842 THE GHOST-DANCE RELIGION [eth.amn.14 



at ouce. Old chiefs ana medicine men were losing their power. Withal new ways 

 were prevailing more and more which did not suit the older people. The old ways 

 which they loved were passing away. In a word, all things were against them, and 

 to add to the calamity, many Indians, especially the wilder element, had nothing to 

 do hut to hrood over their misfortunes. While, in this unhappy state, the story of a 

 messiah coming, with its ghost dance and strange hallucinations, spread among the 

 heathen part of the people. . . 



But these things Ave do want. A profound conviction in the mind not only of a 

 lew. but of the people, that the Indian problem is worth attending to. Next, that 

 the officials placed in charge of the difficult Indian problem should be protected 

 from the importunity of hungry politicians, and that the employees in the Indian 

 country, agents, teachers, farmers, carpenters, should not he changed with every 

 shuffling of the political cards. The abuse here has been shameful. Next, that 

 Congress, especially the House of Representatives, shall consider itself bound in 

 honor to make provision for the fulfillment of jiromises made to the Indians by 

 commissioners duly appointed and sent to the Indians by another branch of the gov- 

 ernment. The evils which have arisen from a violation of this comity have been most 

 serious. Next, that testimony regarding Indian affairs should not be swallowed 

 until careful inquiry has been made as to the disinterestedness of the witness. An 

 honest man out here burns with indignation when he reads in the papers that so and 

 so, represented as being fully informed on the whole question, affirms that Indians 

 have no grievances and ought to receive no quarter, when he knows that the lots 

 which the witness owns in a town near the Indian country would no longer be a 

 drug in the market if Indians could be gotten out of the way. Next, let it be 

 remembered that the crisis has lifted evils in the Indian country up to the light, and 

 left the good things in the shade. Hut the' good things are real and have shown 

 their vigor under trial. There is lo reason for losing faith or courage. Let all kind 

 and honest men unite with the higher officials of the government, all of whom, I 

 believe, mean well, in a spirit of forbearance toward each other, of willingness to 

 learn, and of mutual helpfulness, to accomplish the results which they all desire. 



