Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-12-04
dutiabIe articles received in the malls froE
fJreign countries.


ting forth the present state of our relations
with the Indian tribes and our territory, the
measures taken to advance their civilization
and prosperity, and the progress already
achieved by them, will be found of moro than
ordinary interest. The general conduct OF
our Innian population has been SO satisfactory
that the occurrence of two disturbances which
resulted in bioUdshed and destruction of prOp-
erty, is all the more to be lamented.
The history of the outbreak on the White
River Ute reservation, Western Colo ado, has
become SO familiar by elaborate report In the
public press, that its remarkable incidents
need not be stated here in detail. 1t IL ex-
pected that the settlements OF this olthculty
hiil lead to such arrangements as Will prevent
further hostile COZ ficts between the IDdl9ns
and the border settlements in Western Col
ado.
Tue other disturbances occurred at the Mes
| ceiaro Agency in New Mexico, where Nieland,
the head of small band of marauders, after
| committing many atrocities, being vigorously
| charged by a military force made his way
lcross the Mexican border and is nov on for
rigu soil.
While these occurrences, in which COMPARE
| lively small numbers OF Indians were engaged,
re most deplorabie, vast majority of our In
dian population have fully justified the expec-
| tation of those who believe that by humane
aud peaceful influences. the Indians
| can be led to abandon the habits
of savage life, and to develop
| 4 capacity Tor useful and civilized occupations.
| What they have already accom- Llished is shown
IA the pursuit of agricultural and mechanical
| work. The remarkable success which has at
| tended the experiment of EN- ploying as freight
| ers a class of Indians hitherto counted among
The widest and most intracta ble, and the gen.
| crul and urgent desire expressed by them for
| The education of their children, may be taken
| as sufficient proof that they will be fund ca
pgble of accomplishing much more If they con-
.inr e to be wisely and fairly guided.
The indian policy, sketched in the report of
| he secretary of the interior, the object of
| which is to make liberal provisions for the
| education of indian youths, to settle the In
| ilans upon farm lots in EeVeralty. and TO give
| them title in fea on their farms inalienable
| for certain number of years, and when their
wants are thus provided, to dispose of by sale
| IF lands their reservations, not Occur led
| and used by them, a. fund to be formed out
| uf the proceeds for the benefit of the Indiana,
| which will q adually relieve the government of
| The expenses now provided for by annual
appropriations, must commend itself as just
! and beneficial to the Indians and is calculated
| TO remove those distractions which the exist
| ence OF large vati0ns presents to the set
tiement and devt lopment of the country.
| therefore earnestly recommend the eli" etment
| of . law enabling The government to give Indi-
| ans q title in fee, lnailenabIc for twenty
years, to the farm lands assigne d to them by
/
in my first annual message that a Law be passed
admitting Indians who can give
satisfactory proofs by their own
| labor of supporting their families for
a number of years, and who are willing to de-
| zach themselves from their tribal relations, to
| the bereft of the homestead act, and to grant
| t"em patents containing the same provision of
| inalIenabiiity for certain period.
The experiment of sending a number of In-
dian children of both sexes to ,he Hampton
| normal and agricultural institute, in Virginia,
| to receive sn elenementary English education
| and practical instruction in farming and other
| industries, has led to results SO promising that
| it vas thought expedient to turn over the cav
.lry barracks at Carlisle. in Pennsy lvanis, to
| the interior department for the establishment
| scale. This school has now l5S
pupils, selected from various tribes
| and in full operation. Arrangements are also
| made for the education of . number of Indian
| boys aud girls belonging to tribes on the Pacific
slope similar manner at Forest Grove il
| Oregon. These institutions will commend
themselves to the hberalty of Congress and to
| the phiianthropic munifcence of the American
| people.
Last spring information was received of the
| organization of an extensive movement in the
| Western States, the object of which was the
| occupation by unauthorized persons of certain
| lands in the Indian country ceded by the Chero-
! kees to the government for the purpose of SET
| Element by other Indian tribes. On the
| 18th of April issued a proclamation warning
all persons against particip patton in kuch an at
| tempt and by the cooperation of a military
| force the Invasion was promptly checked. 1t
my purpose to protect the ights of the In
liam Inhabitants of that Territory to the full
| extent of the executive but 1t would be I'M
"Ise to ignore the fact that Territory SO
large and With population SO sparce and SO
| great a wealth IF unused resources, will be
found more exposed to the repetition of
| >uch attempts happened this
year, when the surrounding States are more
densely settled, and the westward movement
"f our population lock still more eagerly for
resh LANDS to occupy. Under such circum-
tauces the difficulty of maintaining the In.
liam territory in its present state will greatly
increase, and the Indian tribes inhabiting it
would do well to prepare for such a contiu-
Iency. / therefore fully spprove of the advice
siven to them by the secretary of the interior
N a recent occasion to divide among them
elves in severalty as large quantity of their
ands as they can cultivate, to acquire
Individual title in fee instead of the present
rIbai ownership in common, and consider in
shat manner the balance of their lands may
De disposed IF by the government for their
benefit. BY adopting such policy they would
more certainly secure themselves in the value.
# their possessions and at the same time pro-
note progress in civilization and prosperity.
than by endeavoring TO perpetuate the present
state If things in the Territory.
| The question whether change in the control
It the Indian service should be made was in
The Forty-hfth Congress referred to q Joint
| committee of both Houses for inquiry and re-
port. In my las: annual message expressed tbs
rope that decision of that question, then in
prospect, would arrest further agitation of
tais subject, such agitation being apt To pro-
luce d sturbing effect upou the service as
veil as the Indians themselves. Since then,
he committee having reported, the
| questions have been decided in
he negative by vote in the Honse
It Representatives. For the reason here 9: ated
tud IN view of the fact of further uncertainty
N this point, will be calculated to obstruct
nher much needed legislation, to weaken the
discipline of the service and to unsettle salu.
tary me assures now In progress for the govern
nent and I'm provement of the Indians respect
fully recommend that the decision arrived at
W Congress at its last eession be permitted to
stand.
TIMBER THEFTs.
The efforts made by the department of the
| interior to arrest the depredations ON the tim,
Der lands of the United States have been con
inued and have met with considerable success.
! 4 large number of cases of trespsss have been
Prosecuted in the courts of the Uuited States.
others have been settled, the trespassers offer
ns 10 MAKE payment to the government for
ne value of timber taken by them The nro-
leeds OF prosecution aud settlements being
arned anto the treasury, w II exceed the
amount of the sums apuronriated
hy Congress for the purpose. A mare inn
oortsnt result, however, consists in the fact
nat the destruction of our public forests by
| depreciation, although such cases still occur
las been greatly reduced in extent. and il IL
"ssleie' II the present policy is vigorously
pursued ana sufficient provision TO that end
made by Congress. such trespassts, at least those
n large scale. can be entirely Suppressed