Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-12-06

The detection of frauds has been followed by
vigorous prosecution, and on the whole feel
enabled to say that the character OF the serv-
ice has been raised in point of integrity and
efficiency.
am, however, far from pretending that the
present condition of Indian affairs is what 1t
ought to be. The experience gained in an
earnest effort to overcome difficulties and to
correct abuses has enabled me to appreciate
more clearly the task still TO be accomplished.
In my last annual report stated frankly, and
have to repeat now, that in pursuing poll
cy ever so wise, and with machinery ever so
efficient, gradualimprovement can be effected
only by patient, energetic and well directed
work in detail. An entirely satisfactory state
of things can be brought about only under
circumstaces which are not and cannot be
under the control Of the Indian service alone.
IL the recurrence of trouble and disturbance
is to be avoided the appropriations made by
Congress for the support OF Indians who are
not self-suppoTting must be liberal enough to
be sufficient for that purpose and they must
be made early enough in the year to render
the purchase and delivery of new supplies pos
sible before the old supplies are exhausted.
Second. The Indian service should have at
its disposal a sufficient fund to be used with
proper accountability at discretion In unfore-
seen emergencies.
Third. Citizens of Western States and Ter
ritories must be made to understand that If
paupers and vagabonds are to become orderly
and sef-supporting, they must have lands fit
for agriculture and pasture, that on such lands
they must be permitted to reign and establish
permanent homes, and that such result can
not be attained If the white people insist upon
taking from them by force or trickery every
acre of ground that is good for anything.
The first two things can be accomplished by
appropriate action on the part OF Congress.
The difficulties growing out - continually re-
fa1 onlV hu utrhf ont tha
rights of Indians may be lessened by the con-
centration of the Indians on a smaller num-
Der of reservations, but they can be entirely
avoided even then only by the most ener-
getic enforcement of the law on the part Of
general and local governments. To this end
1t seems desirable that the southwestern
tribes, whose present reservations appear in
secure or otherwise unsuitable for their per-
manent settlement, should be gradually re-
moved to Indian Territory. The northwestern
tribes will IN course of time have to be con-
| centrated in similar manner on few reserva-
| tions east of the Rocky Mountains and on the
| Pacific slope. To keep the Indians on their
reservation, and prevent disturbance and con-
| icts, the Commissioner of Indian affairs rec
| ommends the organization of a mounted body
OF Indian auxiliaries, to be drawn from young
| men of various tribes, and to be under the
| command Of military authorities. l heartily
| concur in this recommendation. 1t is mat
ter Of general experience that Indians so en-
| ity to the duties assigned them.
But the principal end Of our Indian policy
| cannot be promoted by police measures alone.
| That end consists in gradually introducing
among the Indians the habits and occupations
| of civilized life, by inducing them to work for
their own support, by encouraging the pride
| of individual ownership of property and by
| educating the young generation, and no effort
should be spared to bring to bear upon them
| proper moral influences in that direction
SNNnl afF oh. W,NNh ha
sentimental fancies, nor should they be dis
eouraged by the assertion that success is i'm
| possible. The advance made by some Indian
tribes is sufficient proof that similar advance
may be made by others.
Whatever may be accomplished by the EN-
ployment of force, it is certain that only a:
the Indians progress in the way of civilization
| they will cease to be a troublesome and dis
turbing element
The Sioux so far have given evidence of 6
| loyal spirit, and the rumors current of dis
position on their part to become hostile hav,
proved unfounded
He also says that great difficulty was en-
countered in sending supplies from Missouri
River to the new agencies. In consequence o
a combination of transportation contractor
to force the Government to pay exorbitan
prices their bids were rejected and the organ
ization of wagon trains, to be manned by In
dians with their ponies, proceeded with. Tn
task was difficult one, owing to the charac
| VI lls COuuJIy anu JHt circumstance Jud
the grass has been burnt off the plains be
tween the Missouri River and the new agen
cies, as rumor has 1t by evil-disposed person
10 bring about failure Of this experiment
but it has so far been successful.
In regard to the outbreak of Banfbcks las
spring Secretary Schurz says: 1t must be ad
mitted that they were sufficiently supple
with food, which, however, was owing to a.
appropriation of money by Congress utterl
inadequate te their wants. The money avail
able for feeding them amounted only to les
than four and one-half cents a head per day
This created discomfort among them. Whe
the murder of a white man was committed b
an Indian the Indian was arrested, tried an
/ hung. The discomfort grew into excitement
A military detachment attempted to disarI
them, but with only partial success, and tina
J ly an outbreak took place.
, AS regards the outbreak of 300 Norther
Cheyennes the Secretary corroborates tn
statements heretofore made by the Commi
sioner of Indian Affairs, in special report o
this subject, showing that it was not cause
! by hunger, nor by any neglect on the part {
: Government officials to furnish them supple
, according to the treaty, but that on the CO..
trary they received ample supplies, and mo-
than they were entitled to. Secretary Schui
\ adds:
e While in many other instances Indian ou
e breaks are traceabie to the treatment they r
I | ceive at the hands of the whites, IL appeal
from the information quoted that in this cal
E the outbreak was owing to the mischievor
d spirit of bad men among the Indians ther
e selves, and their determination to retul
northward to their old hunting ground
Nearly all these runaway Cheyennes have bee
e captured or have surrendered, and are no
e held as prisoners by the military authoriti
e In the interest of general discipline and
order to show the Indians that nothing can
gained by such disorderly conduct. 1t
: thought best to return them to their reserv
: tion in the Indian Territory, after haviI
r given the civil authorities of the State of Ka
f sas an opportunity to identify those whoc
mitted murders and other crimes while pas
ing through that State, SO that they may
o dealt with according to law,