The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-02-12
THEIR INTERVIEW WITH
SECRETARY NOBLE IL
WASHINGTON.
The SPEECH OF AMERICAN HORSE.
Yesterdays Proceedings in the Senate and
Worlds Fair officials.
SEGHETARy

| WASHINGTON, Feb, THE conference be-
dian delegation was begun this morning at
| the Interior Department. The conference
was opened by Secretary NOBLE, who said:
you were re presented here just after the
| agreement with Gen. Crook was made
You made certain requests and complaints
at that time, and you received certain
promises from me. There has been trouble
| since then, and you have again come to say
what you think proper as to the cause o
hat trouble, and make any further COM
paints you see fit. The secretary is here to
Tell you that he has kept his word but if
there is anything more he can do through
friendship for the 5 0uX be Is ready tn dolt
He is your frlend. aud the Great Father
! has tOd hin tn be YOUR friend. He wants
tuu to talk to him as friends, and he will
| meet you III tie same spirit"
lhe secretary thea asked if the Indians
had made any arrangement about the
SPEC kerS.
Louis Rencoltre said that it was desired
mat ach agency should be Tepresen ed.
The secretary Ie,,l,ed that he would hear
John Grass and american Horse, aud then
cake counsel with him as to who should
iollow.
John Grass ther came forward. Rev. G.
). Cook, EpisC pal minister OF Pine Ridge,
tc'ed as inelrprt tor.
Grass at once began to speak Of the recent
roube among the Indians, the origin OF
which he did no know. The Indians. lie
SAID did not desire 10 he driven back to
their wild life, but wished TO cUn>ulC With
he president so as To determine upon the
'nture. The Indians thought that
t desirable that the agents should
De civilians rather than military. In the
,ast, he said the Inc ian agents had oppor-
uuitirs to steal, but now i was tiitficult tor
| item to adopt sucn practices. The agents
N late years, he said, were good men.
speaking of his own rcServ ~ that Mt
standing Rock threatened trouble had been
Iut lower by Indian pnlce. lie be,lrvcu III
Indian police, and was requested to ask tor
III increase OF fifty men. Grass then shook
lands with the seCre ary and took his seat
American Horse was the next speaker.
lie displayed considerable natural ability.
tud made n graceful preface to his remarks,
referring III comp inientarg terms 10 the
lecratary and The ladies pre- ent The gov.
.rnment, hei said, had made mistakes
II their, attempts TO clvilize
Indians. He proceeded to enumerate their
mistakes. Instead of the positions at the
,gency being flied in ny Indians, while
men crowded them out and took thor
laCes. What his people wanted was
| hance to rise aud fill pnsiiions nf trust and
Outidence That were within their reach.
| lie then spoke Of religious matters ana
AID there were three religious bodies onthe
| reservation who were trying tn teach them
olive better lives and especially to bring
I bout religious marriages, bul they did not
want to be compelled 10 marry certain per
| sols.
rne secretary inquired who had sought
| to compel th"m 20 marry? AmeI lean
| Horse replied that he referred more partic
| ilarly to per,uns who eloped. When The
couple w-re brought back The agent Oblig-
| ed them to be married.
| The speaker then asked that the losses
| suffered by the Indians in the late disturb
tnce b. made good by the government. He
avored The removal of the Carlisle school
| q the West.
| Young OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES horses related
MS services III he interest Ofha"mony dur
ny The late troub e. lie had brought his
'enple into camp and tnPy had turned in
| heir arms. Two Strikes, Hump RolO,
| Horn Bear and MEXICAN Bull spoke br. Nv,
! md then Secretary Noble spoke to the III
| lians.
He said: "The Indians must not
! )e discouraged. He would be
.ndravored to do well. There we're two
sides to question of what is du' Inditns
md what ) due from Inuians. Up tn 1884,
the Sioux had been gwen $R,0O,U0 by the
| government. The gov, rnmeDt ac-
inowledged its treaties and agreements
| Sth tn. 81 lux "
| In conclusion the secretary advised the
Ind ans to think over many things the gov.
| eminent had me Tor them 10 look at the
promises made by Gen. Crook and to have
confidence in what he said. The secretary
aid he wanted the Indians 10 make up
heir minds to do the hest they could to ed
nc tie or have educated their children. aud
never let their young men dream that they
could get anything by force from The United
States. The sscretarl'S speech closed with
he assurance of friendship.