New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-19
THE RESTLESS SIOUX.

| 1t appears that the possibility OF war with
the Sioux Indians has not yet disappeared. Inc
agent at Pine Ridge informs the Interior De-
partment that the hearts of the red people are
still bitter and bad and that unless they get
moro money and supplies it Is probable
they will make trouble. We hope that the
Government will be as ready for this emergency,
if it arises. as it was for the emergency OF last
fall. Congress acted upon the Sioux situation
with as much liberality as could be expected.
| The appropriations for sustenance and educa-
| ton were materially increased, and the money
was made available for the purchase OF the
opened lands. The present moral ana INTEL
ectual condition Of the Sioux tribe does not en-
courage gifts beyond our engagements we
are under no obligation whatever to support
them in idleness We promised to give them
certain amount of help until they had had a
fair chance to earn living for themselves.
They have had this chance in a degree far
greater than was contemplatedAy the treaty.
We have given them tools and htfses and farms.
We have supplied teachers to show them how
to work. An enormous sum of money has been
spent in the vain and reSultless effort to slim
ulate their production and to awaken their in
terest in agriculture. But they are essentially
race of savage, prodigal Migrants, in whom
the desire Of improvement and the capacity for
civilized labor are so small and feeble that moth
ing has been accomplished upon which substan-
tial hopes can be builded.
1t is sheer folly to comply with the demands
of the Sioux Their case requires severe rather
than weak treatment. Practically, the Gov
ernment has conceded all it ought to concede,
~. a. 81 hako
selves their leaders in instruction should be
arrested and bound over to keep the peace. The
fact of the matter is that they have got it into
their heads that rebellion is profitable, that the
Great Father can be compelled to support them
in luxury by threats of war and acts of hostility.
Their experience since the ghost-dance affair
has encouraged this notion. THE TRIBUNE
then urged that their surrender to General Miles
ought to be unconditional and that the leaders
of the instruction should be punished SO far
as we know they have not been punished at all,
but the most of them rewarded by going off on
a holiday with Buffalo Bill. So far as We know
Lieutenant Casey's infamous murder is wholly
unavenged and its perpetrator is hero in the
eyes of the white-banketed Brules. OF course
it is to be said that the chiefs who have gone
with Buffalo Bill and those who remain in hon
orable captivity under General Miles are not
where they can excite another uprising, and this
is certainly good. But there are young men
enough left at Pine Ridge, Rosebud and Lower
Brule to form numerous fighting band, and
the savage Sioux is never at loss for am
bilious leaders. The point is that nobody has
been materially punished for the utterly un-
provoked insurrection of last fall, and that this
is another lesson to the Sioux, and will be so
regarded, convincing him that the Great Father
is really afraid Of him and may easily be CO.
creed by the threat and show Of war.