New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-25
THE INDIAN PROBLEM.
MAJOR ). W. POWELL ON ETHNoLocy


TI0SAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
| TIE TRIBUNE recently published in full the "a.
port Of the committee appointed by the Nations,
Academy of Sciences under act Of Congress to mys.
tigate the subject of scientific surveys Of the publs
| domain BY request of Professor o. c. Marsh chair.
man Of that committee Major j. W. Powell, N.
geoogist in charge Of the geological and geographic
cal survey Of the Rocky Mountain region, prepared
an exhaustive paper upon the subject for the con.
sideration of the committee. That part of the pa.
per which refers to ethnology in its relation to the
Indian question is given below
THE VALUE OF ETHNOLOGIC RESEARCH.
There are reasons why ethnologic re-
searches Investigations relating TO the North Ane
can Indians should be fostered by the General Govern
ment The work is OF great magnitude more than 400
languages belonging to about sixty different stocks hay.
Ing been found within the territory OF the United States
Little OF value be accomplished making nvesga.
tons In other branches OF the field without thorough
knowledge or tie languages. Their sociology myth
oogy, arts etc., properly known until the people
themselves are understood with their own conceptions
opinions aud motives The subjects OF study remote
from the centres OF civilization and culture and thus IN
accessible to tue great BODY Of American scholars The
field OF research is peedy narrowing because OF tina
rapid change in the Indian population in progress
Habits, customs and opinions fading away even
languages disappearing, and IN very " years il
Will be impossible TO study North American Indians
In their primitive condition except from recorded
history. For this ehnoogic stndies America
should be pushed with the utmost vigor.
But there Otner cogent reasons leading to the sas
conclusion In the whole Of the United States not
including Alaska. there is important valley
cupfed Dy white nlen. The rapid spread OF civilization
1s49 has placed the white and the Indian In
direct conflict throughout the whole area and the In
dian problem" is thus forced upon u.s. and must be
solved wisely uuwsely. Many OF thu difficulties
inherent and cannot be avoided, but equal number
unnecessary caused by lack knowl
edge relating the Indians Themselves. Savagery Is
inchOate civilizations distinct status of society,
with its own institutions, customs, philosophy and reg
ion and all these must necessarily be Oyethrown be-
fore institutions, CUSTOMS philosophy aud religion
be introduced The failure to recognize this fact has
wrought inconceivabe mischief IN our management Of
the Indians. For the proper calculation Of this state
ment volume Is cessary, but shall 10 content
myself with some brief Illustrations.
Among all the North American Indians, when in a
primitive condition, personal property was almost uu-
Known ornaments and clothing only were recognized
thu property Of the individual, and these only
limited extent The right the soil landed property,
the right to the products OF the chase, etc., etc., was ill.,
berent in the gems, clan, body OF oonsaDguin-a
group Of relatives, in some cases. on the male side In
Others on tie female Inheritance never TO the
children OF the deceased. but always to the No
the attempt Of individual to use for himself that
which belonged his gems In common hence the per
sona rights property recognized in civilization are In
tensely obnoxious tn the Indian; he looks upon our
whole system OF property rights enormous evil aud
objectionable sin for which the gods will eventually
punish the wicked and blasphemous white man. From
these opinions inherent alike in their social institutions
and religion arises the difficulty which the Government
has always met in obtaining the consent OF the Indians
TO the distribution OF lands among them In severalty
Tribes have been willing receive lands and distribute
| them themselves among their gems. Among those In-
dams who have been longest In contact with the white
manas the tribes IN tue Indian Territory and Minnesota
much property has been accumulated aud wih The in,
individual ownership has at last spontaneously sprung
up, nd at present time these tribes intensely
cal sentiments are rnpdy Increasing and is probable
that soon among these tn oes the customs OF elyit
tribes the ancient customs are still adhered to wis
enaey i tins s,ter anu ny 0ins beitet we mnst
either The Indian be is. looking TO the slow
In contact to eject change or we must reduce nm ~
civilized man by law, policy, an administration
Through great CONVERSION, as IN the twlnkng Of an
eye" months, or IN few years, Is an impOss by
clearly apprecia by scientific ethnOoests who
derstand the institutions and social condition OF the In
recognized In the administration OF indian affairs 4
few OF the wiser missionaries aud few officers OF the
Indian Bureau have recognized some OF the more l'n
portant facts. but IN general tney have been ignored.
I'VE a 10 TSS5 Ss'
4
hut Indian tribe IA a pure democracy the chief
fancy Il hereditary, and tue chief Is bu the repre-
sentative the speaker, OF the tribe and do &c
which his tribe IL bound without being instructed thus
have maze ana the have lDfflcted upon the
Indians because Of aure 10 recognize this tact have
been cruel aud nexcusaDe except the ground OF
ignorance. Nitnln the United Statcs5 there about
sky radically dstiuct stocks OF Indians The ais
tory OF the country shows that coalition between
tribes OF different stocks has ever been successful few
have been attempted but these have been failures.
knowledge this further knowledge of the
extent o the several stocks as they can be classed by
linguistic aninitieS would be OF great value
administration OF Indian affairs In the late Nee Perez
much fear enertaiue est q Sh0sh0nes and
Flutes OF Utah and Nevada would Join with the Neg
well those the Indian Office, exceedingly hDA
regard tO this matter and the PAYERS were filled
with rumOrs tnat such O coatog n-d been made tho
had confidently predicted, that
such alliance could be formed and the ShOshones and
Piutcs enlisted to gat against the Nrz PerCcs.
might continue TO illustrate the subject In MANY
did time permit, but thu foregoing must suffice.
think will DC apparent from wat have SAID that
thorough investigation of North American ethnology
would be of great value Ia Indian Ofice. The rea-
whoa have briefly set forth as influencing my
opinion chat the General Government should provide for
in this field have for many years To greater
or less extent, been recognized by Congress- Twice In
the history OF legislation this nd that pro-
vision has been made by appropriations Tor this work,
has been discontinued time only because tue
character Of the researches made failed to OBJ ain the
confidence and respect alike Of statesmen aud scientists
therefore submit the opinion 20 the committee that IL
would be wise TO recommend 10 Congress the continual
uou OF research this held aud consider IN so doing.
under supervision IL should De placed 20 secure
this eud, would suggest that the smithsonian lnstitu.
ton hos plished more IN this direction than any
or all other agencies.