The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-12-14
Report Of the Secretary Of the Interior
on the Indian Question.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2

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The Secretary of the Interior in his annual
report, refers to his recommendation of last
year in regard to the Indians, and proceeds
to say:
The consolidation of number of agencies
has been undertaken with view to the better
location of the Indians, which will at the same
time simplify the service, render more etii-
cient supervision possible, reduce the expen-
ses of the Government and lessen the oppor-
tunities for fraud and peculation. AS far as
the appropriations made by Congress will per-
init, agricultural implements and domestic
cattle had been furnished to the Indian tribes
to set the Indians to work for their own SUP
port and to encourage industrious habits. An
Indian police has been organized at twenty
two agencies, and from all of them favorable
reports as to the working of the new system
have been received.
Instructions have been given to discrim-
nate in the distribution of supplies and annu-
tiles which are not actual necessaries against
individual Indians who show no disposition
towork, thus dscouraging dleness. PERMITS
sion to send out hunting parties has been
given only where, without hunting, the In
dams would have been exposed to want. The
allotment of land among the Indians on the
several reservations has been ordered and is
in progress. The facilities for education have
been extended as much as possible, and prop
er directions have been given for the instruc-
ton of Indian children in practical pursuits.
The Indian service has been reorganized in
several of its branches. 1t was found neces-
sary to remove number of agents on account
of improper practices or lack of business Elf
cheney, and great care has been taken in filling
their places with new men. Where mistakes
were found to have been made in selections,
they have been promptly rectited.
Important changes have been made in the
contract system and in methods of account
ability. An active supervision has been ex-
ercised by inspectors and special agents.
The detection of fraud has been followed by
vigorous prosecution, and on the whole feel
enabled to say that the character of the serv-
ice has been raised in point of integrity and
efficiency
| am, however, far from pretending that
the present condition of Indian affairs is what
it ought to be. The experience gained in an
earnest effort to overcome difficulties and to
correct abuses has enabled me to appreciate
more clearly the task still to be accomplished.
In my last annual report stated frankly, and
l have to repeat now, that in pursuing poll
cy ever SO wise, and with machinery ever so
efficient, gradual improvement can be effected
only by patient, energetic and well directed
work in detail. An entirely satisfactory state
of things can be brought about only under
circumstances which are not and cannot be
under the control of the Indian service alone
If the recurrence of trouble and disturbance
is to be avoided, the appropriations made by
Congress for the support of Indians who are
not self-supporting must be liberal enough to
be sufficient for that purpose and they must
be made early enough in the year to render
the purchase and delivery of new supplies DOS
sible before the old supplies are exhausted.
Second. The Indian service should have at
its disposal sufficient fund to be used with
proper accountability at discretion in unfore-
seen emergencies.
Third. Citizens of Western States and
Territories must be made to understand that
If the Indians are to cease to be troublesome
paupers and vagabonds are to become orderly
and self supporting, they must have lands fit
for agriculture and pasture, that on such lands
they must be permitted to reign and establish
permanent homes, and that such result can
not be attained if the white people insist upon
taking from them by force or trickery every
acre of ground that is good for ANYTHING
The first two things can be accomplished by
appropriate action on the part of Congress.
The difficulties growing out of continually re-
peated encroachments by white people on the
rights of Indians may be lessened by the con-
centration of the Indians on a smaller num-
Der of reservations, but they can be entirely
avoided even then only by the most ener-
getic enforcement of the law on the part of
general and local governments. To this
end it seems desirable that the southwestern
tribes, whose present reservations appear in
secure or otherwise unsuitable for their per-
manent settlement, should be gradually re-
tribes will in course of time have to be con
centrated in similar manner on few reserva-
tons east of the Rocky Mountains and on the
Pacific slope. To keep the Indians on their
reservation, and prevent disturbance and con.
flicts, the Commissioner of Indian affairs rec
ommends the organization of mounted body
OF Indian auxiliaries, to be drawn from young
men OF various tribes, and to be under the
command OF military authorities. heartily
concur in this recommendation. 1t is mat,
ter OF general experience that Indians so EN-.
ployed can be depended upon as to loyal fidel
ity to the duties assigned them.
But the principal end of our Indian policy
cannot be promoted by police measures alone
That end consists in gradually introducing
among the Indians the habits and occupations
OF civilized life, by inducing them to work fol
their own support, by encouraging the pride
of individual ownership Of property and by
educating the young generation, and no effort
should be spared TO bring to bear upon then
proper moral influences in that direction
such efforts should not be sneered at as mere
sentimental fancies, nor should they be dis
Outraged by the assertion that success is im