The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-04-03
RED MAN AND THE CABINET
IT is PREDICTED THAT SECRETARY
FOSTER AND HIS COLLEAGUES WILL
QUARREL OVER THE INDIAN QUESTION

1.
QUARREL OVER THE INDIAN QUESTION
"Foster' said an observing citizen
the other day,"was one of the Sioux
Commissioners who spent the summer
two years ago over the negotiations
whereby the Sioux ceded about 5000,
900 acres to the government. He
went all through the reservations and
got well acquainted with the head men
and chiefs. He thinks he understands
how they have been treated. When
the late war broke out there was much
discussion as to the responsibility, for
its origin. Secretary Noble held that
it was through no fault of his depart
ment. 1t was due, his agents report
ed, to the fanatical belief in the Mes
slah, whose coming some bad Indian
had predicted. He was emphatic in
his avowal that his department had
given the Indians good treatment.
"When the question of the cause of
the war came up in the State, Dan.
Voorhees,, OF Indiana, made hot on
slaught upon the Administration. He
held that it was responsible for the
outbreak which was costing the Gov
ernment So, 900, 900 or $4,000, 900 and
the lives Of brave soldiers. He thun-
dered with all his lungs against the
treatment the Indians had received
from agents Of the Interior Depart
ment The Sioux are starving, he
repeated again and again, and each
time with greater emphasis. His au-
thorty for this charge was Commission
er Foster, who had been interviewed
by Cincinnati newspaper and had
said that the cause of the outbreak
was starvation. Ex-Gov. Foster had
stated, Voorhees, said, that it was sim
ply a question of fighting or dying Of
hunger, and that the Indians were des-
perate from the cravings at their stom-
ach and wild for something to eat.
These statements which Mr.. Voor-
hees kept hammering into the minds
of the Senators were based upon dec
larations Of Foster, he said, and Fos-
ter has never denied having made
them
"The result of the Voorhees, on
slaught was the appointment Of the
Senatorial committee to investigate
the situation and fix responsibility for
the uprising on Secretary Noble. Com
missioner Morgan, and Others in au-
thority in the Department. Of the In
terror chafed at the lashing which the
Department was given. They were
fond Of quoting General Miles, who
agreed with their ileas more nearly
than with the ex-commissioner
When the general requested that
some of the agencies, notably those at
Pine Ridge and Rosebud, should be
taken from the management of the
Interior Department and placed un-
der control Of Army officers, Secretary
Noble was again stirred up He re-
garded this as a stab at him direct;
and there was good sized row in the
Cabinet for several days.
"Noble stood up for exclusive con-
troll of the reservations. The Presi,
dent and Secretary Proctor sided with
Miles. A compromise was patched
up by which an Army officer was sent
to Pine Ridge, the agent removed,
the two Departments united to the ex-
tent that an Army officer was instruct
ed toreport to the Secretary of the
Interior. Mr.. Noble claimed 2 VIC
tory, but was unhappy over it, because
the charges against his Department
were allowed to stand. He was Bit
ter against all who had sided against
him. 1t was with difficulty that the
row between himself and Secretary
Proctor was patched up.
Now that Mr.. Foster is in the Cab
met, he will either have to keep still
on the Indian question, change his
sentiments, or indulge in row with
Secretary Noble. Secretary Proctor
will be one Of the participants, for he
has way of sticking firmly to a posi-
ton which he has once taken
"The President will find his Cab
met hornets nest whenever the In
dian question is discussed.n