The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-12-13

can be devised for alleviating the DIFF
ficulties which now exist, leave to
your mature consideratibn.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The present condition OF the indian tribes in
the United States. and our relations with them
are fully set forth in the reports OF the Secreta
ry of the Interior and the Commissioner Of In
dian Affairs. After y series of most dcplOrable
conflicts, the successful termination Of which.
while rejecting honor upon the brave soldiers
who accomplished it. cannot lessen our regret
at the occurrence. We are at peace with
all the Indian tribes on our borders. To pre-
serve that peace by a just and humane policy
will be the object of my earnest endeavOrs
Whatever may be said OF their character and
savage propensities. OF the difficultics Of intro
ducing among thom the habits Of civilized life.
and the obstacles they have offered to the pro-
grcss of settling in certain parts OF the country,
the Indians arc certainly entitled to our SYM
patby and to a conscientious respect on our
part for their claims upon our sense of Justice.
They were the aboriginal occupants of the land
we now possess /; they have been driven from
place to place the purchase money paid to
them in some cases for what they called their
| wn has still left them poor; in many instances
when they had settled down upon land assign
cd them by compact, and began to support
themselves by their own labor. they were rude
ly jostled on and thrust into the Wilderness
Again, many if not most Of our Indian wars
have had their origin in broken promises and
acts of iniquities upon our part. and the ad-
vance Of tn. Indians in civilization has been
slow, because the treatment they received did
not permit it to be faster and more general
We cannot expect them to improve. and to fol-
low our guidance, nnless We keep faith with
them. respecting the rights they possess. and
unless, instead of depriving them OF opportu-
mites. we lend them helping hand. cordially
approve the policy regarding the management
of Indian affairs outlined in the reports of the
Secretary of the Interior and Of the Commission
er OF Indian a Anfairs-the faithful performance
Of cur promises Ms the first condition OF good
understanding with the Indians. l cannot too
urgently recommend Congress that prompt and
liberal promises be made for the conscientious
fulfllment of all engagements entered into by
the government with the indian tribes. To
withhold the means necessary for the perform
ance of promise Is always false economy, and
is apt to prove disastrous in, its consequences.
Especial care is recommended to provide for
the Indians settled on their reservations with
cattle and agricultural i'm plements to aid them
in whatever efforts they may make to support
themselves. and by the re-establishment and
maintenance OF schools 10 bring them under the
control or civilized Influences + see no reason
why Indians who can give satisfactory proof OF
having. by their own labor. supported their
families for y number Of years. and wao are
willing to detach themselves from their tribal
relations should no. be admitted to the privil-
eyes of citizenship. and l recommend the pas.
sage of u law TO that effect. It Will be an act of
justice. well y measure of announcement
Earnest efforts are now being made to purify
AI..
priated by Congress shall rebound 70 the bene-
lit Of the Indians benefited. These efforts will
have my firm support. With Improved SER
vice and every possible encouragement held
out to the Indians to better their condition, and
to elevate themselves in the scale Of ci vilixation
we may hope to 10 at some time great work
for them and for ourselves.
THE FOREST QUESTION,
invite the attention Of Con sress to the i'm
portance OF the statements aud suggestions
made by the Secretary Of the Interior concern
ing the depredations committed upon the lum
Der lands Of the United states. and the neces.
sity Tor the preservation Of forests. 1t is beiev
ed that the measures taken In pursuance of the
existing law to arrest these depredators will be
entirely successful If Congress. by an appropri-
alton for that purpose, renders their continus
enforcement possible. The experience OF 9TH
er nations teaches us that country cannot be
stripped Of its forests with impunity, and We
shall expose ourselves to the gravest conse-
quences unless the wasteful and improvident
manner in which the forests Of the United
States are destroyed be cffectually checked. 4
earnestly recommend that the measures sug-
gestcd by the Secretary of the Interior for the
suppression of the deprcdatiOns on the public
timber lands of the United States. for the SELL
ing of timber from the public lands. and for the
preservation OF forests be imbOdieti in the law,
and that considering the urgent necessity ofcn-
abling people Of certuin states and territories
to purchase timber from the public lands in
legal manner, which at present they cannot do,
such law be passed without unavoidable delay.
1 would also call attention of Congress to stait-
ments made by the Secretary of tho Interior.
concerning The disposition that might be made
OF the desert lands by irrigation within the OF e
hundredth (lOOtl) meridian. These lands are
practically unstable under the existing laws.
and the suggestion for consideration is that
system of leasch0ld tenure would make Them
source of profit to tue United States, while ut
the same time legalizing the business of cattle
raising. which is at present carried on upon
them. 'tti
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
The report OF the Comm issioner of Agricul-
ture contains the gratifying announcement OF
TIE extraOruln ary success which has rewarded
the past year. with the fair prices which obtain
Tor the products of the soil. especially for the
surplus which our people have to export. We
may confidently turn to this the most impor-
tant of all resources for the revival of the de.
pressed Industries oil the country. The report
shows our agricultural progress during tie
year, anC contains q statement Of the work done
by this department for the advancement OF aK-
ricultural Industry, upon which the prosperity
OF our people 30 largely depends. Matters OF
information are included Of great interest 70 all
who seek Oy the experience of others to improve
their own methods of cultivation. The efforts
vi the departmentt0 to Increase the production of
IMPORTANT articles OF cons nmptiOn will. it is
hoped, improve the demand for labor and ad-
vance the bus OF the country, and eveptu.
ally result in saving some Of the many millions
that are now annually paid to foreign nations
for sugar aud other staple products which iln-
bitual use has made necessary In our domestic
.evcryday life. 'l .' '+- 4
rss THE CENfESNIAL BOARD
The Board on BEHALF of the United States Ex-
ecutive Departments at the international Ex-