San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1879-01-11

which its numerical strength is some
times found insufficient Int while the
; employment OF force for the prevention
or repression Of Indian troubles is Of oc-
casionM necessity, and wise Preparation
J should be made TO that end, greater re.
lance must be placed on humane and
!; civilizing agencies for the Ultimate solu-
ton of what is called the Indian prob
lem. II viii be very difficult, and re-
quire much patient effort to curb the
unruly spirits of the savage Indian to
the restraints Of civilized life, but expe-
riencc shows that tits not impossible.
Many Of these tribes which are now
quiet and orderly. and self-supporting,
were once us savage rs those that at
present roam over the plains or in the
mountains Of the far west, and were then
considered inaccessible to civilizing in
fuonce. II may DO impossible to raise
them fully up to the level of the white
population Of the United States, but
we should not forget that they are the
aborigincs Of the country and called the
soil their own ON which our people have
grown rich, powerful and happy. We
owe it to them Oh moral duty to help
them in attaining at least that degree of
civilization to which they may be capa-
BILE. It is not only duty; it Is also our
interest to do 30. Indians who have
become agriculturists or herdsmen, and
feel an interest in property, will thence
forth cease to be warlike and disturb
ing element. 1t is also yell anthem
ticated fact that Indians are apt to be
peaceable and quiet when their children
are at school, and I am grateful to know
from the, expressions Of Indians. them
, selves. and from many eoncurring re-
ports, that there is steadily increasing
desire, even among Indians belonging
to comparatively wild tribes, to have
their children educated.
1 invite attention to the reports of
the secretary of the interior and the
commissioner of Indian affairs touching
the experiment recently inaugurated in
taking fifty Indian children, boys and
girls, from different tribes, to the Hamp-.
ton Normal Agricultural Institute in
Virginia, where they are to receive an
elementary English education and train
ing in agriculture and other useful works
to be returned to their tribes after the
completed course as interpreters, in
structors and examples. 1t is reported
that the officer charged with the selec-
ton of those children might have had
thousands of young Indians sent with
him, had it been possible to make pro-
vision for them. I agree with the SEQ
rotary of the,interior in saying that the
result Of the interesting experiment., if
favorable, will be destined to become an
important factor 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 session of congress
referred to o committee for inquiry and
report. - Without desiring to anticipate
that report, venture to express the
hope that in the decision Of SO impor-
tant a question tho 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 produce
disturbing effect upon the service, as
we'll as upon the Indians themselves.
HOT SPRINGS COMMISSION.
In the enrolment Of the bill making
appropriations for sundry civil expen-
SEES at the last session of congress, that
portion which provided for the contiuna-
ton of the Hot Springs commission was
omitted, Us the commission had COM
pleted the work Of taking testimony on
the many conflicting clauses. The
suspension of their labors before de-
termining the rights of claimants,
threatened for time to embarrass the
interests not only of the government,
but also of large number of the citi-
zens of Hot Springs, who were awaiting
for final action on their claims before
beginning contemplated improvements,
in order to prevent serious difficulties
which we're apprehended, and at the
solicitation of many leading citizens of
Hot Springs, and others interested in
the welfare Of the town, the secretary
of the interior was authorized to re-
quest the late commissioners to take
charge of the records of their proceed
ings and to perform such work as could
properly be done by them, under such
circumstances, to facilitate the future
adjudication of the claims at an early day,
and to preserve the status of the claim
ants until their rights should be finally
determined. The late commissioners
complied with that request, and report
that the testimony in NIL the cases has
been written out, examined, briefed and
so arranged as to facilitate an early
settlement when authorized by law.
It is recommended that the requisite
authority be given at an early day in
the session as possible, and that a fair
compensation be allowed the late COM
missioners for the expenses incurred