Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-12-03


and will soon, nv the accession Of the few renal in
ing countries and colonies, which maintain organ
iZed postal services, constitute in fact as well
in name, its new title indicates universal union
regulating upon q uniform basis of cheap pos'agc
rate the postal intercourse between all civilized
nations. Some embarrassment has arisen out OF
the conflict between the customs laws of this
country and the provisions of the postal conven.
ton. 10 regard to the Transmission of foreign
books and newspapers to this country bv mail. II
is hoped that Congress will be able TO devise
some means of reconcing the difficulties which
have thus been created, to do justice TO all
parties involved.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The business of the Supreme Court and of the
courts in many of the circuits. has increased 10
such an extent during the past year, that add.
tional legislation - imperative to relieve and pre.
vent the delay of justice aud possible oppression
to suitors which is thus occasioned. The encum-
bered condition of these dockets is presented
anew in the report Of the Attorney General, and
the remedy suggested is earnestly urged for Con
gressional action. The creation of additional cir
cult judges, a. proposed, would afford complete
remedy, and would involve expense at the pres
ent rate of salaries, of not more than $50 900 a
year
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The annual reports of the Secretary of the In
terror and of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs
present an elaborate account of the present con,
diion of the Indian tribes. and of that branch of
the public service which ministers 10 their inter
ests. While the conduct of the Indians general.
" has been orderly, and their relations with their
neighbors friendly and peaceful, two local
disturbances have occurred which were deplora-
BILE in their character but remained happily con-
fined to a comparatively small number of Indians
The discomfort among the Bsnnocks which led to
some acts of violence IN the part of some mem
hers of the tribe and finally to the outbreak APP
pears to have been caused by an INSULT cheney of
m he yat bis in. ,,.N.
have been owing to the inadequacy of the apprn-
priations made by Congress to the wants of the
Indians, at time when the Indians were prevent
ed fiop supplying the deficiency by hunting
After an srduous pursuit by the troops of the
United States, and several engagements, the hos
tile Indians were reduced TO subj cion and the
greater part OF them surrendered themselves as
prisoners.
In this connection, desire to call attention to
the recomme ndation made bv the secretary of the
interior that sufficient fund be placed at the dis
possl of the executive to be used with
proper accountability, snd discretion, in
sudden emergencies of the Indian service
The other case of disturbance was that
of band of Northern Chevennes. who suddenly
left their reservation in the tudian Territory and
marched rapidly through the States OF Kansas and
Nebraska, in the direction of their old hunting
grounds. committing murders and other crimes in
their way. From documents accompanying the
report Of the Secretary of the Interior it appears
that this dlsorderly band was fully
supplied with the necessaries of life
as the 400 other Indians who remained
quietly on the reservation, and that the disturb
snce was caused by men of restless and mis-.
chievous disposition among the Indians them
selves. Almost the whole of this band have sur
rendered to the military authorities, and il i. a
gratifying fact that when some of them had tax
refuge in ibe camp of the Red Cloud Sioux, with
whom they had been friendly relations, the
Sioux held them as prisoners and readily gave
ntt1p ls.E yT...t.
giving new proof of the loyal spri, which, alarm
ing rumors to the contrary Notwithstanding, they
have uniformly shown ever since the wishes thew
expressed at the council of Sept, 1877, had been
complied with. Both the Secretary of the Interior
aud Secretary of W ar unite in the recommendation
that provision be made by Congress for the organ
izston of corps of mounted INDIAN auxiliare.. !"
to be under the cert"o of the army and to be used
for the purpose of keeping the Indians on their
reservations and preven'irg or rcpre.s
ing disturbance their rait. | cara
estlv concur in this Recommendation. 1t
is believed that the eaton of such a BODY
of Indian cavalry, receiving moderate paw from
the government would considerably weaken the
restless eleme Mt among the Indians by withdraw.
ing from it a number OF young men and giving
them copgeuial employment under the govern
ment; it being III alter of exp arience that lndians
in our service, almost without exception are
faithful in the performance of duties assigned to
them. Such an organization would materially aid
the army IN the accompaniment OF task tor
which the numerical strength is sometimes found
insufficient. But while the employment of fore
for the prevention 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 civil zing agencies 7tor
the ultimate solution of what j. called the Indian
problem. 1t may be very difficult aud require
much patient effort TO curb the unruly spirit of the
savage IDdian to the restraints OF civilized lite
but experience shows that it is not impossible.
Many of the tribes which once were 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 cvizng
influences have been much improved
1t may be impossible 20 raise them fully up to the
level of the white population of the United States
but we should not forget that they the aborig-
ines Of the country, and called the soil their own
on which our people have grown rich, powerful
and happy. We owe il TO them as a moral duty,
to help them IN attaining at least that degree of
civilization which they may be able 10 reach. 1t
is not only our duty, ii is also our interest to do
so. Indians who have become agricultulists or
herdsmen, and feel an interest in property, will
thenceforth cease to be a warlike aud disturbing
element. 1t is also u well autbe nicsted fact that
Indians are apt to be peacesble and quiet when
their children are at school; and am gratfed to
know from the expressions of Indians themselves
and from many concurring reports, that there is
q steadily increasing desire, even among the
Indians belonging to comparatively wild
tribes, to have their children educated.
invite attention to the reports of the Secretary
of the Interior and the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs, t. uchng the experiment recently inaugu-
rated in tskog fifty Indian children, boys and
girls, from different tribes to the Hampton Nor
NAL Agi icu,ural Institute in Virginia, where they
are to receive an elementary English education,
and training in agriculture and other useful work
to be returned to their tribes after the completed
course, as interpreters, instructors and examples.
1t is reported that the officer charged with the
selection of these children might have had thou
sands of young Indians seLt with him, had
it been possible to make provision for the H.
agree with the Secretary of the Interior in say
ing THAT the result Of tins interesting experiment
if favorable, may be destined to become an i'm.
portant factor IN the advancement of civilization
among the Indians" The question whether a
change in the control of the Indian service should
be made, was at the last session of Congress re-
ferred to committee for inquiry and report
Without desiring to anticipate that report, | ven
tuie 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
on the Indians themselves.
The Hot STRINGS COMMISSION.
In the enrolment of the bill making appropria
tons for sundry civil expenses, at the last session
of Congress, that portion which provided for the
continuation Of the Hot Springs Commission was
ON tilted. As the commission had completed the
work Of taking testimony on the many conflicting
claims the suspension Of their labors before de-
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