Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-05-15
THE
INDIANS SIDE
AND
A GREAT CHIEFS
DEATH
BY BUFFALO BILL
FROM TRUE TALES OF the PLAINS"
cnpYE2l GHT. 1909 BY WHITMAN z COPY
oPYRlQNT 200, q WLLLIAME CODY

A events, deserving more eX-
4 "a tensive reference than posi-
Die here, are nearing a close
Und have covered a period with which
his name IS associated, 1t is fitting that
the general reader should be given a
little insight into the character Of the
famed Sioux Indian Sitting Bull, Aft
err remaining In Canada until his peo-
pie were leaving him and returning to
their reservations, having only rem
nant of his immediate following and
family left. he himself consented to
return under conditions that would be
favorable to his followers, while he
was assured Of immunity from per
sOnal punishment
He was wise enough to know that
his absence was weaving many from
obedience to his sway. and martyrdom
at a distance, he thought, was not as
effective In retaining popularity and
power as would he persecution under
the eyes of his people.
He was of incorruptible loyalty to his
people, stlCklcr for their treaty
rights, a native politician who If
schOOled little more In diplomacy
and It's conCealment of designs would
class him as the great Indian states
man.
In war his bitter opponent in peace
he won my friendship and sympathy.
He impressed me as a deep thinker,
Conscientious as to the proper rights
to the lands of his fathers he ad.
vanCed arguments that were strong
and convincing His claim of primitive
possessions for ages beyond the white
mans coming, of the conditions being
undisturbcd for centuries and existing
as the Great Manitou had ordained,
the boHntiful supplies he had furnish
ed on land and in the waters, OF wild
fruit, wild fowl, wild cattle, abundance
of wild horses, verdure to support
them without the plOwman's weary
work-all furnished him an argument
that the disturbance and compulsory
change to its heirs of this legacy were
arbitrary, unjust to the verge of what
we would call sacrilegiOus interference
with the Divine will.
He had all the old treaties in his
head in the Indian legendary manner,
also in hicrogIyphicS. but in writing
and printed type he had an extract
from the treaty Of 1865 by which the
Sioux reservation of Dakota was set
apart "for the absolute and undis-
turbed use and occupation of the In
dams and upon which no outsiders but
government employees shall be allow.
ed to pass, settle or reside
Basing his case like lawyer, he
would introduce it as a silent witness,
juStifying his actions, and with keen
eyes he would watch it carefully, 50
that it could not be tempered with,
and while, Of course, he could not read
he had marks on this sacred totem that
he was familiar with. His eagle eye
would scan the face of the reader of ii
to see the effect, and on It's return his
face intimated strongly the triumph
it gave him as a claimant to a clear
title.
l will give a general idea Of the
old mans description of conditions, re-
suits and the power to him Of some
mysterious man that was invisible be
ing in the dark-away east:
That the white man at this time had
taken most Of the land, had destroyed
or driven away the game and that the