Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-12-04
SEC'Y SCHURZ' ANNUAL REPORT.
A Discussion of the Indian Question:
The Public Lands and Various Other
National Interests

| A Washington dispatch of Nov. 28th
gives the principal features of Secre-
tary Schurz' annual report as
follows: The consolidation of a
number Of agencies has been I'M
dertaken with a view to better the loca-
ton Of the Indians, and which will at
the same time render a more efficient
supervision possible and reduce the
expenses to the government,
and lessen the opportunities for
fraud and peculatiOn. AS far
as appropriations made by congress
would permit, agricultural implements
and domestic cattle have been fur
nished to milan tribes to set the In-
dams to work for their own support,
and to encourage industrious habits.
An Indian police force has been organ
lied at twenty-five agencies, and from
all of them favorable reports as to the
working of the new system have
been received. Instructions have
been given to discriminate
in the distribution Of supplies
and annuities which are not actual
necessaries against individual Indians,
who show no disposition to work, thus
discouraging idleness. An allott-
ment of land among Indians on several
reservations has been ordered and is in
progress. Facilities Of education have
been extended as much as possible, and
proper direction has been given for the
instruction of Indian children in practi-
cal pursuits. The Indian service has
been re-organized in several of its
branches.
The Indian service should have at it's
disposal a suffi cient fund. to be used
with proper accountability at discretion
in unforeseen emergencies. Citizens of
the western states and territories must
be made to understand that if the Irdi-
ans cease to be troublesome, and the
paupers and vagabonds become orderly
and self-supporting, they must have
lands fit for agriculture and pasture,
and that on such lands they must be
permitted to reign, and establish per-
manent homes. and that such a result
cannot be obtained if white people in
sist on trickery to cheat them out of
every acre that is good for anything.
The first two things can
be accomplished by appropriate
action by congress. The difficulties
growing out Of continual repeated en-
croachment by white people on the
rights of Indians may be lessened by
the concentration Of the Indians on a
smaller number of reservations, but
they can be entirely avoided even then
only by a most energetic enforcement
Of the general and local governm e11t
TO this end it seems desirable that the
southwestern tribes whose present re-
servations appear insecure, or other
wise unsuitable for their permanent set
Element, should be gradually removed
to their Indian Territory. The north
western tribes will, in the course of
time have to be concentrated IN a SINH
lar manner on few reservations
east of the Rocky Mountains and on
the Pacific slope. To keep the Indians
on their reservations, and prevent dis
turbances and conflicts, the commits
sioner of Indian affairs recommends the
organization of mounted body of In
dian auxiliaries, to be drawn from the
young men of the various tribes and to
be under the command of the military
authorities | heartily concur IN this
recommendation. 1t Is a matter of
general experience that the Indians so
employed can be depended on as to
loyal fidelity to the duties assigned
them; out the principal end of
our Indian policy cannot be promot-
ed by police measures alone;
that end consists in gradually
introducing among the Indians habits
and occupation of civilized life, by in
ducing them to work for their own sup
port, by encouraging pride of individ-
ual ownership of property, aud by edu-
eating the young generation; and no eff