The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-10-31
THE SOLUTION OF THE INDIAN
PROBLEM


THE SOLUTION OF THE INDIAN
PROBLEM.
WE have received from William Welsh, Esq,
an interesting report of visit made by him
to the Santee and Yanlton Sioux Indians in
Nebraska, which we regret that, on account
OF its length and the crowded state of our
columns, we are unable to lay before our
readers in full. Mr.. Welsh makes most
gratifying exhibit of the progress made in
Christian civilization by these tribes, mainly
through the labors of Bishop Whipple and
Rev. Mr.. Hindman, of the Episcopal Church,
who have labored among them with indefati-
gable zeal for some years past. The results
achieyed among these sayages point
to the true solution of the Indian
problem, and prove the correctness
of the opinions frequently advanced in these
columns, that the only manner in which the
red men can be saved from cruel extermina-
ton is to encourage them to settle down upon
their own lands and work for their living in
decent and orderly manner. Almost without
aid from the Government few Christian
men have accomplished wonders with these
Sioux and Santee tribes, and it only needs
that Congress should take intelligent action,
by strengthening the hands of the Presi-
cent and removing the administration of In
dian affairs out of the sphere of party politics,
to produce like results among all the wander
ing tribes of the great West.
The first great task of the missionaries was
to inspire the Indians with a correct idea of
the value of labor, and to show them the
real beauties of the Christian religion and
4 I1,o itv of oixriI
the squalid poverty of their nomadic life.
Mr.. Welsh describes the Santees of
the Upper Missouri as having neat log
huts, and as being engaged in the tillage of
the ground from which they have succeeded
in getting good crops. They are much inte-
rested in the religious services, and the good
influences of Christian instruction are appa-
rent in their quiet and orderly lives, and in
the disposition that they show to advance
themselves in knowledge and in the arts of
civilization. Some of them have been dis
couraged by the non-fulflment Of the pro-
misses made by agents, and they now all feel
more or less unsettled by not possessing the
land in severalty, and in the uncertainty Of
their situation Their past experiences make
them fear that they may be driven
from their reservations and all their
labor lost and they are exceedingly
anxious to have the ownership of the ground
absolutely assigned to them, and to be sup
piled with stock and farming implements. If
this is done, and the knavish agents, who are
the main causes of most of our Indian diff
culties, can be kept away from them, the ex-
ample of these tribes will be of great impor-
tance in aiding the labors of those who are
endeavoring tie save from utter destruction
the remnant of the red race that now exists
on the great plains.
The winter is now near at hand, and it will
be comparatively easy task, if the proper
means are used, to collect all OF nearly all
the Indians on reservations. They should be
made to understand that the land is their own
if they choose to take it and use it, and that
no one will be allowed to interfere with them
The President undoubtedly desires the
) welfare of the Indians, but his hands are
tied, and he can really accomplish very little
by himself, as Mr.. Welsh plainly states
that political influences have greatly retarded
2 the work of civilization among tn savages
and it is disgrace to the nation that it SHOULD
d beso Asmatters now stand the Indian ring ha
y complete control of the Senate, and that bod
y cannot be made to move in the matter of re
e forming existing abuses unless the voice o
$ the people of the country is heard in mos
n emphatic manner. The nation owes it t
" itself and to the civilization and Christiant
: that it processes to represent, that prope
a effort should be made to convert the Indian
:, into orderly and law-abiding citizens. Out
l. RACES on their part must be suppressed an
s. punished at all hazards, even if they are el
y terminated in the conflict, but that at lea
7, remnant can be saved we sincerely believ
y if the proper influences are brought to bea
l. Mr.. Welsh states that funds are needed
is place the Sioux mission on proper basi
a. and we hope that the money will be fort
lie coming without any difficulty. Millions
ic dollars are sent out of the country yearly fl
T. the purpose of Chrstianizing Africa, Chin
r and other distant lands, while here at our ow
T. doors there is a missionary work to be pc
ly formed that is fully as important as any
We few thousand dollars judiciously expended
ly such men as Bishop Whipple and his assis
ants will do more for the Indians than all Il
m enormous expenditures of the Governmen
ry and those who give will have the assuran
it. that it will, every dollar of it, be proper