Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-12-04

raise them fully up to the level of the
white population ofthe United States,
but we should not forget that they
are the aborigiues Of the country, and
called the soil their own on which our
people have grown rich, powerful,
and happy. We owe 1t to them, a.
q 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,
1t is also our interest to do 60. Indians
who have become agriculturists or
hcrdsmcn, and feel an interest in
property, will thenceforth cease to be
q warlike and disturbing element.
II 10 also q well authenticated fact
that Indians are apt TO be peacoablc
and quiet when their children are at
school, and ! am gratified 10 know,
from the expressions of Indians
themselves, and from many concur.
ring reports, that there is q steadily
increasing desire, even among Indians
belonging to comparatively wild
tribes, to have their children educat-
ed. invite attention to the reports
of the Secretary of the interior, and
the Commissioner of Indian affairs
touching the experiment recently in
augurated in taking fifty Indian chill
dren, boys and girls, from different
tribes, to the Hampton Normal Agri-
cultural Institute, in Virginia, where
they are to receive an elementary
English education and training In
agriculture aud other useful work, to
be returned to their tribes after the
completed course as interpreters, in.
structors, and examples. 1t 10 report
ed that the officer charged with the
selection of those children might
have had thousands Of young Indians
sent with him had 1t been possible to
make provision for them. agree
with the Secretary of the Interior in
saying that the result of this interest
ing experiment, if favorable, may be
destined to become an important fac.
tor in the advancement of civilization
among the Indians.
The question whether change in
the control of the Indian service
should be made was, at the last SEES.
sion Of Congress, referred to a com.
mittee for inquiry and report. With.
out desiring to anticipate this report
venture to express the hope that In
the decision Of 20 important ques-
ton tho views expressed above may
not be lost sight Of, and that the de.
cision, whatever 1t may be, will ar.
rest further agitation Of this subject
Such agitation has been apt to pro
duce disturbing effect upon the ser.
vice, - well as on the Indians them
| selves.
THE HOT SPRINGS COMMISSION
In the enrolment of the bill ma
king appropriations for sundry civil
expenses at the last session of Con
gress, that portion which provided
! for the continuation Of the Ho
Springs commission was omitted. Al
the commission had not completed
the work of taking the testimony o,
the many conflicting claims, the sus
pension of their labors before deter
mining the rights of claimants threat
ened for time 10 embarrass not onll
the government but also large mum
4 Der Of the citizens OF Hot Springs
who we're waiting for final action OF
their claims before beginning con
templated improvements. In orde
to prevent serious difficulties which
were apprehended, and at the solic
itation Of many leading citizens o
Hot Springs and others interested II
the welfare Of the town, the Secreta
~ of Interior was authorized to re
quest the late Commissioners to TAX
charge of the records Of their pro
cecdings, aud 10 perform such worl
~ could properly be done by them
under such circumstances, to faciliiat
the future settlement Of the claims q
an early date, and to preserve tn
status of the claimants until thei
rights should be judicially determin
ed. The late Commissioners com
piled with that request and re
ported that the testimony in all tn
cases had been written out, examine,
briefly, and SO arranged as to facili
tato an early settlement when author
ized by law. II 10 recommended tina
the requisite authority DO given at q
early day in the session as possible
and that fair compensation be al
lowed the Commissioners for the ON
penses incurred and tho labor PEI
J formed by them since the 25th Q
June last.
PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC TIMBER.
invite the attention of congieas I
the recommendations made by III
secretary ofthe interior with regar
10 the preservation OF the timber O
the public l8nds OF the United States
The protection Of the public proper
ty Ia one OF the first duties Of tho gov
ernmeDt. The department Of the In
terror should therefore be enable
by sufficient appropriations, to en-
force the laws in that respect, bu
this matter appears still more impor
tant as to the question of public econ
omy. The rapid destruction Of GU
forests is an evil fraught with III
, gravest consequences, especially i
the mountainous districts, where tn
rocky slopes once denuaed Of thei
irees will remain so forever. Their
the injury once done cannot be re
paired. fully concur with the sec
rotary of the interior in the opinio
that for this reason legislation touch
ing The public timber in the noun
famous states and territories of IN
wost should be especially we'll con
sidered, and that the existing law.
in which the destruction of the for
ests is not sufficiently guarded agains
should be speedily modified. A gen
eral law concerning this importan
subject appears to me to be matte
of urgent public necessity.
AGRICULTURAL.
From the organization Of the gov
eminent the importance of encourag
ing, by all possible means, the incrcas
Of our agricultural productions ha
been acknowledged and urged upol
the attention Of Congress and tn
people as the surest and readies
mesns Of increasing our substantial
and enduring prosperity. The word
Of Washington are az applicable to
day as when, in his eighth annua
message, he said, SIT is not to b
doubted that with reference to indi
vidual or national welfare, agricul
tnre is of primary Importance" Il
proportion IS nations advance Il
population aud other circumstance
Of maturity, this truth becomes NOR
apparent, and renders tho cultivation
Of the soil more and more an objec
Of public patronage. Institutions TO
promoting 1t grow up, supported b,
| "a I