Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-02-09
THE WHIPPED INDIAN.
The Sioux Braves Tell Secretary Noble
That They Mean to BE Good.


THE WHIPPED INDIAN.
,, The Sioux Braves Ten Secretary Nobl
That They Mean to BE Good.
/ WASHINGroN, February s.-The con
ference between Secretary Noble anC
the Sioux Indian delegation was begun
this morning at the Interior Depart
ment. The Secretary Of War and Mrs
Proctor and Miss Proctor were present,
and also the wife OF Secretary Noble
and Miss Halstead. Others prominent
in the work for the Indians were inter.
eSted spectators.
The conference was opened by Secre'
tary Noble, who said:
"EOu were represented here just after
the agreement with General Crook was
made. You made certain requests and
complaints at that time, and you re-
ceived certain promises from me. There
has been trouble since then, and you
have come again to say what You think
proper is TO the cause Of that trouble
and to make any further complaints you
see fit. The Secretary is here TO tell
you that he has kept MS word, but if
there is anything more he can do,
through friendship for the Sioux, he is
ready to do it, He is your friend, and
the Great Father has told him TO be
your friend. He wants you TO talk 10
him as a friend and he will meet you in
the same spirit"
The Secretary said that he would hear
John Grass and American Horse, and
then take counsel with them as to who
should follow. John Grass then came
forward, Rev c. ). Cook, the Episcopal
minister at Pine Ridge, acting as inter-
prefer. Grass at once began to speak OF
the recent trouble among the Indians,
the origin of which he did not know.
They had come for the purpose of con-
fcrring with the Secretary in regard to
the matter. The Indians, he said, did
not desire to be driven back 10 their
wild life. but wished TO consult with
| the President so as to determine upon
the future. The Indians thought it de-
sirablc that the agents should be civil
ians rather than military. In the past
he said the Indian agents had oppOrtu-
mites TO steal, but now il was difficult
for them to adopt such practices. The
agents in late years, he said, were good
men.
In speaking OF his own reservation,
that of Standing Rock, the threatened
trouble had been put down by the In
dian police, and he was requested to ask
for an increase OF fifty men. Grass
then shook hands with the Secretary
and took his seat.
Ia cpAulr-
er. He displayed considerable natural
ability, and made graceful preface To
his remarks, referring in complimentary
terms to the Secretary and the ladies'
present. The Government, he said, had
made mistakes in their attempts to civil
ize the Indians. He proceeded to enum-
crate their mistakes.
Instead OF the positions at the agen
cics being filled in by Indians, white
men crowded them out and took their
places What his people wanted was a
chance to rise and till the positions Of
trust and consequence that We're within
their reach He then spoke OF religious
matters, ana said that there were three
religious bodies on their reservation
who were trying teach them TO live bet
ter lives, and especially to bring about
religious marriages, but they did not
want to be compelled 10 marry certain
persons. The Secretary inquired who
| had sought 10 compel them TO marry.
American Horse replied that he referred
! more particularly 10 persons who eloped.
When the couple were brought back the
agent obliged them TO be married.
The speaker then asked that the loss
es suffered 10y the Indians in the late
disturbance be made good by the Gov
eYNmeNt. He lay0yed the removal ot
the Carlisle School 20 the West.
Young ng-Man-Afraid-of HiS-Horses re-
lated his services in the interest OF har-
mony during the late trouble; he had
brought his people into camp and had
turned in their arms. "How many?''
oueried the Secretary, and the orator
was somewhat nonplussed. He knew
the number was small, and he did not
care TO say. He hoped the Government
would not only educate the children,
but would also give them something to
do when they finished at school.
Two Strikes said he had made peace
with General Miles, and was going to
do what he could TO maintain IL.
Humn said about three hundred OF
his people had been killed and there
should be some consideration shown the
survivors; he wanted their rations In
creased and continued.
Hollow Horn. Bear and Medicine Bull
talked briefly, aud then Secretary Noble
spoke to the Indians He said; "Phe
Indian must not be discouraged. lie
would be So. .arted so long as he en-
Ideayored to DO well. There were two
sides TO the question of what is due the
Indian and what is due from the In
dian. Up TO 1854 the Sioux have been
given S42. 600. 600 by the Government
The Government acknowledges its
treaties and agreements with the
Sioux. Since 1854. when no money
was paid. there has been much
more money paid, according to
The treaty. The Secretary quoted
statistics as to the issues TO Indians.
The schools that the Indian wants have
been kent no at all Of the agencies,
land industrial schools, such as they
want. have also been established at
Pierre. and another school will be put
up at Flandleau. Farmers have been
kept at the different agencies to sno"
the Sioux how to farm the land. 1t was
\ mere accident that 100000 should
have been cut of the Sioux appropria-
ton Immediately after the agreement
with General Crook. 1t would have
been the same if there hap been no
agreement. These things should CON
vince the Sioux that the Government
has been trying to do what was night
for the Indians. ,
In conclusion the Secretary advised
the Indians TO think oyer the many
things the Government had done Tor
General Crook, and to have confidence
/ In what he said. The Secretary salq pc
wanted the Indians 10 make up theiF
, minds to do The best they could to edu-
cate or 10 have educated theit children
and never to let their young men dream
that they could ever get anything Dy
q force from the United States. The
Secretary's speech closed with renewed
L I