The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-16
A MED FOB MORE LIGHT.

bubeehhh6 hu"au III tuht pOtbiOu VI tho
United States lying along the 41st parallel,
or on the line OF ths railroad now nearly COM
-pleted from Omaha to San Francisco, and for
perhaps hundred miles on each side, is now,
after an occupancy of several years, only
beginning to be understood. Bat OF that
region along the 35th parallel, or on the line
of the proposed Southern Continental route,
the public has only a faint idea, while OF
large portion OF that vast region between Min
nesota and Oregon little more Is known than
IN the days of Lewis and Clark. Il may seem
surprising in this age that so long time Is
required TO ascertain the value OF the new
parts Of our country for agriculture
and kindred purposes, Notwithstanding
there is no lack OF scientific and
other explorations; and we are told what
game what minerals, and what natural GU
riosities abound long before a thought seems
bestowed on the question rs TO whether the
country is or is not fitted for civilized abode.
This want of observation in a direction OF
general use to mankind Is due, in part, to the
limited time that can be devoted to surveys Of
regions which furnish neither shelter, food,
nor protection, but mere is due to want OF
ability in the explorer to see and to under
stand that which is before his eyes. A miner,
hunter, or vagabond is, OF course, incapable
of seeing what obvious or latent powers for
sustaining human life q country contains; the
military man is wholly intent upon other busi-
ness, while the scientific man Is blinded to all
objects except to such as specially relate to his
studies-to botany, geology, natural history, or
astronomy. Accordingly, I'VE have the names Of
flowers and plants, Of rocks, the insects, the
birds, and the latitude and longitude are given
Of those wild regions, as the only information
worthy Of being impaired to the cultivater OF
the soil, who adventures forward, guided by
the hearsay OF those more ignorant than him
sell, to make trial by long labors, and per-
haps with the loss Of his life, that facts Of
vast importance to the race may be ascer-
tanned. 1t is but fair, also, to add that many
men who are called practical, but this only
with reference to limited localities, are little
to be depended upon, because when they visit
regions where climate, soil, and the geological
features differ from any they are acquainted
with, they give opinions which may do i'm
mense harm, for the reason that, being prao-
tiosl men, their judgment is supposed to be
infallible.
However great may be the scientific and
literary kno Wedge Of travellers, they seldom
impart valuable information with reference to
common subjects which the mass of mankind
80 much desire to learn, and this whether they
are Americans who visit the Old World, or
Europeans who visit the New. The same is to
be said OF those who successively have ex-
plored our new Territories and for the
most part they have agreed in making state
ments which have been proved to be false.
Thus it is within the memory Of many now
living that the malaria made Michigan unin-
habitable; that the absence of timber con-
demned Iowa and Central Illinois to eternal
solitude; and that beyond the Missouri lay the
American Desert, equal in extent and sterility
to the Great Sahara Of Africa. On the con-
trary, those regions which were most highly
praised have been found comparatively poor.
With such statements before US for the past,
we are inclined to doubt whether the account,
we now receive Of alkali and sage bush plains,
and Of long jorandss without water, are really
destined to everlasting barrenness, and we
portion of the vast interior will be found emil
nently productive, and as capable of sustaining
an enlightend population as those States
which formerly were considered unfit for other
occupants than outcasts and vermin.
Sull, we do want facts, or, If nothing better
can be had in the absence Of experiments,
probabilities, from capable men-that is, from
travellers, whe, having eyes, can see, and,
understanding, can understand. We grant
that suOh are not likely to come from any OF
our colleges, nor from our workshops or
farms; and 1t would seem that they could be
fitted in no other way than by broad, inde-
pendent self-culture, which shall embrace q
knowledge OF the literary, scientific, and prac.
tioal, to which are to be added close observa
tions made through many degrees Of latitude
that they may make comparisons. Tht
Greeks did not consider education completed
until one had travelled; with us, 80 mucl
more is required that one must travel bsfor
he ia fitted to be traveller.
THE NEW INDIAN COMMISSIONER.
From the N. Y. World
The law Of 1882, amended by that of 1S4t
provides that the President may appoint b
consent Of the Senate, a Commissioner of II
dian Affairs, who shall direct and manage a
matters arising ont of Indian relation.
''agreeably to such regulations as the Pres
dentmsy, from time to time, prescribe" Thi
last provision makes il a matter of little COZ
sequence which department, whether War &
Interior, attests and carries out the regulf
tions of the President. His will, in eithe
case, controls in executing the laws of Cor
gress. .,
The nomination Of Colonel Parker to thi
important Office marks new point OF depar
ure in Indian matters. II does not create tb
beginning of a new order Of things, it sigma
ICES the epoch which began with the foul
teenth amendment of the Federal Constitution
Colonel Parker is an Indian by birth. an
hereditary chief of six nations. II that be hl
condition, he was not, In mere right OF hom,
birth, citizen Of the United States; for Ir
dians, as general rule, were not, up to th
assumed ratification of the fourteenth amend
ment, citizens, but were subjects. This hs
been )udicialiy decided in several of tb
otates over and over again. Existing natu
Laws apply to foreigners, subjects Of anotb,
allegiance. Therefore an Indian oonId N,
pre-empt public lands. 1t was inoansoitv ~ h
race which nothing but amendment OF The %,
stitutiop, treaty, or a special aot of Conors
could remove. State could make India,