The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-13
The Revival Of tho Ghost Dances.

It is not surprising that the Messiah de-
fusion. which made SO much trouble among
our American Indians last winter. should
have seized upon them again. There is
nothing more preposterous in 1t than in
similar decisions which have possessed
whole communities Of the white race. and.
indeed. unnumbered millions Of mankind.
Itseems like the fruit Of curiously perverted
missionary teachings. grated by the red
men upon their own primitive theology and
race prejudices. The deluge Of mud which
Is to bury the whites and leave the Indians
on top is one Of Its cardinal features.
The ghost dances. SO called from the gar
mants worn In them. were year ago chiefly
among the Sioux Of the Dakotas. whereas
now they are going on among the Southern
Cheyennes and Arapahoes and some smaller
tribes OF the Indian Territory. 1t is worthy
OF note that the religious frenzy among the
Sioux followed hard after the sale Of a large
portion OF their reservation to the Gov
eminent. and that is precisely what is
true OF the current demonstrations. In
both cases there were bitter opponents Of
the land cessions. and the general question
Of adopting the white mans ways entered
into the debate. Only after many attempts
to effect these purchases. both In Dakota
and the Indian Territory. were they brought
about: and it was among the unprogressive
element Of the Sioux that the ghost dances
took strong hold. while the leaders Of the
present dances are opponents OF land ces-
sions and all steps toward civilization.
Gen. MILES. in his recent report. shows
that two successive years Of crop failures
In the plains country. a shortage Of rations.
through delayed and inadequate appropri-
atoms by Congress. imperfect agency
methods. and a feeling that there was no hui
man escape from the pressure Of the whites
upon their reservations. made the time ripe
for the religious delusion. And 1t happened
that some fanatics living on the western
slope OF the Rocky Mountains had sent
semissaries to the various Indian tribes TO
propagate new faith. By concerted action
delegations from thu Sioux. Cheyennes.
Gros Ventures. Utes. Snakes. Piegans. Ban
nocks. -Utes. and other tribes travelled to
o common rendezvous. near Pyramid Lake.
In Nevada. Among tho representatives Of
sixteen tribes there assembled In conclave
were some who lived a Thousand miles away
from each other. while some had travelled
1870 miles into country entirely unknown
Is the CHRIST. persuaded their dupes that q
golden age was coming. which would re-
store the buffalo. bring to life the Indian
dead. destroy the whites. give the power OF
healing all wounds and ailments by q mere
touch, and bring perpetual youth. SO that
nobody would he more than 40 years old.
It was doctrine OF peace. too. although
when united with Sioux grievances it led to
war. The principal man identified as the
Messiah was QUoITzE Ow. or JACK WILSON.
sP.Ute. about 80 years old. who had been
brought up mostly by a white man. and
had fancied. while cutting wood In the
mountains. that he had been taken to
heaven and there had received a revelation
and mission. His followers believed that
he could produce rain and snow at will: but
Q more profound impression was made upon
the tribes by hearing themselves spoken to
each In Its own language. q feat presum-
ably accomplished by having several per-
sons address them In the same garb. This
also accounts for the variation In the
stories. some OF which represent the Mes
$ sish - an Indian and the others as white.
ga general idea OF the relation OF this de-
lusion to dancing may perhaps be obtained
from hsrsngue OF SHORT BULL which
Gen. MILES quotes In his report. which
was followed by the escapsde Of 5000 In
dams last winter from Rosebud and Pine