The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-12-14

part of them surrendered themselves as prison.
ers. In this connection desire to call attention
to the recommendation made by the Secretary of
the Interior that sufficient fund be placed at
the disposal of the Executive, to be used, with
proper accountability. at discretion in sudden
emergencies of the Indian service.
The Other case OF disturbance was that of a
band OF Northern Cheyennes who suddenly left
their reservation in the Indian Territory and
marched rapidly through the States of Kansas
and Nebraska In the direction of their old hunting
grounds, committing murders and other crimes
on their way. From documents accompanying
the report of the Secretary of the Interior, it
appears that this disorderly band was fully
supplied with the necessaries of life the 400
other Indians whe remained quietly on the reser-
walton. and that the disturbance was caused by
men OF restless and mischievous disposition
among the Indians themselves. Almost the
whole of this band have surrendered to the mill
tary authorities, and it is gratifying fact that,
when some ne 81 them zen had taken refuge in the
had been In friendly relations, the Sioux held
them as prisoners and readily gave them up to
the officers of the United States thus giving new
proof of the loyal spirit which, alarming rumors
to the contrary notwithstanding. they have uni
fOrmly shown ever since the wishes they ex-
pressed at the council of September, 1877, have
been complied with.
Both the Secretary of the Interior and the Sec
rotary of War unite in the recommendation that
provision be made by Congress for the organi-
cation of corps of mounted Indian auxili-
aries, to be under the control of the army, and
to be used for the purpose of keeping the In
dlans on their reservations and preventing or re-
pressing disturbance on their part. | earnestly
concur In this recommendation. 1t is believed
that the organization of such body of Indian
cavalry, receiving moderate pay from the Gov
eminent, would considerably weaken the rest
less element among the Indians by withdrawing
from 1t number of young men, and giving
them congenial employment under the Govern
ment. 1t being matter of experience that In
dams in service almost without exception
are faithful in the performance of the duties as,
signf to them. Such an organization would
materially aid the army in the accomplishment
of a task for which its numerical strength is
sometimes found insufficient.
But, while the employment of forces for the
prevention repression of Indian troubles Is
of occasional necessity, and wise preparation
should be made to that end. greater reliance
must be placed on humane and clylllzing aggen7
the Indian problem. 1t may be very difficult,
and require much patient effort, to curb the
straints of civilized life, but experience shows
that 1t is not impossible. Many of
the tribes which are now quiet
and orderly and self-supporting were
the plains or III the mountains of the far West,
and were then considered inaccessible to civiliz-
ing influences. 1t may be impossible to raise
them fully up to thelevel of the white population
of the United States; but we should not forget
that they are the abongines of the country, and
called the soil their which our peo-
pie have grown rich, powerful and happy.
We owe it to them moral duty to help
them in attaining at Least that degree of civilza-
|
our duty-it is also our interest to do so. Indians
who have become agriculturists or herdsmen and
feel an interest in property will thenceforth cease
to be a warlike and disturbing element 1t is also
a well authenticated fact that Indians are apt to
be peaceabe and quiet when their children are at
school, and am gratined to know, from the ex-
pressions of Indians themselves and from many
[ concurrng reports, that there is a steadily in
creasing desire, even among Indians belonging to
comparatively wild tribes, to have their children
educated invite attention to the reports of the
Secretary of the Interior and the Commits Of
Indian Affairs, touching the experiment recently
inaugurated, in taking fifty Indian children,
, the Hampton Normal Agricultural Insti,
l tute in Virginia. where they are to re.
ceive an elementary English education and train
! ing in agriculture and other useful work to be
returned to their tribes after the completed
course, as interpreters, instructors and examples
1t is reported that the officer charged with the
selection of those children might have had thou
sands of young Indians sent with him had it been
| possible to make provision for them. | agree
with the Secretary of the Interior in saying that
the result of this interesting experiment, il ia
! vorable, may be destined to become an important
l factor in the advancement of civilization among
the Indians"
The question whether change in the control OF
! the Indian service should be made, was, at the
last session of Congress, referred to com
, mttee for inquiry and report. Without desir
ing to anticipate that report, | venture
: to express the hope that in the decision of so i'm
: portant a question, the views expressed above
may not be lost sight of, and that the decision
Whatever IL may De, Will arrest lurtner dRltatlOl
of this subject, such agitation being apt to pro
! duce disturbing effect upon the service vel
as on the Indians themselves.
In the enrolment of the bill making appropna
tions for sundy civil expenses at the last session
6 of Congress- that portion which provided for the
{ continuation OF the Hot Springs commission was
L omitted As the commission had completed tn,
work of taking testimony on the many conflicting
claims the suspension of their labors before de
termining the rights of the claimants, threatened
for time, to embarrass the interests, not only o
the Government, but also OF large number of the
= citizens OF Hot Springs, who were waiting fol-
q final action of their claims before beginning con
templated improvements. In order to prevent
serous difficulties which were apprehended, ant
: | at the solicitation of many leading citizens o
i | Hot Springs. and Others interested in thu
. | welfare of the town, the Secretary of tn,
= Interior was authorized to request the late con
missioners to take charge of the records of the
: | proceedings, and to perform such work as cOulC
{ | properly be done by them under such circum
stances to facilitate the future adjudication of thu
claims at an early day, and to preserve the status
i | of the claimants until their rights should bt
: finally determined. The late commissioners com
piled with that request and report that the testi
4 mony in ali the cases, has been written out, eX
| amined briefed, and so arranged as to facilitate
: an early settlement when authorized by law. l
, is recommended that the requisite authority b.
8 given at as early day in the session as possible
h | and that fair compensation be allowed the lat
e commissioners for the expense incurred and the la
Dor performed by them since the 18th OF June last
s Invite the attention of Congress to the recon
d with regard to the preservation of the timber OIL
e | the public lands Of the United States. The pro
e lection of the public property is one of the frs
duties of the Government. The Department o
t | the Interior should, therefore, be enabled b.
n sufficient appropriations, to enforce the laws IL
t that respect. But this matter appears still NOR
t important as a question of public economy. Tn
e rapid destruction of forests is evil fraugh
}, with the gravest consequences, especially in tn
}, mountainous districts, where the rocky slopes
+ once denuded Of their trees, will remain so for
b ever. There the injury, once done, cannot b.
repaired. fully concur with the Secretary of tn
Interior in the opinion that, for this reason, legis
: lation touching the public timber in the noun
: famous States and Territories of the West, should
d | be especially well considered, and that eXistn
t not sufficiently guarded against, should b.
!, speedily modified. general law concerning
: this important subject appears to Inc to be mat
" ter of urgent public necessity.
3. From the organization of the Government, tn
y importance of encouraging, by all possible means
q | the increase Of our agricultural productions ha
u been acknowledged and urged upon the attention
of Congress and the people as the surest AM
q readiest means Of increasing our subs tantia AM
!, | enduring prosperity.
, The words of Washington are rs applicable to
:, day as when. in his eighth annual message, h
q said: 1t is not to be doubted that with referenc
% either to individual national welfare, agricul
"a | ture is of primary importance. In proportion a
: nations advance in population and other circum
stances of maturity, this truth becomes more ap
a | parent and renders the cultivation of the sol
N more and more an object OF public patronage. In
: situations for promoting 1t grow up sup. orted b.
a the public purse and to what object can II b
hi -. ~