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their chief。
When Sitting Bull was a boy； there was no thought of trouble with the
whites。 He was acquainted with many of the early traders； Picotte；
Choteau； Primeau； Larpenteur； and others； and liked them； as did most of
his people in those days。 All the early records show this friendly attitude
of the Sioux； and the great fur companies for a century and a half
depended upon them for the bulk of their trade。 It was not until the
middle of the last century that they woke up all of a sudden to the danger
threatening their very existence。 Yet at that time many of the old chiefs
had been already depraved by the whisky and other vices of the whites；
and in the vicinity of the forts and trading posts at Sioux City； Saint Paul；
and Cheyenne； there was general demoralization。 The drunkards and
hangers…on were ready to sell almost anything they had for the favor of the
trader。 The better and stronger element held aloof。 They would not
have anything of the white man except his hatchet； gun； and knife。 They
utterly refused to cede their lands； and as for the rest； they were willing to
let him alone as long as he did not interfere with their life and customs；
which was not long。
It was not； however； the Unkpapa band of Sioux； Sitting Bull's band；
which first took up arms against the whites； and this was not because they
had come less in contact with them； for they dwelt on the Missouri River；
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INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
the natural highway of trade。 As early as 1854； the Ogallalas and Brules
had trouble with the soldiers near Fort Laramie； and again in 1857
Inkpaduta massacred several families of settlers at Spirit Lake； Iowa。
Finally； in 1869； the Minnesota Sioux； goaded by many wrongs； arose and
murdered many of the settlers； afterward fleeing into the country of the
Unkpapas and appealing to them for help； urging that all Indians should
make common cause against the invader。 This brought Sitting Bull face
to face with a question which was not yet fully matured in his own mind；
but having satisfied himself of the justice of their cause； he joined forces
with the renegades during the summer of 1863； and from this time on he
was an acknowledged leader。
In 1865 and 1866 he met the Canadian half…breed； Louis Riel；
instigator of two rebellions； who had come across the line for safety； and
in fact at this time he harbored a number of outlaws and fugitives from
justice。 His conversations with these； especially with the French mixed…
bloods； who inflamed his prejudices against the Americans； all had their
influence in making of the wily Sioux a determined enemy to the white
man。 While among his own people he was always affable and genial； he
became boastful and domineering in his dealings with the hated race。 He
once remarked that 〃if we wish to make any impression upon the pale…face；
it is necessary to put on his mask。〃
Sitting Bull joined in the attack on Fort Phil Kearny and in the
subsequent hostilities； but he accepted in good faith the treaty of 1868； and
soon after it was signed he visited Washington with Red Cloud and
Spotted Tail； on which occasion the three distinguished chiefs attracted
much attention and were entertained at dinner by President Grant and
other notables。 He considered that the life of the white man as he saw it
was no life for his people； but hoped by close adherence to the terms of
this treaty to preserve the Big Horn and Black Hills country for a
permanent hunting ground。 When gold was discovered and the
irrepressible gold seekers made their historic dash across the plains into
this forbidden paradise； then his faith in the white man's honor was gone
forever； and he took his final and most persistent stand in defense of his
nation and home。 His bitter and at the same time well…grounded and
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INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
philosophical dislike of the conquering race is well expressed in a speech
made before the purely Indian council before referred to； upon the Powder
River。 I will give it in brief as it has been several times repeated to me by
men who were present。
〃Behold； my friends； the spring is come； the earth has gladly received
the embraces of the sun； and we shall soon see the results of their love！
Every seed is awakened； and all animal life。 It is through this mysterious
power that we too have our being； and we therefore yield to our neighbors；
even to our animal neighbors； the same right as ourselves to inhabit this
vast land。
〃Yet hear me； friends！ we have now to deal with another people； small
and feeble when our forefathers first met with them； but now great and
overbearing。 Strangely enough； they have a mind to till the soil； and the
love of possessions is a disease in them。 These people have made many
rules that the rich may break； but the poor may not！ They have a religion
in which the poor worship； but the rich will not！ They even take tithes of
the poor and weak to support the rich and those who rule。 They claim
this mother of ours； the Earth； for their own use； and fence their neighbors
away from her； and deface her with their buildings and their refuse。 They
compel her to produce out of season； and when sterile she is made to take
medicine in order to produce again。 All this is sacrilege。
〃This nation is like a spring freshet； it overruns its banks and destroys
all who are in its path。 We cannot dwell side by side。 Only seven years
ago we made a treaty by which we were assured that the buffalo country
should be left to us forever。 Now they threaten to take that from us also。
My brothers； shall we submit？ or shall we say to them： 'First kill me；
before you can take possession of my fatherland！'〃
As Sitting Bull spoke； so he felt； and he had the courage to stand by
his words。 Crazy Horse led his forces in the field； as for him； he applied
his energies to state affairs； and by his strong and aggressive personality
contributed much to holding the hostiles together。
It may be s