National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-06

with regard TO the rights. duties and obli
cations of the Mission Indians Of that sec
ton, and the plan he proposes for the
improvement of their condition. Mr.
Wetmore is an accomplished journalist
and viii be remembered by many in this
city as the Washington agent Of the Pacific
Press Association. He has made study
of the Indian question, and Is well qualified
in every respect for the duty to which he
has been assigned. The suggestions made
by him to the county officers and citizens
of San Diego have more than local inter-
est and significance. They apply almost
equally to the treatment Of the Indians in
other sections, ard outline policy marked
by sound judgment and practical reasoning.
Mr.. Wetmore starts out with the general
proposition that an Indian must be deemed
as incompetent to compete with white men
in the progress of civilization, and that his
rights and obligations should be deter
mined with such governing restrictions as
may be necessary to prevent his being
crushed out in his attempt to change his
mode Of life, or in his effort to live along
side of bis white brother. He thinks it
would be impolitic, both for the Indians
and the citizens of Southern Cali
fornia, to encourage the acceptance
of the doctrine that even the Mis-
sion Indians semi-ciyiIized as they are,
should be made citizens of the United
States and required to fulfill the
duties of such relationship, besides being
granted the full privilege of citizenship.
Mr. Wetniore regards the duty Of the Gov
eminent In this matter as plain. The
Indians must be treated as wards, requir-
ing some special assistance in their forced
change of condition; but their rights and
obligations need to be definitely ascertained
and their opportunities for improvement
established on permanent foundations. The
welfare of the whites and Indians must be
considered together inasmuch as they must
live and be mutually dependent on each
other, as is the case with the Mission In
dams. We have only space for full out
line of Mr.. Wetmore's remarks, but that
will be found suggestive and of much
interest to those who have to deal with the
red man. After sketch of the Mission
Indians, those who have obtained degree
of standardization through the efforts of
the Roman Catholic Church during the era
which is first in the history of California,
and the evils resulting from a failure on
the part of the Government to provide for
these Indians, who are now practically out
casts, and have no longer the opportunities
TO busy themselves in the industries of the
pastural life in which they were educated,
Mr.. Wetmore recommended the reproduc-
ton as far as present circumstances will
permit of the old Mission system, and the
revival of the slumbering influences which
once controlled these Christianized Indians.
He outlined his plan under the following
heads:
First. To adjust and determine the rights
of the Indians on public lands.
Second. To settle the conflict between
Indians on ranches and the ranch holders.
Third. Vagrancy, etc.
During Mr.. Wetmore's remarks ques-
tions were asked and suggestions offered
by several of the gentlemen present, and
when he concluded there were expressions
of hearty approval from the leading Off
cials of the country. Assemblyman Bow
ers commended the propositions to secure
the influence of the Catholic Church, which
had attained a success in its dealings with
these Indians which remained as an exam
pie for the treatment Of the present prob
lem. He thought we could hardly hope to
succeed better than did the early mission
fathers. Mr.. Taggart said that Mr.. Wet
more had really thought out practical ap-
plication of the ancient mission system to
the wants of the present day, and had pro-
posed q plan which comprehended the
best feature of that old system adopted to
existing necessities. Indeed, there was a
unanimous Endorsement by those present
of the general plan outlined by Commits
sioner Wetmore, and the people of San
Diego county will urge its adoption upon
the Government