St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-23
AS VI EWED BY GRACE.
Miss Howard Throws Some New
Light on the Indian OUeSfiOn

MISS howard Throws Some New
Light on the Indian Question.
NEW York, Dec. 22.-Miss Grace
Howard. daughter of Joe Howard, tho
weli-known newspaper man, has just
returned to New York from Crow
Creek. Oak. She says that the Indian
troubles cannot fail to be settled very
soon. The principal obstacle in the
way of an immediate settlement lies in
the lower white element, with whom is
the responsibility of the whole disturb
ance, to an extent not generally known
in the East. These people welcome
troops sin the country for the reason
that 1t puts money in circulation.
Miss Howard has come East on her
annual vacation OF three months. Her
school is situa ted about hundred
miles from the hostile region, heing
half way between Pine Ridge and
Standing Rock. Among the $500 In
dians on the reservation, there was only
one man who ever contemplated Join
ing the dance. White Ghost, the
chief recently wrote very dignifed
letter to the department., promising a
continuance of peaceful attitude Of
his tribe. and giving as his opinion, "If
the community. palefaces and Indians
alike, would join in prayer for rain
rather than for arms it would be we'll"
Miss Howard condemns the government
policy of cutting down rations without
giving some equivalent in the way Of
horses, cattle or agricultural inpie-
ments. The crops have been SO pooI
this year, and times so hard thrOughous
the entire West, that even the Whita
farmers have had all they could do'to
make living. Among the Indians, with
U a n IlaS
distress prevails. The census; ,;she be-
lieveS, was taken with perfect fairness.
Rations were issued for 1000, while tho
number of Indians is nearer 5000. But
the ratIOnS are very small. Less than a
handful uf coffee or sugar is issued to
each person weekly. Clothes, blankets,
etc., nave been very late in coming this
year. Cold weather has set in. and the
people have not received their winter
supplies. This very poverty stands in
the way of continued hostilities. The
Indians may possibly establish Them
lish themselves i'll the Bad Lands and
make short fight, but long resistance
is out of the question. OF her school
and mission work Miss Howard has a
great many Interesting things to say.
The children are very bright, and far
more industrious than their white
brothers and sisters. They are quick
at their lessons, and out of school hours
almost always occupied with doll dress
making or something of the kind. The
boys are good mechanics and hard
workers. Miss Howard has brought
her adopted child. Mamie, to New York
with her. Mamie is fat. goOd-natured,
very bashful little girl of twelve. This
is her first visit to the metropolis, and
she is seemingly much impressed. The
Indian is more and more civilized
every year, as the ability to shift for
himself increases. He is pretty good
farmer, as far as his limited OppOrtuni-
ties allow. The Indian pony does not
take kindly to farm work, and better
horses should be supplied by the gov
ernment.
The women are good housekeepers,
and are very devoted to church work.
They have their sewing societies, where
it it is safe to suppose they talk small
scandal as enthusiastically as in mora
cultured regions. Miss Howard's school,
at first private mission, is now ALI in
duStrial Institution, with an extra
teacher supplied by the government. 1t
is about thirteen miles from the agency,
and the only white people on the place
are Miss Howard and her assistant.
Concerning the killing of Sitting Bull,
Miss Howard says that, While she call
not help adlniring the old warriors
bravery, his death can result i'll nothing
but good. She speaks in highest praise
of the Indian police, and hopes that
their families will be provided for by
the government.