Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-07
THE INDIAN QUESTION.
The Relations Of the War and Intersee
Departmenta.

Department..
The following is the first of series Of Letters
on the subject Of the care Of the Indians tna'
VIII explain themfeives and which viii show
| that there has been no friction whatever in
the departments in that matter. II is from the
President 70 the Secretary Of War, dated
October 81: ~ forward. for your
information a letter addressed to me BY the
Der 80, accompanied with letters from the COM
missioner Of Indian affairs and Of certain In
dian agents, all relating TO apprehended trou-
BILE with the Sioux Indians. This de-
fusion as 70 the coming of an In
warriors for q crusade against the whites,
seems to have taken o strong hold not only
| upon the Sioux but upon some other tribes
even a. widely separated as the Indian terri
| tory. You will at once cause Q personal
investigation to be made by either the di-
vision 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 win see
that all necessary precautions are taken to
have troops in that vicinity prepared to CO.
operate in the execution Of any orders that
may be adopted"
THE SITUATION SEEMS sERioUA
The President wrote another letter to Secre-
tary Proctor on the 18th of November, ~ fol-
lows: 81 transmit herewith communications Of
| date November Z, 10 and Is from the Secretary
OF the Interior, accompanied by copies Of let
tiers from the commissioner of Indian affairs
and from the agents of the Indian bu-
reau at Pine Ridge, Rosebud and Chey-
enne River agencies, all relating to
the disturbed conditions of the Indians at
these stations, and relating incidents in which
the authority and power Of the agents and Of
the Indian police have been violently defed
and set at naught. The situation seems to me
to be serious. The authority and discipline
OF the agents must be maintained and
| adequate and early steps taken to prevent
any utbreak that may put in peril the lives
and homes Of the settlers in the adjacent states.
You will, therefore, assume the direction and
| responsibility for such steps a. may be neces-
| sary to these ends You will see that
| the troops whose services win be in
| requisition in case Of an outbreak
are in a state of quick readiness to take and re-
| main in the field. and that any movement 10
supported by body Of troops sufficiently large
to be impressive, and in case Of resistance
| quickly and thoroughly eficient.I have directed
the Sec'y Of the Interior to advise his agents to
| use their influence to separate the wel-dis-
posed from the nl-disposed Indians, and, while
using their best endeavors to preserve discip-
line, to avoid an outbreak until the War Depart
ment had made its necessary preparations"
SECRETARY MOBILES ORDER.
Under date of December Secretary Noble
wrote the commissioner of Indian affairs as
follows: 'You will convey to the several agents
on duty among the Sioux the following order.
| which is hereby made:
During the present Indian trouble you are
instructed that, while you shall continue all the
business and carry into effect the educational
and other purposes Of your agency, YOU viii,
| as to all operations intended to suppress any
| outbreak by force, cooperate with and obey
the orders Of the military officer commanding
on the reservation In your charge.