836 THE GHOST-DANCE RELIGION [etii.ann.14 



appropriate the necessary funds for its fulfillment, and thereby give an earnest of 

 their good faith or intention to ful til I their part of the compact. Such action, in my 

 judgment, is essential to restore confidence with the Indians and give peace and pro- 

 tection to the settlements. If this be done, and the President authorized to place 

 the turbulent and dangerous tribes of Indians under the control <>f the military, 

 Congress need not enter into details, but can safely trust the military authorities to 

 subjugate and govern, and in the near future make self-sustaining, any or all of the 

 Indian tribes of this country. 



Rapid City, South Dakota. December /.'', 1890. 

 General John M. Schofield, 



Commanding the Army, Washington, District of Columbia: 

 Replying to your long telegram, one point is of vital importance — the difficult 

 Indian problem can not be solved permanently at this end of the line. It requires 

 the fulfillment by Congress of the treaty obligations which the Indians were entreated 

 and coerced into signing. They signed away a valuable portion of their reservation, 

 and it is now occupied by white people, for which they have received nothing. They 

 understood that aruple provision would be made for their support; instead, their 

 .supplies have been reduced, and much of the time they have been living on half and 

 two-thirds rations. Their crops, as well as the crops of the white people, for two 

 years have been almost a total failure. The disaffection is widespread, especially 

 among the Sioux, while the Cheyennes have been on the verge of starvation and were 

 forced to commit depredations to sustain life. These facts are beyond question, and 

 the evidence is positive and sustained by thousands of witnesses. Serious difficulty 

 has been gathering for years. Congress has been in session several weeks and could 

 in a single hour confirm the treaties and appropriate the necessary funds for their 

 fulfillment, which their commissioners and the highest officials of the government 

 have guaranteed to these people, and unless the officers of the army can give some 

 positive assurance that the government intends to act in good faith with these peo- 

 ple, the loyal element will be diminished and the hostile element increased. If the 

 government will give some positive assurance that it will fulfill its part of the 

 understanding with these l'0,()O0 Sioux Indians, they can safely trust the military 

 authorities to subjugate, control, and govern these turbulent people, ami 1 hope that 

 you will ask the Secretary of War and the Chief Executive to bring this matter 

 directly to the attention of Congress. 



REPORT OF CAPTAIN HIRST 



1. 1. G. a. -/'»■-. 6266- IS91.) 



FoiiT Bennett, South Dakota, January 9, 1891. 

 Assistant Adjutant-General, 



Department of Dakota, Saint Paul, Minnesota. 



Sir: In compliance with instructions of the department commander — copj 

 attached marked A — I have the honor to submit the following reporf as the result 

 of my investigations into the matters referred to therein. 



I have been at this post continuously since August li. 1887, and inspector of Indian 

 supplies at the Cheyenne River Indian agency, located here, during that period, and 

 am at the present time. 



The Indians of this agency have a standing list id' grievances which they present 

 it c\ cry opportunity, and talk about in council w hen they assemble at c\ cry monthly 

 ration issue. The Indians most persistent in recounting and proclaiming their 

 grievances are those least willing to help in bettering their condition, and who ;iy<- 

 opposed to any change or improvement of their old habits and customs, and oppose 

 all progress. Of this class I cite Big foot's hand of irreconcilables— who have now 

 ceased to complain — and those in accord with them. Except in the matter of short 



rations, the story of their \\ rongs needs no attention. It COl iocs with a recital 



of the wrong done them In the « hite race sharing the earth with I hem. 



