Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1891 — ADVICE TO INDIANS. [ARTICLE]

ADVICE TO INDIANS.

The Preeldeat Telle a IMldfatton es Hoax Whe4 TheySbeald Du la lheFutare. The Rioux Indian* called at th* executive mansion at 1 o’clock, on the afternoon of the ifich, and were ushered Into the East •Room, and there drawn np in a semi-ciro'e. The President’s family and a number of invited guests were present. Rev. , Mr* McCook acted as interpreter. Shortly after 1 o’clock the President appeared and addressed them as follows: ’•Will you say to them, Mr. Interpreter, , that I have given them an audience to-day j without any it tention of talking to them at any length They have had anoppor-* tunity to state to the Secretary of the Interior and to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs their wants and views. These officers will bring what has been said to my attention. One or two things I will say myself. It has been a great grief to me that some of the people represented by yo u have recenUy acted badly—have gone upon the war path against the governmentYou can get nothing by war except punishment. YOu should understand by this time that you are too weak to contend against the United States in war. You must teach your young men not to be warriors, but citizen*. When you . suffer any wrong through the agents who are over you or from any white settlers who are about you. you should peacefully make these things known to us here. The PresL dent, the Secretary of the Interior, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, the Congress and the great mass of our people desire to deal kindly with you. The agree ment that was made with you by Genera Crook, and Governor Foster, and Mr. Warner weal! desire to carry out faithfully; to do all that we promised to do. I have asked the Congress to pass laws to carry out every provision of the contract made with you. It is believed now that full provision has been made for this.

“You must not expect that you and you children will always be fed by the government of the United States without working yourselves. Every white man works for the bread and meat that sustains him, and you must learn to do a little more for your own support every year. You jpust tell your young men to spend their money or trade their ponies for something that is good for them and not for rifles. I shall try to see that the Indian, police are sc increased upon the reservation, aa to protect you against any bad white men who may live about you. We will try in every way to give your people employment about the agencies, with the army, in the Indian police and otherwise, as we oan, and yon must each take your allotment and endeav* or the best you can to earn your living, either by plowing or by raising cattle or horses or some other peaceful industry. 1 hope you will all return to the reservation with these things settled in your mind,and you may depend upon us to do everything we oan to promote the advancement of your tribe, to protect you against aggres>ion or injury from those who are about you, and to encourage every Indian who is disposed to be peaceful and industrious.’. At its conclusion ea h Indian was intro* duced and.sbook hands with the President. The Indians left the executive mansion an spent the evening shopping. They leave <or the West tomorrow.