New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1907-01-02

turbulence.
The de-ay in making the payments,
after the time fixed uptl by the Super
intendent, was a source of great suf-
fering and was another prominent
cause of the outbreak There was
usually delay of a month or two,
and generally during the cold, fall
weather, when there would be assem-
bled 1000 men, women and children,
some of whom came from long distan-
ces and all with small stores of pro-
visions, which would be soon exhaus-
ted. Then would follow begging dan
ces and appeals to agents and traders,
who could only give temporary relief.
Then for month or more these poor
people were scarcely half supplied
with the necessaries of life, and some
of the time in state of actual starva-
tiOn
This condition would be followed
by sickness and many deaths. Dur
ing the long delay of the payment Of
1854 small pox broke cut among them
and one entire band of the Upper
Sioux, who has not been vaccinated,
persisted from the disease. The trad
ers gave credit during this condition
of suffering to the amount of their
money annuity, and when the pay
ment finally took place, they were
generally faithfully paid, and the
poor wards of the government would
return to their homes famished, de-
stitute and sullen.
Thus the sense of wrong was ever
deepening, and, the future giving no
promise of Improvement, in their ex-
asperated condition an event of minor
Importance led to open shostilies.
Every race of human beings in its
progress has passed through the
stage of barbarism. The Indian race,
like ourselves, represent stage of
human progress. And in trying to
estimate the character of Little Grow
he must be judged as a somewhat adj
vapced type of a barbarous people.
He believed in the right of refusing to
submit to injustice, and resenting in
justice by force if necessary. Every
important battle was led by Little
Grow in person, but it is not known
that he participated in any raid upon
the settlements, or was guilty of muir
dering women and children. His tax
ing of prisoners and their humane
treatment evidenced spirit superior
to their inherited custom.
The end of his career must ever re-
main a mystery-why he fed to a
settlement of whites. 1t has been
often stated that it was for the pur-
pose of stealing horses. To such as
knew him intima telv it is difficult to
believe his proud spirit could have SO
humiliated itself. 1t seems more
probable, that knowing all had been
lost, home, friends and country, he
sought his enemies, expecting, and
perhaps seeking, the death that
followed.
During the Indian war and the Bit
ter feeling that attended it, there was
some excuse for our people resorting
to the extreme retaliation that was
adopted, but that condition no longer
exists. Other states have suffered
from their Indian wars, but none have
thought proper to desecrate their state
capitol with the scalp of a fallen foe.
Such a spectacle reflects sadly upon
the humanity of Christian people,
and all citizens, who prize the good
name of our state, should desire its
removal.
The writer's resignation took place
in June, 1861. Learning OF my con-
temptation of leaving, Little Grow ap-
pealed to me to remain with his peo-
pie, urging that my long service and
knowledge of their language had made
my service acceptable; that he feared
the coming OF a stranger, ignorant of
the ways OF the Indians and their
wants.
The appointment of DR.. Humphrey
as my successor proved most unfor-
tunate. He was a homeopathic ply
stefan of fair abilities and a gentle
man. He should have succeeded in a
settlement of whites, but the man and
his system failed to satisfy the Indi-
ans, who had ever been accustomed to
a more heroic treatment.
Himself, wife and two children were
victims of the massacre that occurred
a little more than twelve months later.
A son, a lad of twelve years, escaped.
In conclusion, it seems to the writer
that when we consider the condition
existing among these Indians for
years, the conclusion must follow that
had their treatment been lust. humane