Year: 1875

President Grants Big Talk with the Sioux
Explanation.


I There was large number of visitors
at the White House this morning, says
Washington dispatch, when the Indians
arrived. They were received in. the
Presidents private office. They ranged
themselves about him in a half circle,
and remained standing during the speech.
Mrs. Grant, Mrs. Sartoris, and Mrs.
Fred. Grant were among the spectators
In the room. They seemed more in
terested in the savages than the savages
were in them. One Chief backed right
against Mrs. Fred Grant, and crowded
her back Ito make way for himself.
| Others of the Indians showed as striking
ease In this little council. Some of them,
oppressed by the hot weather, kicked off
their moccasins and dug their toes into
the Brussels carpet. The President
spoke as follows:


81 want to say to-day, something about the
object for which you have been brought here.
L want to say a few words for you to think
about, and do not wish you to say anything
now until you have had time to think about it.
L have always been friend of the Indian, and
am very anxious to do what 1 think is best for
them. The country where you now live, as you
must be well aware, is entirely incapable of
supporting you if the government should cease
to support you. By the treaty of 1868 clothing
was guaranteed to you for thirty years, and
provisions emily for five years. Howl! The
food and provisions which have been given you
for the last two years have been a gratuity on
the part Of Congress. 1t may be taken from
| you at any time, without any violation of the
treaty. My interest now is to make some ar.
rangement with you by which you and your
! children will be, secure for the future. As /
said in the beginning, it must be evident to you
| that if supplies of food were withheld by the
white people, it would be entirely impossible
fol you to live where you are. Another thing
1 would call your attention to is this: You must
see that the white people outnumber Indians
now about 200 to one, taking all the Indians
within the United States. This number is in
creasing so rapidly that before many years it
will be impossible to fix any limits in your ter
ritory where you can prevent their going. 1t
will become necessary for the white people to
be able to go from one place to another,
whether occupied by Indians or not, just as
they now go from one State to another, For
this reason it is very desirable that, while you
have friend here to look after your interests
you shall be situated where you will be able to
get support beyond any contingency. I do
not propose to ask YOU to leave the homes
where you were born and raised without your
COHbcuL WdUt W pOluG OuJ Lu6 duNdnUdp6 10
you and to your children, if you will make such
arrangements as will be proposed to you.
There is territory south of where you now
live where the climate is much better, and the
buffalo more plenty, where lands can be purchas-
ed, where grass is much better, and game is
more abundant, including large game, where
there is good pasturage for animals, and where
you can have teachers sent among you to
teach the art of self-preseryation and self
support. Now this year we have had
great difficulty in keeping white people from
going to the Black Hills in search of gold, but
we have so far prevented their going, or pre-
vented their remaining. Every year this same
difficulty increases, unless the right of the
white people to go to that country is granted by
you, and it may in the end lead to hostGties be-
tween the Indians and white people, without
any special fault ON either side. If such trouble
should occur and become general, it would
necessarily withhold, for the time being, at
least, the supplies which the government should
be sending to you. All this trouble 1 want to
avoid. 1 want to see you well provided for,
and want to see the provision made in such a
way that it will have to be respected by my
successor, and by other administrations in the
future. I want the Indians to think of what
have said. I do not want you to say anything
to-day, but talk among yourselves and be pre-
pared to hear the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs and the Secretary of the Interior, who
will always speak for me, and will never speak
without ADVISING me before tney nave spoken.
That is all l want to say to-day. What have
said has been written down, and will be re-
peated to you


Spotted Tail having asked special per-
mission to say few words, spoke as fol
lows: "What these men have published
in the papers that said about the Com
missioner is a lie. never said such a
thing. never said the word. Whoever
published that paper, he must do that
himself, because do not want to call
my friends liars


. The Indians listened attentively, occa-
J sionally utteringa chow" of surprise OF
satisfaction. The announcement that
, the limit of supplies given under the
! treaty expired two years ago was terri
, BILE blow to the Indians, and will have


great influence, for they have been de-
nying similar statements made by Secre-
tary Cowan and Commissioner Smith.
But when the Great Father said so the
matter was settled, and the Indians
turned to each other with significant


chow"


The policy that will be pursued toward


them was plainly declared in the Presi-
dents speech, which is to place all Indians
ON Indian territory. Although it is moi


impossible that the Sioux will consent


to leave Dakota, as they want the Powder
river and Tongue river countries if al
. exchange is made.


Copies of the Presidents speech have
been given to the interpreters and the
Indians are discussing it tonight. Red
Cloud said to your correspondent wher
asked his opinion of the speech: "Ths
Father talks like Chief. He is the In
: dams friend, but the Sioux will no
, leave the big rivers and mountains of the
Z North for the plains of the South. The
J Sioux will die where they were. born. The
Great Father will not take us away from
a o1lr homas %