San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1877-12-15

keep faith with them respecting the rights
they possess, and unless, instead OF depriv'
ing them Of opportunities, we lend them
helping hand. l cordially approve this poll
cy regarding the management OF lndian al
fairs outlined In the report OF the Secretary
of the Interior, and OF the Commissioner Of
Indian Affairs. The faithful performance o.
our promises is the first condition Of good
understanding with the Indians. can moi
too urgently recommend to Congress thai
prompt and liberal provision be made
for the conscientious fultillment OF
all engagements entered into by the
Government with Indian tribes. 10 with
hold the means necessary Tor the per-
formance of promise is always false econo.
consequences. Especial care is recommend
ed to provide for Indians settled on their
reservations cattle and agricultural imple-
ments, to aid them in whatever efforts they
make to support themselves, and by the re-
establishment and maintenance OF schools 10
bring them under the control Of civilized IN
tluences. see no reason why Indians VINO
can give satisfactory proof OF having by their
own labor supported their families Tor q
number of years, and are willing TO detach
themselves from their tribal relations,
sbould not be admitted to the benefit Of the
homestead act and the privileges OF citizen
ship, and recommend the passage OF q law
to that effect. twill be an act OF justice, as
well as a measure Of encouragement.
Earnest efforts are being made to purify
the Indian Service, so that every dollar ap-
propriatcd by Congress shall rebound to the
benefit of the Indians to be benehted.
These efforts will have my firm support.
With an improved service and every possible
encouragement held out TO the lnalahs 10
better their condition and to elevate them
selves in the scale of civilization, we may
hope to do at the same time great work Tor
them and for ourselves. b. UT
PRESERVATION OF FORESTS.
I invite the attention of Congress to the
Importance of statements and suggestions
made by the Secretary of the Interior con-
corning depredations committed upon tim
ber-lands Of the United States, and the ne
cessity for the preservation of forests. 1t Is
believed that the measures taken, III pursu-
ance of existing law, to arrest these depre-
datiops will be entirely successful II Con-
gress, by an appropriation for that purpose,
renders their continued enforcement posi-
BILE. The experience of other NATIONS
teaches us that a country can not be stripped
of its forests with impunity, and we snail
expose ourselves to the graVest con-
SEQUENCES unless the wasteful and i'm
proyident manner in which the forests in
the United States are destroyed be effect,
ually checked. 1 earnestly recommend
that the measures suggested by the Sec
rotary of the Interior for the suppression
of depreciation on the public timber Lands
of the United States, for the selling timber
from the public lands, and for the preserVa,,
ton of forests, be embodied in law, ana
that considering the urgent necessity OF en-
abling people. of certain States ana Ierri-
tories to purchase timber from the public
lands in a legal manner, which at present
they can not do, such law be passed without
unavoidable delay. 1 would also call the at
tention of Congress to statements made by
the Secretary of the Interior concerning the
disposition that might be made of the desert
lands not irrigated, west of the one num-
dredth meridian. These lands are partlcu-
laIly unsaleable under existing laws, ana the
suggestion is worthy of consideration, that a
system of leasehOld tenure would make
them source of profit to the United States,
while at the same time lcgalizing the busl-
ness of cattle-raising, which is at present
carried on upon them.
OUR AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES.
The report of the Commissioner of Agri-
culture contains the gratifying announce
ment of the extraordinary success which has
rewarded the agricultural industry OF the
for the past year. With the falr
prices which obtain for products of the soil,
especially for the surplus which our people
have to EXPORT, we may confidently turn to
this most important of all our resources Tor
the revival of the depressed industries OF the
The report shows our agricultural
during the year and contains
statement of the work done by this Depart
ment for the advancement of agricultural1n-
dustry, upon which the prosperity OF our
people so largely depends. Matters OF infor,
nation are included of great interest to all
who seek by the experience of others TO I'M
prove their own methods OF cultivation.
The efforts of the Department to increase
the production of important articles or con-
will, it is hoped, improve the de.
mand for labor and advance the business OF
the country, and eventually result in saving
the many millions that are annually paid to
foreign nations for sugar and other sugar.
products which habitual use has made ne
cessary in our domestic everyday life.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
TThe President treats at some length of the
affairs of the District. He recommends
by Congress for various local
in aid of the Public Schools
Of the District, and also for the completion
of the Washington Monument.l
ANATIONAL SCHOOL FUND.
The wisdom of legislation upon the part
of Congress IN ald OF the STATES lor eluca'
ing the whole people in those branches OF
study which are taught IN the common
schools of the country is no longer ques-
ton. The intelligent Judgment of the coun-
try goes still further, regarding it as Con,
stitutonal and eXpedient for the General
to extend to technical and
higher education such aid as is deemed
essential TO the general welfare and to our
due prominence among the enlightened
and cultivated nations of the world.
The ultimate settlement of all questions
of the future, whether of admins
tration or finance, depends upon the
virtue and intelligence of the people, and it
is vain to hope to perpetuate free Govern
ment without means of insuring the intelll-
rence of those who are the source of power.
No less than one-seventh of the entire voting
population of our country are yet unable TO
read and write. 1t is encouraging to observe
in connection with the growth of fraternal