About Face, Red Cloud

Before Little Bighorn, before the hatred to exterminate every living Indian in America, Red Cloud was scheduled to make a speech in New York City  in 1870.  The capacity audience was anxious to hear how the warrior had remained victorious over the US Army and had forced the United States government to abandon Bozeman Trail.  This was good stuff! 

What they got, however, was a changed man.  Before Red Cloud spoke, he had been given a tour of the eastern United States and had been shown the power and might of the country - the cities, the factories, the farms...even the US Arsenal and Navy Yard.  It was a tour fit for a king (or a chief) who needed to see what he stood against.

The Army in the field had not intimidated Red Cloud, but the show of strength and power of the US surely did..  He became dedicated to accommodating and adapting to the white man's ways.  His speech was simple and direct.  Still a champion of his people he told of their struggles to survive and appealed to the "good men" to help make his people self-sufficient and productive.

"We do not want riches.  We do not ask for riches.  Look at me, I am poor and naked, but I am Chief of the Sioux nation.  We want our children properly trained and brought up.  We look to you for your sympathy"

The applause was deafening, but when Red Cloud went back to his homeland to counsel his people to have patience, his words carried little weight.  Years of war lay ahead because of treaty violations and increasing encroachment of Sioux land by the white man.

Red Cloud's simple speech helped to touch off a national debate on Indian policy reform.  The reformers wanted to assimilate the Indians by teaching them to become self-sufficient farmers.  How were they to do this?  by cultural surgery.

Next time...The brutal reformers
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Today in Pioneer History:  "On February 15, 1903, toy store owner and inventor Morris Michtom places two stuffed bears in his shop window, advertising them as Teddy bears. Michtom had earlier petitioned President Theodore Roosevelt for permission to use his nickname, Teddy as the bears were named for him.