The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-08-15
DYING CHIEF BIDS FAREWELL.
Good Voice, Sioux Peace Champion,
Issues Address.

sixty years activity in the interest OF
his tribe, the Sioux, mightier than
which none other ever roamed the
Western plains, Chief Good Voice, at
the age of eighty-three years, is dy-
ing in his tepee on Oak creek, in
Meyer county, surrounded by faithful
friends. Six physicians who have at
tempted to prolong the old mans
life have given up the task and say II
is but a matter of hours when the old
chief will have passed to the happy
hunting ground.
Good Voice, during his long and
active life, always has stood for peace,
and his influence with the leaders OF
the great Sioux nation has been great
ly responsible for the high position 1t
holds In civilization as compared with
other tribes. He early learned the
value of peace in maintaining the in
dependence Of the Indians, and to his
diplomacy and convincing Indian ora,
tory are due the success of the Sioux
In holding their w against the en-.
croachments of the whites.
Eight trips to Washington as chief
representative of his tribe have given
Good Voice a good idea of government
and enabled him to present to his fol.
lowers a clear conception of their
duties. For peace he has stood at
all costs, at the same time standing
out for the rights of his people. He
has been chief signer of every treaty
made by the Sioux for forty years,
and was q personal friend Of Gen.
Sherman, who often said that Good
Voice was the only Indian chief he
yer trusted implicitly.
Good Voice, when he realized that
his time had come, expressed a de-
sire to send a message to the world,
and 1t has been translated by Moses
Good Voice, his grandson. The mes
sage Is as follows:
81 always obeyed the rules Of the
government.
When the government asked us to
give our children to the school | was
the first n to send mine. In order
to keep our children on the reserva-
ton l asked the government to keep
our schools on our reservation here.
81 always looked to the good gov
eminent and, and, therefore, l asked
for a church.
81 have no grudge against the peo-
pie of the United States. That is one
reason I want the government to hear
from me.
by our d~isobedience the govern
ment used to have war with the In
dams. But 1 always took the govern
ment's part and helped them. What
I mean by helping the government is:
When Gen. Sherman had a fight with
the C~heyennes a Cheyenne shot a
horse under Sherman, and, in doing
my duty l killed the Cheyenne.
1.-THE government asked the Indians
to consider whether they will help the
government by acting as scouts, which
I was the first member, holding the Of
fee as sergeant.
"The government asked me to be
good, both to the Indians and to the
whites, which the government knew
l had well fulfilled. In about 1876 an
indian killed a white man and the
army officers requested the Indians to
turn the Indian over to the authorities.
But the Indians were afraid to arrest
him, so l went and arrested him and
took him to the authorities.
'In the same year Crazy Horse, one
Of our chief warriors, was arrested in
our camp, and l was ordered to take
him to the fort, which / did; and that
same day was killed by the soldiers.
another time two white men who
were carrying mail from Camp Sheri-
dan to the Black Hills got into trouble
which resulted In the killing of one
another. Chief Spotted Tail was mott
ned to have the other white man ar
rested and / was ordered to arrest
him, which l did, and turn him over to
the authorities, which afterward he
was hung for his crime.
There is times when the govern
ment killed my relatives and take my
horses, and again the Indians kill my
relatives and take my horses. But I
stood for peace. / might express that
I was defeated on both sides. Gen.
Harvey killed twenty-five relatives of
mine and tool my horses.
THE government sent Red Bead,
who is my uncle, to make peace with
the Indians. But the Indians found
out that Red Bead was on the govern
ment's side, ~overpowered him, and his
party was badly slaughtered. These
Indians were of tribes from Chey-
ennes, Ogalallas and Rosebud Sioux.
II have been In Washington several
times as delegate, and on these occa-
sions have fully represented my peo-
pie and good government. I have al
ways looked for good government,
therefore. I ask the government to
hear from me once more.
Il shake hands with our agent, the
officials at Washington; also my
friend, Right Rev. William Hare,
bishop of South Dakota.
Last evening as / lay in my tepee
[ saw the sun go down and In a few
minutes all was darkness. knew II
would rise again and it's golden rays
would light the earth once more, and
I thought tonight that my life would
90 out, but | feel sure that soon | will
ace light again In the presence of the
Great Spirit, the Father of us all.
"As quietly as the twilight deepens
into the darkness of night, so quietly
and certain will my lifep light go out,
for I am old and NV TINA hos cou,a