Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-11-06

the Wnlte men mas, OF late, TeceiVeu
several rude shocks. Not the least
forcible Of these are the arguments
advanced by Colonel Mallery. He
shows that Official returns Of the birth
and death rates Of large number of
the tribes over which, in accordance
with treaty: the United States Govern
ment exercises some measure of control,
indicate an excess of births, and this
has gone on for long poriod, SO that
some Indians, the Sioux confederacy
for instance, have quadrupeled their
numbers in 40 years, and more than
doubled in the last thirty years. Ac
cording to this authority, and it can
not be denied that he has made an ex-
haustive and impartial study of the
subject, there are nearly, if not quite.
as many Indians living on this CONT
uent north of the Mexican bord er now
as there were living in the same terri
tory at the time Of Columbus; while if
those who have a mixed but partially
Indian ancestry were taken into ac-
count, the number would be consider
ably larger now than it was 400 years
ago Colonel Mallery estimates the
number of Indians north of the Rio
Grande river at 100000 souls, and
states that this amount would be a H.
beral computation even for precolonial
days At that time the red men were
not found scattered over the inland
districts OF the country; on the contra
ry, they were never far removed from
the seaboard, the great lakes and the
principal rivers. The rest of this con
tinent seems to have been wholly un-
inhabited; but travellers and colonists
met Indians when traversing these
water-routes, and inferred from this
that the land lying back of them was
equally well inhabited. If Colonel
Mallery's deductions are true, the ma
tional conscience can be relieved Of a
heavy load, for the terrible effect of
civilization upon the Indian has bee n
the subject of more poetic and sympa ,
thetlc regret than any other phase in
our hlstory.-Neag York Times.
THE COINAGE OF SILVER Dol.
LARS. -WAsHINGToN, October 27.-
1t is authoritatively stated that Secret
ary Sherman will in his next annual
report recommend Limitation of the
coinage of silver dollars. This state.
ment was confirmed by the Secretary
in his speech at the Cumberland Fair,
upon which occasion he said: THE
coinsge of s2,OC0,OO0 monthly of sill
yer dollars of iulI legal tender is dis
turbing element which we cannot now
compute. We can only hope that be-
foreits issue is greatly increased Con.
gress will either limit its amount or
make it contain enough silver to be
equal in value to gold" Secretary
Sherman's attitude on this question is
important, in view of the report that a
combination Of silver bullion holders is
now forming, having for its object the
agitation of a free coinage act during
the next session. As Secretary Sher-
man 8 views are doubtless shared by
the President, a veto of any such
scheme is certain.
The NEz PIERCE INDIANS WASH
1NGToN, October 29.-The Commis-
sioner Of Indian Affairs has returned
from his trip to Indian Territory. He
visited the agencies Of about ten tribes
One of the principal objects of his mis-
sion was to go to the agency Of the
Nez Perces, who are dissatisfied wit b
their present locality, and to see what
can be done in the matter. The pre-
sent Nez Perces reservation is situated
on hard, clayey soil in which wells
sunk to a depth of sixty-6ve or seventy
feet have not struck water. Chiefs
Joseph and Baldhead with an interpre-
ter accompanied the Commissioner to
other parts of the Territory to which
it would be possible to remove the
Nez Perces, and thorough examina.
ton was made in order to determine
the most desirable location. A tract
of land about 800 miles west of the
present reservation, and directly west
| Of the Poncas, pleased the Indians
best. IF the Nez Perces are convinc.
ed by Chief Joseph that it is best to
remove to this locality, word will be
sent to the Indian office, and the re-
moval will probably be effected. 1t is
not likely that the Nez Perces could
be better suited anywhere else in In
dian Territory.
The President yesterday signed the
commission of Hon. Halbert E. Paine,
of as Commissioner of Patents, vice
Ellis Spear, resigned. He enters at
once upon the duties of his efflce
General Paine is a peculiarly fit. man
for the place. The appointment is
honorable alike to the President and
the country.
DR.. Prices SPECIAL FLAvoRING
EXTRACTS. These Flavoring Extra