The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-12-05

to be used with proper accountability, al
discretion, in sudden emergencies of the
| Indian service.
The other case of disturbance was that OF
band of Northern Cheyepnes who sud.
denly 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 as
| fully supplied with the necessaries OF life
rs the four thousand seven hundred other
| Indians who remained quietly ON the reser-
vation, and that the disturbance was caused
/ by men of a restless and mischiey0us dis
position among the Indians themselves.
Almost the whole of this band have sur
rendered to the mill airy authorities, and it
is gratifying fact that, when some of them
had taken refuge in the camp of the Red
Cloud Sioux, with whom they 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, alarm
ing rumors to the contrary notwithstanding,
| they have uniformly shown ever since the
wishes they expressed at the council OF
September, 1877, had been complied with.
Both the Secretary of the Interior and
the Secretary of War unite in the recon-
| mendation that provision be made by Con-
gress for the organization of a corps of
mounted Indian auxiliaries," to be under
the control of the army, and to be used for
the purpose of keeping the Indians on their
reservations, and preventing or repressing
disturbance on their part. I earnestly con-
cur in this recommendation. 1t is believed
that the organization of such a body of
Indian cavalry, receiving moderate pay
from the Government, would considerably
ntynr hn nln
Indians by Withdrawing from it number
of young men and giving them congenial
employment under the Government, it be-
ing matter of experience that Indians in
our service, almoss without exception, are
faithful in the performance of the duties
assigned to them. Such an organization
would materially aid the army in the ac-
eomplishment Of task which in numeri.
cal strength is sometimes found deficient
But, while the employment of force for
the prevention or 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 civilizing agencies for the ulti-
mate solution OF what is called the Indian
problem. 1t may be very difficult and re-
quire much patient effort. to curb the un-
ru!y spirit of the savage Indian to the re
straints of civilized life, but experience
shows that it is not impossible. Many of
the tribes which are now quiet and orderly
and self-supporting were once as savage as
any that at present roam over the plains or
in the mountains of the far West, and were
then considered inaccessible to civilizng
influences. 1t may be impossible to raise
them fully up to the level of the white pop.
ulation of the United States but we should
not forget that.theyEare!the aborigines of the
country, and called the soil their own on
which our people have grown rich, power
FIN nd Va ffNf fho,.
moral duty to help them in attaining at
least that degree of civilization which they
may be able to reach. 1t is not only our
duty-it is also our interest to do so. In
dians who have become agriculturists or
herdsmen, and feel an interest in property,
will thenceforth cease to be warlike and
disturbing element. 1t is also a we'll
authenticated fact that Indians are apt to be
peaceable and quiet when their children
are at school, and / am gratiied to know,
from the expressions of Indians themselves
and from many concurring reports, that
there is a steady increasing desire even
among Indians belonging to comparatively
wild tribes, to have their children educated.
| invite attention to the reports of the Sec
retary of the Interior and the Commissioner
of Indian Affairs, touching the experiment
recently inaugurated, in taking fifty In
dian children, boys and girls, from different
tribes, to the Hampton Normal Agricultural
Institute, in Virginia, where they are to re-
ceive an elementary English education and
training in agricultural and other useful
work, to be returned to their tribes, after
the completed course, as interpreters, in
StructOrs and examples. 1t is reported that
the officer charged with the selection of
| those children might have had thousands of
young Indians sent with him had it been
possible to make provision for them. l
agree with the Secretary of the Interior in
saying that "the result of this interesting
experiment, if favorable, may be destined to
become an important factor in the advance
ment 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 Committee for inquiry and re-
| port. Without desiring to anticipate that
report, venture to express the hope that
| in the decision of so important question,
the views expressed above may not be lost
| sight of, and that the decision, whatever it
may be, will arrest further agitation Of this
subject, such agitation being apt to pro.
duce disturbing effect upon the service as
well as on the Indians themselves.
HOT SPRINGS COMMISSION.
In the enrolment of the bill making ap.
propriations for sundry civil expenses, al
the last session of Congress, that portion
| y
| Hot Springs Commission was omitted. As
the Commission had completed the work
of taking testimony on the many conflicting
claims, the suspension of their labors
before determining the rights of claimants
threatened, for time, to embarrass the
interests, not only of the Government, but
also of a large number of the citizens oil
Hot Springs, who were waiting for final
action on their claims before beginnins
contemplated improvements. In order tC
prevent serious difficulties, which were ap
pretended, and at the solicitation of many
leading citizens OF Hot Springs and Others
interested in the welfare of the town, the
Secretary of the Interior was authorized tC
request the late Commissioners 30 take
charge of the records of their proceedings s
and to perform such work as could properly
be done by them under such circumstances
to facilitate the future adjudication of tn,
claims at an early day, and to preserve tn,
status of the claimants until their right
should be finally determined. The lat
Commissioners complied with that regues'
and report that the testimony, in all tn,
cases, has been written out, examined
briefed, and so arranged as to facilitate al
early settlement when authorized by law
1t is recommended that the requisite au
thority be given at as early a day in tn
session as possible, and that fair com
pensation be allowed the late Commissioners
for the expense incurred and labor pei
formed by them since the 25th of June fas
TIMBER LANDS, AND AGRICULTURE.
invite the attention of Congress to til
recommendations made by the Secretary
the Interior with regard to the preservatio
+ of the timber on the public lands of II
t United States. The protection of the pul
I lie property is one of the first duties of tt
II Government. The Department of the
r terror should, therefore, be enabled, by su
/ ficient appropriations, to enforce the Law
r in that respect. But this matter appea
IS still more important Us a question of publ
l., economy. The rapid destruction OF OF
h forests is an evil fraught with the grave
E. consequences, especially in the mountai
A. Gus districts, where the rocky slopes on
s. denuded of their trees, will remain so fC
ID ever. There the injury once done can n
,f be repaired. fully concur with the Seer
20 tary of the Interior in the opinion Tor tt
ID reason legislation touching the public til
\. Sy...A IT,.