Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-17
TWO CENTS.
AT PINE RIDGE AGENCY.
Capt. Penney Writes an Important Letter to
the Indian Commissioner.

the Indian Commissioner.
Capt Chas. G. Penney. U. s. A, the acting
Indian agent at Pine Ridge agency, has written
under date Of April long letter TO the COM
missioner Of Indian affairs relative 10 the con-
dition OF affairs at the agency and the prospects
for the future. He enumerates the cause
OF the outbreak among the Indians last winter
as being the failure Of the governments to keep
faith with the Indians and to fulfill its solemn
treaty obligations and the failure of
the food supply. $50 far as the rations
are concerned" the captain adds. ''this
has been remedied in the mat
ter Of beef, which under existing
contracts can now be made right So far
legislation goes the other causes Of trouble
have been made right, hut the Indians
another promise backed by the performance OF
the agreement in regard to rations il seems 10
inspire hope again among them"
HOPE SHOULD NOT BE DEFERRED.
The writer thinks that il is important that
this hope be not long deferred. He urges
strongly the great importance of doing some
thing, however small. in the way of a begin
ning OF the fulhllment Of the promises which
nave nov become part Of the law
1.-The general effect of the recent outbreak
upon the minds Of the Indians has been bad
wholly bad. Severe losses which thew have
suffered and the destruction of life which has
ensued has made their hearts bitter and sore.
They feel that they have not been whipped
and that the soldiers were afraid and held
their hands in fear and not in merciful kind
ness. Had they been thoroughly chsstised, the
half OF them killed and the remainder cowed
into AFFECT subsection, horrible and uncalled
would have FELT they had been
punished and in crouching fear would have
kissed the rod of correction, as these poor,
oppressed and down-trodden people have done
SO often before. They are generally no less in
clined to be turbulent, and the memory of the
loss of knsfolk, friends and fellow -tribesmen
rankles in their hearts and is an ever-present
source of discomfort. which may break out
whenever the needed spark is applied"
DANGER TO BE APPREHENDED.
80 far as can ascertain" the writer con-
tinues, there are no indications of growing
discomfort, but there is danger to be appre-
hended OF future trouble. l am led to this con-
clusion because the people are in a state
Of unrest. They have not begun their
their houses and places Of abode have been
plundered. and they, only half hearted in their
work, feel that il is hardly worth while TO try
again lest there be another war and all their
which they listen to what tell them, trying
hard to believe that what L say is true
and yet only half believing. You ask me to state
specifically the facts on which l base nv
opinion. 1t is more than L can do. Come
out here and live among them and
see it on the expression OF their faces
and hear it in the tone of their voices. An In
dian is a merry, happy, careless child, full of
friendship and good, or he is a raging devil, full
OF blood madness. These people just now are
neither. They may be either"
HOW PEACE CAN BE ASSURED.
The captain thinks that peace and quiet in
the reservation would be assured by allowing
the delegation that was selected by
Gen. Miles and visited this city last win
ter to come here again and have Gen
Miles with them. He SAYS that they feel that
when here last that they were not allowed to
talk; that they were not treated with the re-
spect and consideration due them. He further
advises that his recommendation in regard to
increasing the police force to 100 men be APP
proved. He commends the establishment Of
subissue stations and thinks that the boys who
come from manual training schools should be
given a chance to make the shoes the harness.
wagons, &C., that are used by the Indians.