The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1891-02-14
The Indian Question.
At the request of the ladies of the
Indian Missionary Society, we pub
1ish the following articles:
From the HOpkinsville New Era. ]

[From the Hopkinsville New Era.l
Now that the outbreak of the Sioux
Indians is over, it is we'll to inquire
into the cause of the late trouble and
urge the authorities at Washington
to take the proper steps to remove
these causes. It is conceded by those
most familiar with the whole situa-
tion that the trouble was caused by
the jobbery, corruption and incompe-
tency of the Indian Agents and the
negligence of those in control of In
dian affairs at Washington. Gross
and serious wrongs have been perpe-
trated upon those unfortunate peo-
pie. There can be but little doubt
that had the debts due the Indians
been paid and rations and clothing
given ,accordingto Government prom
ises, the conflict Of arms could have
been avoided. The gross deception
practiced by the last Commission to
the Sioux, the hunger and suffering
among them caused by their being
defrauded, robbed and starved by cor
rupt and dishonest agents, and the
failure of the government to fulfill
the terms of the agreement by which
1,OOO, 900 acres of land were recently
ceded by the Sioux for white settle
ment, are the immediate reasons for
the Indian revolt. Back Of all this is
a long record of violated-treaties and
of great misery inflicted by tyranny
treachery and fraud which is outlined
by the letters of Bishop Hare, Father
Crafts, Miss Elaine Goodale and
others of the missionary force out
there. These things were just as dis
graceful and outrageous as the mas
sacre of the hundred Indian women
and children on Wounded Knee creek
last month by the Seventh Cavelry
under Col. Forsyth.
The sufferings of the Sioux have
been unusually great for two or three
wears past, owing to the fact that the
crops in South Dakota have been an
utter failure. AS they depend in
part upon their farm products for
Subsistence. this would have caused
some suffering even ifthe full amount
Of rations had been issued to them.
But misfortunes multiplied; their al
lowance of beef was reduced by the
Government one million pounds in
1888 and still another million in 1883,
and they were defrauded of great
deal of these reduced amounts in 1889
and 1890 by dishonest Indian Agents. (
And to add to their distress the
measles prevailed with great viru-
lence in 1889, the grippe in 1890, and
whooping-cough attacked the chill
dren, so that besides those who died |
a slow, lingering death by starvation,
MANY persisted from these diseases
which found an easy prey In their
enfeebled bodies. Many pathetic APP
peals were sent to the head Of the In
dian Bureau, but all these were treat
ed with contempt. The poor crea-
lures have been systematically i'm.
posed upon, defrauded and robbed by
Indian Agents and other Government
officials for years, but never in the
history of the country has any ad-
made such bad record
in the management of Indian affairs
as the present one. Never has there
been more suffering, more cause
for complaint, more dissatisfaction.
Honest and experienced men
have been discharged and their
places filed with the henchmen of
Block of-Fives politicians and
with the veritable out
cast of the Indian agency post. 1t
Is not strange that these grievous
wrongs drove the Indians into re
volt as last resort.
Those who believe that the "only
good Indian is a dead Indian" and
claim that the Indians are ian inn
pediment to civilization" would
probably like to settle the Indian
question by DISCRIMINATING them.
The large majority of the American I
people, irrespective of party, desire 1
! very different kind of settlement: {
In the first place Congress should
appoint Commission to go to Pine
Ridge, Rosebud and Standing Rock
agencies to thoroughly investigate
these monstrous evils that cry aloud
for redress. Then such immediate
steps should be taken by Congress as {
shall render forever impossible a
cepetition of the present deplOrable {