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Show REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. 27 white brethren I have seen here have made a great talk and that they mean what they say. [ Applause.] That is all I have to say. Buffalo Good, chief of the Wichitas, the acknowledged orator of the party, was then introduced, and made a long speech, which was interpreted by the same gentle-man that performed the ofliee for Little Raven. He spoke his native vernacular very fluently and with graceful gestures, and appeared to wait very impatiently while Mr. McCus'ker informed the audience what he had been saying. His speech in effect was as follows: SPEECH OF BUFFALO GOOD. GKNTLKMKX : Washington ( President Grant) invited me and these other chiefs to go to his big house in Washington City, to have a talk with him. I thought I was going to have a straight story, that my heart would be made glad by what I was to hear. But 1 have been disappointed, and I think Washington is not so much of a chief after all. [ Laughter.] God gave this country to the Indians. He gave the white man a country across the waters. When He gave this country to the Indian He gave them the bow and the arrow and the land, and he was able to hold his own uiitil the white man came over here. He gave the white man paper and a great deal more knowledge than He gave the Indians. Then they came to this country, but the Wichitas never fought them, but took them by the hand and treated them kindly. When 1 left home it Avas to see Washington, for I thought he was all the great chief in this country. But my friends told me that there were a great many chiefs, and that I should find some here ; that is why I come here to- night I didn't intend to come. But I am glad to see you. God told the Indians that some clay the white men would come here. But we did not think they would treat us so unkindly and try to drive us from our lands. The bones of my fathers lie in every hill and valley of my country, and I don't want to be turned out from that country, for I love it very much. Nearly thirty years ago Washington gave me and my people a good chief, who tried to put us on the white man's road. We think he meant all that he said. We wanted to go on the white man's road very much. I and my brother represent five different tribes, who have always been friendly, and who wanted to be friendly to the whites. But because we do not fight, Washington takes away our lands and gives them to the tribes that are fighting them, all the time. My people are grieved at this, and when I left home they told me to preach hard and get some satisfaction in regard to our country ; but, when I return, it will be with my hands before my eyes and my head cast down, for I can tell them, nothing new. They knew it all before I left. I, too, am getting along in years. I can't live forever, but I would like to see churches and school- houses built in my land, and would like to see my children educated before I die. [ Applause.] For the white men have driven the buffalo off, and now we have got to live like white men, and so I want my white brothers to help me. Since I have been here I have heard a great deal about the people in this town. They help everybody else ; they send their mission-aries all abroad, but I ask you why you won't assist me and my people. [ Applause.] I am glad I have met you all. You are all my friends my brothers. I have taken fast hold of you with my hand, and I am not going to let go. Some of the tribes are living well. They ought to, for the white men have stolen our lands, ( we who never hunted the whites,) and had given them to them, and they are learning them to grow up like white people. If they would give us our lands we would learn to do the same thing. When I got to Washington they said they knew all about my people. If they did know it, why didn't they help us, and fix it ? But I am very glad I came on. One thing I wanted to speak about ; I had nearly forgotten it. We settled in Texas, but the Texans drove us out; they wanted the country, for it was a very fine one. They stole our cattle and our pigs; they broke down our fences and obliged us to move. The Government told us we should be made all right, but it hasn't been done yet, and I want to know to- night why it hasn't? Then we went to Kansas, and when we got there some friends said we would whip the Texans all out, and then Government would appreciate our services. But the war broke out, and the soldiers who were f> ing to help whip the Texans were called away. I reckon you know those people in exas : ihey are a mighty hard people down there. [ Laughter.] We havegot a very good agent down in our country now, and if Washington does not help that agent to help us, I would like to have you help him, for we don't want to lose him. I wonder why your Government has not done something for the Wichitas and those other In-dians that have done all that was wanted of them. They help the others, who aro fighting them all the time, but it is no use doing anything for them. That is what I think. When I go home I want to, and I shall, carry home a big talk with me, to tell all my brothers down there. I shall remember it all; I shan't forget a word of it on the way. This is all I have got to say to you. I am sorry that I can't talk English, or you can't talk in Wichita, for if you did I would have a great deal more to say to you. [ Applause.] Stone Calf, a Cheyenne chief, who appeared in all the paraphernalia of an Indian warrior, a man with a ready utterance and a continual smile playing around his mouth, |