Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-01-21
Look at Both Sides.


Look at Both Sides.
1t is as foolish to declare that, now
that the government has provocation,
1t should exterminate the Sioux, as il
is to take part with the pure senti-
mentalities and say that, because the
red men were in possession of this
country when the whites came, the
government has no right to coerce
them. One hears both opinions ex-
pressed, but on the street the former
is more common. The question in
volved is not one of abstract ethics,
but of applied common sense. Con-
ditions have been created, through in
fluences good or bad, which make the
Indian dependent upon the white man
for control as well as for support. 1t
is the duty of the United States to
see that its wards are not permitted to
suffer, and that they do no mischief.
To allow the Indians to suffer; to
break pledges, repudiate contracts and
withhold payments solemnly promised,
while asserting that the only good In
dian is dead one, is to stand convict
ed of that worst of offenses-the bad
faith of strength toward Weakness
And yet, even under these conditions,
even when the Indian is driven by
starvation, due to the neglect of the
government or its agents, to take the
warpath, he must not be permitted to
pillage or murder, and his life must
be the forfeit if he refuses to submit.
So the injustice of yesterday causes
the bloodshed of to-day. The gov
eminent must be just and honest with
the Indians, and then insist upon their
submission see that they are fed and
clothed, then we can control them with
the confidence that comes Of pledges
kept.
The following letters, recently re-
ceived in this city, throw some inter-
esting light on the subject The first
is from T. H. Tibballs, who writes
from Pine Ridge Agency:
l sent reliable man to have the ra-
tons, issued to the Indian women,
weighed. In short time he return
ed and made the following report:
/ took the rations to the butchers
shop and put the bacon on the scales.
They indicated four and one. half
pounds. l took the bacon off and
laid it on again. This time the scales
showed one and one.half pounds, and
when | took the bacon off the scales
they went back to the one-half pound
mark and stayed there.
The flour is not weighed, but guess
ed at. In one sack, issued to three
persons, found flour enough to make
an ordinary pan of biscuit, and this
was to last for seven days. In another
sack issued to five persons, l found
what would be fair rations for that
number for four days. The more l
investigated the more l wonder how
these Indians managed to live at all
during the last year, when they only
received half the amount.
There are camped about this agency
5000 Indians, in little canvass tepees,
many of whom have not lived in tents
for years. They fled from their homes,
upon the order of the government,
bringing nothing but the clothes on
their backs, blanket and few cook
ing utensils. Their deserted houses
have been raided and everything they
owned destroyed. They are in des-
olate country, where no food of any
kind can be obtained except these in
sufficient rations. The children are
dying, they shiver in the cold, and
patiently wait. The grass is all eaten
off, and the hungry ponies wander
over the barren hills. Yet the gov
eminent owes these people millions
some of it just debts due for more
than thirty years.
Mrs. Tibballs, better known as
Bright Eye" the educated Indian
girl, sends these words:
Gen. Miles has asked that all the
agencies where this trouble has been
going on be- placed in command of the
military. He has named certain Of
fcials well known for their capacity
knowledge of Indian character, good
judgment and kindness of heart, who
can fill these places. am the only
Indian speaking to the public through
the press for the Indians, and | de
mand, in the name of the race and fol
their welfare, that it shall be done.
ask all the Indian societies in the east
the Woman's Indian Associations and
"Indian Rights Association" to pres;
this demand on the President.
There seems to be no necessity fol
comment, much need as there is fol
consideration.-Free Press.