Arizona weekly miner., 1877-06-01
ClviIizIng American Indians.

In the annual report just made by the Board of Indian Commissioners, an elabor- ste statement in general and in detail is pre- sented, showing by statistics the advance made in the eight years of the present policy. Of the 266,0oo Indians in the United States, Alaska not included. 104.s now wear citi- zens' dress. Since 1868 the houses occupied by Indians haze increased from 7,+s6 To a. 5ls, of which l.102 were built during the last year. Schools have increased during the same period from II 10 34+. and teachers from I54 Ia 4S'. The number of scholars was then 4.1lS- now they are II, ,33S. There are Is7 churches on Indian reservations and 21.2i5 Indians are church members. The area of land cultivated in 1868 was 54,201, in ls76, 3iS,i94. The report concludes with l,a,@ ,is following recommendations:
 ., , ,..i,lI , on the part ot inc Government with the terms of existing treaties with ali the Indians.
 2d.-ApprOpriations for consolidating the agencies.
 Sd.-Generous appropriations for educa- tionaI purposes.
 4th.-Discontinuance of tribal relations.
 5th.--Extension of law for protection of life and property.
 Embellishments Of land.
 7th.-Estahlishmcnt of industrial and az ficultural boarding schools, compelling at tendance of ali between seven and seventeen years of age.
 sth.--issue of supplies to be made to tho heads of families.
 9th.-IncrcaSe of salaries of Indian agents
 The foregoing summary will strike the old settlers on the frontier, who know all about Indians, as very funny. They understand just how they wear citizens dress; they know any number of citizens who have con tributed theiE sraips as well as their clothes, which the Indians are wearing, but just the extent of civilization connected with wear ing them the old settler will hardly be able to determine.
 They understand the pious tendencies of the Indian and what his creed Is, and also | the use he has for churches and school | houses. The increase in the area of land | cultivated by them Is far the most civilizing | feature to those who understand the Indian l nature. He cannot. if he gives due attention | 10 the cultivation of the soil, have as much | lime to execute theft and murder, with which | his church-going has never interfered much.
 The recommendations are entirely Tn ac- cord with the policy these Peace Commis- sioners are trying to bolster up. The exien- sion of law for the protection of life and . property is a capital idea; the Indian has about as much respect for law as he has for religion.
 Compulsory attendance at boarding schools is very good. but we don't see where the compulsi0n is to come from. MT. Cum is no doubt very strong and able bodied youth. but we doubt his capacity to corral all the little Apaclc-. between the ages of seven and seventeen, on his reservation, and Co keep them at their lessons. They might stand up to the beard as long as the meals last, but no longer.
 The last: or ninth recommendation, like ladies postscript Is She most important. By tho addition of proviso that the per quisiies be cut of, VIC are strongly in favor of if. This would be practically closing the escape st the bunS-hole whilst opening the spigot, by which the public treasury would be greatly benefited. Such views and recommendations as the foregoing make us wonder whether we will ever learn how to deal with and manage the Indian question. Me have no faith in any system which. like thc present, k making an ( increasing demand on the treasury. None S-ill ever be n success that does not show de- ( ridcd progress ih making the Indian self ] supporting. We have no hesitation in say ing that if he cannot be made to maintain l himself he should die out and the race de | serves no better fate than to become extinct. |
 --@s%~ IL Is said ihat General George Crook. the V