Are in bondage and oppression.
Even they have not possession
Of the rights belonging to them.
Of the freedom that is clue them.
What shall rend the cloud asunder,
That the nations now sit under,—
The dark cloud, that sore oppresseth ?
Sitting Bull with pain confesseth
That far distant seems the dawning
Of that glad, redemption morning
Pictured oft in ancient story,—
Not yet seeth he its glory.
Yet, while far the time appeareth,
There is still one sign that cheereth;
He beholdeth every nation
In a state of agitation.
This a better time presages
For mankind in coming ages.
Sitting Bull sees by this token
That the yoke shall yet be broken.
That now resteth on his nation.
And they gain full liberation.
It is coming, O pale faces,—
Freedom for the Indian races!
Though the white man's power seem stronger.
Comes a day when he no longer
Can misuse the Indian nation.
Even now, with indignation
Is his hot blood doubly heated.
And indignities repeated
Will but make him more miruly;
Do not anger him unduly.
He not easily is sated,
Not soon is his wrath abated,
Not soon doth he make retraction
When he hath been roused to action.
Sitting Bull sends forth his warning,-
To be met, no doubt, with scorning;
Such as oft to him was meted
When for justice he entreated.
Yet hath he no motive, other
Than to save his pale faced brother,
And the Indian tribes and races,
From the conflict that disgraces.
And alike unto each nation
Bringeth woe and desolation.
Sitting Bull the " oil of healing "
Fain would pour on wounded feeling
Of his stricken sons and daughters,—
Fain would calm the troubled waters
By which they are now surrounded.
He, with love that is unbounded,
Saith unto them. Education
Is your only sure salvation
From the evils that surround you,
SITTING BULLS MESSAGE.
From the ills that long have bound you.
Oh, then, rouse! put forth endeavor!
To injustice grant no favor;
But, all bitterness eschewing,
Labor for the full undoing
Of the ignorance of ages.
Back of you are seers and sages,
Back of you your long gone sires,—
These shall help you light the fires
Of a noble, true ambition,
That in time shall yield fruition.
With the fathers, gone before you.
Are your mothers, they who bore you;
They, their past rude life ignoring.
Now return to you, imploring
That you rise from degradation
And become a noble nation.
Urge with kindness the pale faces
To accord you better places.
Better lands and reservations —
Then fulfil your obligations.
Plough and sow, and you shall gather —
' Tis the law of the Great Father;
And while it remains unheeded
Will the bread of life be needed.
Gain that comes to him that worketh.
Cometh not to him that shirketh.
Not to him that idly sigheth,
But to him whose feet swift flieth
Is the race at length accorded,
And the golden prize awarded.
Listen ! my beloved nation,
To the earnest exhortation
Sitting Bull brings from your sires.
Dance no longer round your fires.
Thinking thus to woo the sages.
The Messiahs of past ages !
All your forms have no attraction
For these souls of earnest action.
But in every true endeavor
Will they aid and guide you, ever.
And, O pale face, more enlightened,
Be not anxious, be not frightened.
When you see the red man dancing,
' Round his camp fires wildly prancing ;
' Tis his mode of invocation.
White man maketh supplication
When and wheresoe'er he chooseth.
Yet the privilege refuseth
To his poor, untutored brother,
Who at present knows no other
Way to ease his burdened feeling.
Than by this rude, wild appeaUng. Would you lift him to your station, Pale face, give him education: Not the kind that comes from preaching, Or from praying — but the teaching That results from observation. Give him this, O pale faced nation. By allowing him to enter Every business mart and centre That is open to pale faces. Why not he, like other races. Be accorded free admission, Come and go without permission ? The Great Father who created Red and white man hath not stated That the red man's claim be bounded. Nay! in liberty was founded Life for every tribe and nation : Bondage bringeth degradation. Therefore Sitting Bull now prayeth That whene'er the red man strayeth From his lands and reservations Unto those of other nations. He be kindly met and treated — Kindness would in turn be meted — For the red man hath deep feeling.
lb SITTING BULLS MESSAGE.
And love maketh strong appealing
To his nature deeply hidden.
Should he sometimes come unbidden,
Or with rudeness seek to enter
The dominions where you centre
As a great and mighty nation,
Do not flee in consternation;
Let him view your ways and measures.
Look upon your arts and treasures;
It would quicken his ambition.
Help to change his sad condition,—
This the teaching red' man needeth.
Seldom is it that he readeth
Of what goeth on around him.
White man's laws so close have bound him,
That he knoweth not nor heedeth
How the world about him speedeth.
Sitting Bull the white man heareth,
Making answer, that he feareth
The red man would sore abuse him,
Were he from his bonds to loose him.
Nay! were red man's wrongs adjusted,
He could be as safely trusted
As can any other nation.
Red man feels deep obligation.
For a kindness to him meted.
Rarely, save when illy treated
Doth the Indian rob and plunder,
And break white man's laws asunder.
Give him liberty, pale faces,
As accorded other races.
And he would become a nation
Purged from crime and degradation !
Sitting Bull his plea hath ended. Though not all by him intended Hath he through his scribe transmitted. Should his message, thus submitted To the people, be rejected. Be despised and be neglected. He hath filled his obligation. Henceforth he his loving station Holdeth near his people, stricken. He will watch by those who sicken, He will whisper to the dying Of a land where is no sighing. Of a land where plenty reigneth. Where no cold nor hunger paineth. Where the white man and red brother Dwell in peace with one another. Thus will he impress and guide them, Though they know not that beside them
Sitting Bull, their chief, still walketh,
And that with them still he talketh.
Though his outward form be hidden,
He -will come and go unbidden,
Working_for the elevation
Of his poor, down-trodden nation.
This is Sitting Bull's desire,
' Tis his Heaven ! he seeks none hig-her.
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