e announced that they had already received some presents in the
shape of blankets, etc., and would receive more in New York on their
way home. He repeated what the President said concerning Fort
Fetterman. It must remain. They would soon be started on their homeward
journey, which information was received by the Indians with
unmistakable signs of delight.

Red Cloud spoke in reply, evincing most certainly his dissatisfaction
at the determination of the government not to remove Fort Fetterman. He
said there was no necessity for its continuance, and its presence was a
useless burden and expense to the Great Father. He also took exceptions
against the roads running through his country, and intimated that if
trouble arose, it would be the fault of the Great Father.

Red Cloud made another speech, in which he said, "The troops in my
country are all fools, and the government is throwing away its money
for nothing. The officers there are all whisky-drinkers. The Great
Father sends out there the whisky-drinkers because he don't want them
around him here. I do not allow my nation or any white man to bring a
drop of liquor into my country. If he does, that is the last of him and
his liquor. Spotted Tail can drink as much as he pleases on the
Missouri River, and they can kill one another if they choose. I do not
hold myself responsible for what Spotted Tail does. When you buy
anything with my money, I want you to buy me what is useful. I do not
want city flour, rotten tobacco, and soldiers' old clothes dyed black,
such as you bought for Spotted Tail. I only tell you what is true. You
have had a great war, but after it was over you permitted the chiefs
who had been fighting to come back."

Secretary Cox explained the treaty of 1868 to the Indians, and said,
"The best way is to be friendly and deal honestly with each other. The
last treaty made provided for a railroad to be built. The Sioux agreed
not to disturb it, and that it should be built. Now, if the road
interferes with hunting, we will try to make good the damage by feeding
you. We mean that the government shall keep back white men from going
into the Indian country, as well as bad Indians from going into the
white country. This is what the troops are there for. If any of our
people at the forts do not do what is right, the President will punish
them and send better men in their places. The same treaty gives the
lines of the Indian country."

A map was produced, and the