OCR Text |
Show 22 REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. Powder Face is a marked exception among them. His profile lias all the grandeur of the traditional " noble Indian," and his appearance generally is very expressive of pluck and stolid endurance. Among the persons on the platform were William E. Dodge, Messrs. Bishop and Colyer, of the United States board of peace commissioners, Peter Cooper, Henry Burgh, B. Tatham, E. Cromwell, secretary of the commission, Wilson G. Hunt, Chancellor Crosby, and Professor Martin, of the university. Peter Cooper, president of the com-mission, was chairman of the meeting, which was opened with prayer by Chancellor Crosby. The speeches by Little Raven and Buffalo Good were delivered in the earnest, impetuous manner which usually characterizes the orations of the American aborig-inees when repeating the tale of their wrongs. Mr. Dodge fitly illustrated their ap-pearance and manner when he said, " You never see a smile on the face of Buffalo Good." Their whole behavior shows that the one fact is ever uppermost in their minds, that they are passing away, like snow in spring- time, before the face of the all- conquering white race; that the difficulty of their effort to continue the hap- hazard struggle of their ancestors with the " dull material accidents of the sensual body'' in the old way is continually enhanced by the pressure of civilization upon them on all sides. Their gestures are singular; they indulge but little in the wide- swinging motions of civilized orators, confining themselves mostly to quick, nervous jerks of the hands near the breast. The audience always applauded them heartily when tbey were most energetic in their denunciations of their white oppressors. Little Raven, the first Indian speaker, standing behind the desk, with his well- tanned white interpreter beside him, told the story of the last two centuries from the Indian stand- point. As he uttered each sentence the interpreter turned it into English with considerable grace of utterance. The opening remarks were made by Peter Cooper, who said : PETER COOPER'S REMARKS. About this time last year the visit of Red Cloud and his party interested a large udieiice in this hall. Although he had been disappointed in realizing his hopes, he assured us that he would counsel to people; and he has faithfully fulfilled his audience 1 peace his people ; " promise. We have now with us the representatives of the Cheyeunes, Arapahoes, and Wichitas, whose record fills a deeply- interesting chapter in the history of our country more to the honor of the Indian than to the white man, I am sorry to say. These Indian chiefs have just visited Washington by invitation of the Government, and are return-ing to their homes. They are here, now, under care of Agent Mahlon Stubbs, a member of the Society of Friends, and, instead of being on the war path upon the plains, their presence here is a practical illustration of the peace policy of President Grant, which, however detrimental to the schemes of those who profit by Indian wars, cannot but meet the approbation of the nation, which has been saved from taxation to the extent of at least a hundred millions of dollars, while the western settler has been enabled to cultivate his land in peace. It is the desire of this association to unite with all good citizens to strengthen the hands of the President in his endeavors to secure to the Indians, and also to all men, that justice which is alone the key to peace. Mr. Crosby will address a word of welcome, and our Indian friends will speak for themselves. The Rev. Dr. Howard Crosby then welcomed the Indians as follows, his remarks be-ing interpreted to them by Mr. Smith : We are members of a society that pleads the cause of the Indian against injustice. We believe that God made all men that they might live in peace with one another, each doing good to his neighbor. We greet you as brothers, and give you a cordial welcome to this city. Little Raven, chief of the Arapahoes, spoke through the interpreter as follows : LITTLE RAVEN'S SPEECH. I have come from a long distance to see my friends. Years ago, when I was at home, they told me that I had a home here, and father and mother. 1 have come now to find them. When at home, in my camp, a letter came from the Father at Washington, asking me to come and see him away in the States. I had been waiting for it for a long time, and when it came I did not hesitate a moment, but came at once. I felt that the Father at Washington would right the wrongs of myself and my people. In this letter they told me I had many friends in this country who never saw the Indians, and who would be glad to see them. I talked with the chiefs of the other tribes, and we came here to see you to- night. Before leaving, I told my young people to remain with the agency till I came home, when I hoped to bring them good news. I told them I would be gone forty or fifty nights ; they will expect me when that time is passed. They think I will look like a white man when I come back, because I have been to see the white man in the big house. I am glad to see so many of my friends here to- night, |