The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-12-15
THE INDIAN POLICY.

THE INDIAN POLICY.
The report of the Secretary of the
Interior, on Indian affairs, is interest
ing. Below we make an extract relat-
ing chiefly to the Indian Territory,
south of us, which is of special inter-
est to the people of Kansas. That the |
Indian Territory must soon be opened |
FOR settlement, no one can doubt. 1t is |
almost surrounded by States, with /
whom it has common interests, and |
with whom 1t should hold, and would |
hold, were it settled with enterprising
people, very important commercial re-
lations. 1t is traversed by two impor- |
tant railroad lines, and the chief officer
of its government recommends that
the right be granted to build the third
through the territory. In every natural
way it possesses the elements ola great
State. The Indians now there are gen5
orally intelligent, and will make good
citizens. Whether it can be made q sort
of a refuge for all Indians, good, bad
and indifferent, we very much doubt.
The Secretary says:
The Indian Territory, so called, lying
west of Missouri and Arkansas, and
south of Kansas, contains 44,154, 24O
acres of land, and q population of
about $4,000. Westward to the 96th
degree of longitude the soil is of the
very best quality, well watered and tim
bered, capable of producing the largest
returns to the labors of the farmer.
West of the Goth degree, and lying be-
tween that and the vally of the Arkan-
sas river, the coun try is mountainous,
and offers less inducements to the set
tier. The mountains are known to
contain very rich deposits of coal, and
are supposed to contain other valuable
minerals. In the valley of the Arkan-
sas river the soil is of the best quality
for width of ten miles, while to the
west of that valley the entire country,
although not SO desirable for location
as that in the eastern portion of the
territory, is well adapted to the wants
of the farmer. The present population
of the territory is but one person to ev-
cry $50 acres. Could the entire Indian
population of the country, excluding
Alaska and those scattered among the
States heretofore mentioned, be located
in the Indian Territory, there would be
$50 acres of land, per capita, for the
entire number, showing that there is an
ample area of land to afford them all
comfortable homes.
On the other hand, such disposition
of the now scattered tribes would re-
lease from Indian occupancy 81, So, 73l
acres of land, and throw it open to
white settlement and cultivation. This
gathering together Of all the outlying
tribes into comparatively small terri
| tory is the problem now before US.
The proper solution of it must, in a
great measure, decide the fate of that
race. If they can be brought to realize
their condition as we see it, they will
recognize the fact that if they do not
speedily accept the friendly offers of the
government, and endeavor in good
faith to work out their part of the pol
icy, the difficulties and dangers of their
past and present condition will be in
creased by the increasing demand for
the lands now occupied by them as
hunting grounds and reservations made
by our rapidly growing tide of emigra-
ton. Many of the tribes recognize The
condition of things which compels the
conclusions and Suggestions herein
made, and are willing to cooperate
eheerfully on the measures set forth in
their behalf. With judicious manage
ment and careful observance of treaty
stipulations, doubt not that the plan
of gathering all the the tribes into a
smaller area can be successfully accom-
| plished.
The foregoing facts induce me 70 re-
gard it as of the utmost importance TO
the success of the existing policy that
the Indian Territory be organized un-
der territorial government, with such
restrictions and regulations as will Sc
cure the rights of the Indians in the
soil, encourage them in their efforts to
improve their mental, moral and indus
trial condition, while, at the same time,
maintaining general supervisory con-
troll Of their legislation, as in the case of
any other territory.
The bill introduced at the third SEES
sion of the XLIst congress for the Or
ganization of that territory under the
name of Oklahoma, and the Ocmulgee
constitution adopted by council OF
the Indian nations of the territory in
December last, are intended to accom-
plish the object referred to. These in
struments seem to be so carefully guar
ded as to secure the end desired, and
will fnlly protect the Indian from i'm
position rnd injustice until he shall
have made such progress as to enable
him to protect himself.
AS has been shown, the Indian terri
tory is of sufficient area to locate all the
Indians, and give each man, woman and
l CulIu dIL1OHS tuCIu LOU aCTCS vi 1oAu
| With such an ingathering Of the now
| widely scattered tribes, under an eff
| cient territorial government, and with
the nucleus of partly civilized nations
and tribes already there, the entire race
would be so well in hand and surroun-
ded by such influences IS to be more
easily managed, thus enabling the gov
eminent to work out its humane pol
icy toward them to its legitimate results.
If 1t shall be deemed impracticatble to
bring all the Indian tribes into the In
dian territory, under an organized ter
ritorial government, am satisfied that
the good results that will accrue to
those who conclude to settle in that ter
ritory, under such government as
have indicated, will demonstrate the
necessity and propriety of locating the
remaining Indians under like terrific
rial government, to be organized in
some other place, and embracing such
limits and having such location as time,
experience, and subsequent information
shall indicate as best adapted to the &C.
complishment of the great object which
all good men SO earnestly desire.
Such an organization would have Q
tendency to obiiterate many of the ex-
listing obstacles to Indian civilization.
The traditional feuds which now keep
4 tribes in state of continual warfare,
compelling them to live In camps for
protection, would be speedily crushed
out by strang home government.
The custom of holding all property in
common, which is always tax upon
industry and premium upon Incidence
and unthrift, would be abolished. Ere
quent changes of reservations, the
source of so many of our troubles with
that race in the past, would cease. The
rewards of industry would be so liberal
as to obliterate their long-standing pref
udice against labor, while the lack OF
opportunity to engage in the chase or
in hostile raids would soon do away
with the desire to engage In those di-
versions, and those who were not con-
WINGED of the propriety Of industry
would soon be compelled to recognize
its necessity.
The Secretary of the Interior, in his
annual report, speaks az follows of the