St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-06
VIRTUOUS NOBLE.
He Washes His Hands Clean Oe
Indian Blood.

Indian Blood.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-Secretary
Noble was questioned to-day as to what
action had been taken on the recon-
mendation of Gen. Miles that the In
dian agents of abe South Dakota
agencies be relieved from further duty.
and that their places be filed by mill.
tary officers. The secretary said he did
not care to discuss the matter further
than to say that the subject had not
been mentioned to him by any one with
authority to act in the matter. 1t is be-
lieved, however, that should Gen. Miles,
recommendation be submitted to him
by the president for his views. the sec
retary would strongly oppose the trans
fer. Tho agents sought TO be relieved
are regarded as competent officials, and
any attempt to substitute a military for
civil supervision of the Sioux would
undoubtedly be met with vigorous Up-
position by the interior department Off
cials. The secretary spoke with some
earnestnesS of the reports that have
been in circulation recently to the effect
that the Indians were in starving con-
dition, and that the pending trouble
grew out of the fact that the govern
ment had not kept it's agreement with
the Sioux, but, on the contrary, had
already begun to cut down the ratiOnS
supplied to them, in violation of all
treaty obligations. The secretary de-
nounced these statements as unquali-
fiedly false.
The story of starvation among the
Sioux was pure fabrication. For ten
long years the government, in fulfill
ment of its treaty obligations, had been
fe eding the Sioux in idleness. Some OF
them, however, were thrifty farmers
and good citizens. but large prOpor-
tion were a thriftless and indolent set
perfectly willing to spend their time in
idlenesS and in finding fault with the
government on every conceivable pre-
text. The treaty Of 1917, the secretary
said, obligated the government to fur
nish them with q certain amount OF
food, clothing, implements, horses,
cattle, etc, until they should become
self-suppOrting. After ten years had
elapsed during which time the govern
ment had spent millions Of dollars with
view to placing the Indians On self
supporting basis. Members Of congress
very properly began to inquire whether
it was the purpose OF the government to
continue indefinitely and forever this
policy of feeding Indians who persisted
in living in idleness.
They thought it was about time to
test their ability to support themselves.
And so the appropriation was reduced
by 100000, not very large amount
when compared with the vast sum
which the usual appropriation called
for. Thereupon the Indian immedi-
ately began to complain, but made no
effort toward feeding himself. lie Oc-
cupied vast territory containing thou
sands of acres of productive land. He
was supplied with everything necessary
to improve it and raise good crops, but
he preferred to do nothing and let the
government continue to put his food In
his mouth. 1t was time, the secretary
thought, that these people should be
compelled to do something, and he had
lost patience with those who upheld tho
Indians in their idleness. He sincerely
regretted that the recent action of the
military had resulted in blOodshed. and
he congratulated himself that his de-
partment was in no sense responsible