Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-12-04
A Discussion Of the Iadian Question.
The Public Lands and Various Other
National Interests.

A Discussion Of the ladian Question.
The Public Lands and Various Other
National Interests.
A Washington dispatch of Nov, 2Sth
gives the principal features Of Score
tary Schurz' annual report, az
follows: The consolidation of :
num6er of agencies has been un.
dertaken with q view to better the loca-
ton Of the Indians, and which will at
the same time render q 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 recognized in several of its
branches. pt. II
The Indian service should have at it's
disposal a sutii 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 government
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
orge ',ization of a 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. l heartily concur in this
recommendation. 1t is d 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 ef-
forts should be spared to bring to bear
on them proper moral Influences in
that direction. Such efforts should not
be sneered at as mere sentim entail fan
cies, for should they be discouraged
success is impossible. The advance
made by some Indian tribes is sufficient
proof that similar advance may
be made by others. Whatever
may be accomplished by the employ
ment of force; it is certain that only
as the Indians progress in the way of
civilization will they cease to be tlou-
blesome and disturbing element. The
Sioux, SO tar, have given evidence Of
loyal spirit. and the rumors current of
a disposition on their part to become
hostile has proved to be unfounded."
The seer rotary also says great difficulty
was encountered in sending supplies
from the Missouri river to the new
agencies, in consequence of a combine