The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-11-08
BLAMEs THE MoRMoNs.
General Miles SAYS the Indian Messiah Is
OF Their Creation.

OF Their Creation.
ST. PAUL, Nov. 7.-General Miles. COM
mander of the division of the Missouri, Is
here on his return from his Western tour.
Regarding the causes and nature of the
religious craze existing among the Indian
tribes, he says: ~ have been in Utah,
Montana and the Cheyenne reservation
investigating this craze. You no doubt
heard that the Indian tribes are reported
to believe that the Messiah is TO come
who is 10 restore them 10 their former
glory, bring back the buffalo and drive
the whites from the land. have learned
that this belief exists among the various
tribes, the Sioux, Cheyennes, Blackfeet,
Shoshones and other tribes. In all the
craze is extending 10 Ii tribes, the Snake
Indians being the only tribe 10 re-
pudiate Il. There is no doubt many In-
dams are holding this belief In an Indian
Messiah sincere, and few have certainly
seen some person whom they took 10 be
that Messiah. Several small parties Of
Indians have gone westward from their
tribes TO some point, which, as near as
can locate il, is in Nevada. There they
have been shown somebody disguised as
the Messiah and spoken with him. am
inclined TO believe there is more than one
person impersonating this Messiah, as
when the Sioux have spoken with him he
replied in the Sioux language. To the
Blackfeet he has spoken their tongue,
and so on with the representatives Of each
nation or tribe speaking their own
language TO each.n
"Who do you think responsible for this
imposition upon the Indians?"
IL cannot state positively, but il is my
belief that the Mormons arc the prime
movers in il. This is not hard state
ment to believe, for there are 10000 Nor
mons and they themselves claim TO be-
lieve in prophets and spiritual manifesta-
tons, and they even now claim 10 hold
intercourse with the spirit OF Joe Smith,
and besides they have had missionaries
at work among the Indians for many
years, and have made many converts
"Do you think this new belief of the
Indians will lead TO an outbreak and
bloodshed?n
IL do not think so, but when a n ignor-
ant race become religious fanatics it is
hard TO tell just what they will do. II is
noteworthy, however, that this so-called
Messiah tells the Indians when he comes
TO reign over them fire arms will no
longer be used or necessary. He tells them
also with hIs coming dead Indians will
all be raised 10 life, buffalo will return
and he will draw the line behind on which
he will gather all Indians and then he
will roll the earth back upon the whites.
This has naturally excited the Indians,
and large numbers have accepted the
new belief. Among those who have done
so none are more ardent than Sitting
Bull, who is intensely Indian in all his
ideas.N
"Do you think the person who is imper-
sonatng the Messiah is white man or
an lndian?"
"Those who have seen him say he Is
muliled up and disguised so they can9ot
see his face, but | believe he is full
blooded white. The argument the Indians
raise in discussing the matter, is the
whites have had their Messiah and the
Indians will now have theirs. The situa-
ton is not alarming in any way, and do
not know whether any action will be
taken by tho government regarding the
matter until after make my report.n