The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-04-22
A Meeting with Great Chiefs

asked the Great Father to turn back
his white children from our country.
But many white men pass through
our reservation in search of the vel
low metal and they commit crimes
upon the peaceful red man in their
journeyings. Many times we have
heard good words that say we are to
suffer no more. We no longer be-
lieve those words. They are as the
cold wind that blows, empty and Civ
ing no comfort. Therefore We saw
to you We will not have you on our
lands. We bid you to turn back
whence you come. And if you do not
my young men will keep you from
going further"
Nothing could exceed the earnest
ness with which Red Cloud smoke.
His heart was in his voice, and we
could feel his emotion even under
the dignity and reserve of his de-
meanor. The children had ceased to
cry One or two of the women had
mustered courage to look out with
white faces upon the group by the
fire. The men, most of them, heard
the version of the speech given by
the old timers, with no responsive
thought save uueasiness at the threat
and hate Of the speaker To me it
was a vital and gripping situation,
this circle Of white homeseekers,
with the Indian throwing down the
gauntlet, neither race understanding
the needs or troubles of the other,
each driven inexorab1y to conflict
with the other by those same needs
and troubles. Here, on the empty
prairies, the drama of conquest was
being enacted.
Shangraux rose and faced Red
Cloud to deliver the reply. He spoke
forcibly and fluently in the same liz
uid tongue.
The soldiers under the command
Of Long Hair are within one weeks
march of this place." he said. eff
any harm befalls us they will know,
and their power is very great and
very deadly. Like hawk Long Hair
will sweep upon you, and when he
has finished there will be nothing LETT
but food for coyotes.
Red Cloud is known for a chiel
as wise as he is brave. He must
have learned that the warriors of the
whites are as the sands of the water
courses in number, and when they
are in motion they come as the sand
comes when it is dry and the wind
sweeps it furiously. If your young
men must fight we are ready for them
Perhaps they will win. Perhaps we
Will But, win or lose, the soldiers
will come and the Great Father of
Washington will turn his protection
from the Dakotas while their villages
are laid waste and they are hunted
down like wolves"
Red Cloud and Crazy Horse listen.
ed with the utmost attention. The
words of Shangraux were a complete
defiance, the answering challenge OF
the white, strong in knowledge of SUI
periority. The Sioux did not finch
and or a moment the thing hung in
the balance.
At that moment little boy of three
years who had escaped from the wag-
on barricade unnoticed crawled out
of the grass and came into the fire
light. He was a chubby chap, brave
and smiling, rosy from the glow of the
fire, curly haired. Before any one
had seen or stopped him he was op
posite the Indians. Their bright blan
: kets attracted him. He looked VI
, at Red Cloud. Red Cloud looked
gravely at the child, who had beel
thrust so strangely among the gum
and armed men, and the boy laughe,
: aloud.
I 1t was over in a twinkling. Som
t one swept the child away. Their
I was a whimpering in the wagon.
t have often wondered what part Nigh
5 have been taken by that youngstel
D unabashed and unafraid, standing
e his own diminutive person for tn
e resistless force of the white way
}, that came with wives and children
/ in search of homes, the greatest {
t fortresses, in the thoughts of Re
d Cloud have sometimes wondered
r the youngster was not the decidin
e factor Who shall say? Red CIou
8 gave no sign. Presently he gathere
e his blanket about him and spoil
e again.
lr "As the wolf bowls ceaselessly,
Ie the white man speaks lies witho