Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-18
The Indian Question Handled by an
Indian

The suggestions OF Colonel BoIdinot, in his
lecture at Lincoln Hall on the night OF the 12th
inst, concerning the Indian policy, are worthy
of consideration, especially As coming from the
leading representative Of the most Thoughtful,
cultivated, and advanced element OF the Indian
race. He earnestly deprecated any further re-
UOvsl OF Indians from their homes, declaring
ihat Dine-tenths OF the Indian troubles which
have afflicted this county, from the Seminole
war in Florida % the MOiOc war in Oregon
have had their direct origin in the unxise pol
icy Of removing Indians from their homes to
satisfy temporary eXpsdiency. He said further
that in no instance have Indians been removed
through their own desire and that they have
consented to removal by treaty with the same
chseTfulness that poor wretch manifests who
yields has neck TO the moose of the hangman.
lie believes It Is as uni st 20 compel the Apaches
and other wild Indians TO remove to the Indian
territory as IL would be TO force the Cherokees
% remove to Ariz0na.
Col BOudinOt produced some statistics which
invite serious attention. He showed that the
total number of Indians under the charge of the
Indian Bureau Is about 23j 900 souls, divided
into l9o tribes and bands, occupying - distinct
reservations; these reservations vary in size from
4o'o,O square miles, owned by the Sioux in
Dakota, down TO two square miles belonging to
some small band in California. The total of
INDIAN reservations, however, amounted to
Zis,Oo0 square miles or about 60 acres of land
TO every man, woman and child of the Indian
race III these estimates are correct, and we
have no reason 20 doubt II, flor Col. Boudinot
has unquestOnably paid more attention to this
subject than anybody else in the country, it
would be well TO pause, before proceeding fur
tbeT IN the policy advocated by some of remoy-
Ing on The Indians 70 the Indian territory Situ-
ated a. they are now they have a magnificent
inheritance, con acres of land for every Indian
Remove them TO the Indian territory and thew
would have butaoOut 10 acres head.
Colonel BOudinOt advocated the appropria-
ton Of portion OF the millions, annually ex-
pended in Indian affairs, 20 the education OF
Indian Children Showing TO Us very clearly
that Il IL only in the education of the Indian
Children, and teaching them the English Ian
gusge, thai they can be recovered from the
savage life of their fathers. He contrasted the
present civilized condition of the ChsrOkees
Greeks, Choctaws, Chicksssws, and SeminoIes.
Win the savage Sioux, COmanche, Cheyennes /
ana others, and gave a. reason that the former
we're civilized, because thew had become so by +
contact with civilization. while the latter were
az savage as when the continent was discovered.
because they had had 10 opportunity to learn
civilization He said no Indian hal ever &C .
CURED civilization BY being kept out Of its .
reach.
Colonel BoudinOt gave an interesting account .
OF the traditions, manners. customs, aud pres !
ent condition of the civilized tribes of the In
Clan territory, and advocated the organization .
OF a teTritOr al government over them, in accord
ance with the wise recon- mendatiOns OF Presi- /
dent Grant, and the provisions OF the treaties of
1866 He showed that the revenue laws were
extended over the civilized tribes, and that thev
were to-day compelled to pay taxes TO support
this government; that they are subject to the
Jurisdiction of United States courts held in Ar
kansas, and had no representation on the iuries;
he appealed for representation which should go
hand in hand with taxation, and those equal
rights before the law which are conceded to ALI /
other people. We are sure there was not a sin
gle candid person In ali the large and apprecia-
tive audience, which listened with close atten- Z
ton 10 Col. BOudinOt for more than an hour
that believes for a moment he is actuated by 4
any other motive than the truest and hi ghest 4
love for his race; whether he is right or not, no
one who hears him can doubt his sincerity and /