. IL
June, 1859, the Sioux signed treaty
for the cession Of part Of their reser-
walton 10 the Government. They have
not vet received one cent OF the con-
sideration due them for that cession.
Gen. Crook was with the commission
that secured their signatures to the
treaty; Gen. Crook had been their
eonqueror, and afterwards their bene-
factor and friend. They knew him
and believed in him, and there is no
doubt that it was owing very largely
to his influence that the treaty was
ratified.
at was Gen. Crook who promised
the Sioux that the Government would
pay them in full and promptly for
their lands and that their rights should
be respected. The Sioux have been
repeatedly deceived by agents OF the
United States Government, notably
when the attempt. that so nearly re-
suited. in 1873, in war, was made to
remove them by force to the Missouri
River. but they trusted Crook. Now
that Crook is dead the chiefs say that
his Government has failed absolutely
to carry out his promises.
"The recent census Of Rosebud
Agency and here was grossly inaccur-
ate, my informer declares. The num-
Der of Indians was counted down in
stead OF properly enumerated and as
a result their allowance OF rations has
been greatly limited. hT
lowing to the delay IN the passage
by Congress Of the Indian Appropria-
ton bill not only the Sioux, but the
Indians OF the entire country have
been and are suffering for food. 1t is
now October and the supplies due in
July have not been sent out to them.
As a result they listen all the more
eagerly to the emissaries who have
come from that part Of Montana
where the Messiah is said to have
been seen. The idea Of an approach
ing millennium and the extinction Of
the whites renders the reservation
LnuldAAN al NAAAAhE " tAL
heir breeding sheep, cattle and fowls
and quit work OF every kind. The
Sioux at these two great agencies
Pine Ridge and Rosebud-are receiv
ing scarcely anything at all, even IN
der the reduced census superintendent,
instead OF the full rations they are en-
titled TO.
"All this time since July the gov
ernmant supplies out here have been,
of course, diminishing. There will
soon be nothing at all on hand to feed
to the Indians excep; scanty rations
Of beef. Suppose, as has been the
case in the past, extra rations OF beef
were issued to take the place Of the
rations Of flour, etc., for which there
is now no material on hand. The re-
suit would be certs n starvation, for
then the beef also would give out.
1t is useless to attempt to reason
with starving Indians, especially
when the mysterious apostles have
succeeded in convincing hundreds Of
the Sioux that when the Messiah APP
pears their struggle for their rights
will at last be crowned with success,
and the hated whites and lying gov
eminent agents will be punished as
they deserve. Why should they and
their children starve in a land Of
plenty?
Indeed, man officially acquainted
with the Sioux for twenty-five years
said to me yesterday: Broken treaties,
delayed appropriations and religious
frenzy have combined to make the
Indians feel that the worst has come
TO the worst, and that even il no
messiah came they might as well die
fighting, with their wives and chill
dren around them, as see their dear
ones punched and starved by a gov
eminent that owes them a living aud
has abundant means TO pay that debt
If were it so disposed. By the very
failure 10 deliver them their supplies
in July, when they were due, the
has, as last stroke OF
cruelty, deprived the sioux Of the OPP
portunity 10 earn money by freight
ing these supplies. There was nothing
to haul, so they have been deprived
not only of their government food,
but Of almost their only opportunity
to make money enough 70 buy their
food elsewhere
HOGE'S CONDITION.