Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-12-20

respect on our part tor their claims upon
our sense Of justice. They were the alb
original occupants OF the land we now pos
scss: they have been driven from place 10
u place: the purchase money paid them in
= some eases ior Whit they called their own
= has still left them poor: in many instances
: they had settled down upon land assigned
to them by contract. and began TO support
themselves by their own labor. when they
were rudely jostletl off and thrust into the
wilderness. Many if not most of our In
dian wars have had their origin in broken
promises and acts Of injustice upon orr
Part. and the advance of the I!irl;aas in ciE-
iliZa;;on has been slow because tie treat
ment they received did not permit it TO
foster and be more general. We carnot
expect them to improve and to follow our
guidance unless we Keep faith with them
II respecting the rights they possess. AMI
lii.iess. irIStead of depriving them of IT, ,i
o.pJr mites. we lend them a relninn
hand. cordially approve the policy re-
gar'iing the management Of Indian affairs
"
re Inferior Department and of the Com
missioner Of Indian Affairs. The faithful
performance Of our promises is the first I
condition of Il good understanding with
the Indians. cannot too urgently recOnl-
mend to Congress that prompt and liberal
provision be made tor the conscientious
flillment OF all agreements entered into
Ia ~
10 Withhold the means Necessary for the
performance OF Il promise is always false
economy and is apt to prove disastrous in
/ its consequences. Especial care is recon-
mended to provide for the Indians settled i
on the reservations cattle and agricultural ;
implements to aid them. and whatever ef- !
forts they may make to support them t
selves, and by the re-establishment and t
maintenance Of schools to bring them I'M t
der the control of civilized influences. i
see no occasion why the Indians who can t
give satisfactory proof of having by their c
own labor supported their families for a
number OF years. and who are willing to
letach themselves from their tribal rela-
tons. should not be admitted to the bcnc-
fits of the Homestead act and the priyi-
l2ges of citizenship. and recommend tie
passage of a law to that effect. It will be
an act OF justice as well rs 4 measure OF en-
enlargement. Earnest efforts are being
made to purify the Indian service SO that
every dollar appropriated by Congress
shall rebound to the benefit of the Indians.
These efforts will have my firm support. T
With an improved service and every posi-
bic encouragement held out to the Indians r.,
to better their condition andto elevate them ar
selves in the scale of civilization. we may J.;
nope to do at some time good work for p,
them and ourselves. =,
TIMBER DEPEEDATIONS. .,r
invite the attention Of Congress to the m
Importance Of the statements and sugres- la
ions by the Secretary of the Interior con- W,
'clning the depredations committed upon tel
he timber lands of the United States ana tn
be necessity TO the preservation of for frl
SIS. 1t is believed that the measures tax W:
n in pursuance OF the existing law to ar n,
est the depIedations will be entirely sue na
essful if Congress. by an appropriation Oh
Dr. that purpose. renders their continued siz
Increment possible. a c
The experience of other nations teaches tn:
$ that country cannot be stripped Of its for
,rests with immunity. and we s.iaEl expose M:
Hrsclves TO the giavcst consequences I'M be-
SIS tie was'efnl and improvifIent manner no
which the forests in TIE United States yer
e destroyed be cffactmlly checked. tla
lrncstly recommend that tie measures Ger
'g%ested by the Secretary OF tie Interior l,.,
Il the suppression of deple'lAtons on tie ~ i,
iblic lands of the United States. for the mr.,
Hing of timber from the public lands AMI IN,
u ne I"'>ef'iohoi iVirs'S' re e!tIbO'iie' bee
law. and that in considering the urgent STR;
'cessity of enabling the people of certain bar
ates and Territories to purchase tisbe, inc
ON the public lands in legal manner. ity.
hlch at present they cannot do such 3 able
" be passed without avoihailc delay. liav
DESERT LAND. the
would also call the attention Of Con well
ess to the statements by the Secretary of uial
e Interior concerning the disposition that of +,
rht be made of the desert lands not IT. a.,
.ativc. west Of tie one ,lun.rc,hh meri ,.;se
IN. These lands are practically ,,nsale- how.
lc under the existing laws and tie sug- mat,
stion is worthy of consideration. and to V
II system of lease held tenure would wise
Ike them source of profit TO the United safe,
ties While at the same time legalizing the ,ble
,iness of cattle raising which is ut pres E,,,,
carried on upon them. 9TH.