Los Angeles herald., 1891-01-08
THE INDIAN QUESTION.

Correspondence Explaining the Admin
istration's Views Upon 1t.
WASHINGTON, Jan. THE following
correspondence, made public today, ex-
plains fully the position of the admins
tration on the Indian question:
WASHINGTON, October 81, 1890.
Secretary OF War.
SIR: l forward for your information
letter addressed to me by the secre-
tary of the interior, under date Of Octo-
ber 30th, accompanied with letters from
the commissioner of Indian affairs, and
of certain Indian agents, all relating to
the apprehended trouble with the Sioux
Indians. This delusion as to the COM
ing of an Indian Messiah and the return
OF dead Indian warriors for crusade
against the whites, seems to have taken
q strong hold, not only upon the
Sioux, but upon some other tribes,
even as widely separated as Indian ter
ritory. You will at once cause per-
sonal investigation to be made, by either
the division or department commander,
into the actual condition of things
among the Sioux, and direct him to
make an early report of his observations,
and any recommendations he may have
to submit in the meantime you will see
that all necessary precautions are taken
to have the troops in that vicinity pre-
pared to cooperate in the execution OF
any orders that may be adopted. Very
respectfully, BENJAMIN HARRISON.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13.
The Secretary OF War.
SIR: l transmit herewith communi-
cations dated November 9TH, 10th and
18th, from the secretary OF the interior,
accompanied by copies of letters from
the commissioner ON Indian affairs, and
from the agents of the Indian bureau at
Pine Ridge, Rosebud and Cheyenne
River agencies, all relating. %. to
the disturbed condition of the
Indians at those stations, and
relating incidents in which the authority
and power of the agents and Indian po-
lice have been violently defied and set
to be serious. The authority and disci-
pline OF the agents must be maintained,
and adequate and early steps taken to
prevent any outbreak that may put in
peril the lives and homes of the settlers
of the adjacent states. You will there
fore assume the direction and RESPONSE
Dlllty LOT Sucn SCeps DIS may pe HeCeSsaFy
to these ends. You will see that the
troops whose services will be in requisi-
tion in case of an outbreak are in readi-
ness to take and remain in the field !;
that any movement, supported by a body
of troops. sufficiently large, be impress
sive, and in case of resistance quickly
and thoroughly efficient. Ihave directed
the secretary of the interior to
advise his agents to use their
influence to separate the we'll
disposed from the evil-disposed
Indians. and while using their best en-
deayors to preserve discipline, to avoid
an outbreak until the war department
has made the necessary preparations.
(Signed) BENJAMIN HARRISON.
WASHINGTON, Dec. /. 1890
Commissioner of Indian Affairs:
SIR: You will convey to the several
agents among the Sioux the following
order, which is hereby made during the
present Indian troubles: You are in
structed that while you shall continue
all the business and carry into effect the
educational and other purposes of your
agency, you will. as to all operations in
tended to suppress any outbreak by
force, cooperate with and obey the
orders from the military officer COM
manding in the reservation in your
charge.
(Signed) JOHN w. NOBLE,
Secretary OF War.