The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-12-04
dutiable articles received in the mails fro,
e,reign countries.


The reports Of the secretary of the interior
and of the commissioner of Indian Affairs, set
ting forth tho present state Of our relations
with the Indian tribes and our territory, the
measures taken to advance their civilization
and prosperity, and the proaress already
achieved by them, will be found of more than
ordinary interest. Tho general conduct of
our 1nuian population has been 60 sat,sfsctorv
that tho occurrence of two, disturbances which
resulted in bloodshed and destruction of prop
erty, is ill the more to be lamented.
The history of the outbreak on the White
River Ute reservation, Western COLORADO, has
become 50 familiar by elaborate report in the
public press, that its remarkable incidents
aeed not be stated here in detail. 1t ia ex-
pected that the settlement of this difficulty
Will lead to such arrangements - will prevent
further hoatile cor hicts between the Ipdi.ps
and the border settlements in Western Col.
0rado.
Iho other dlstuFbances occurred ut the Mes
ceiaro Agency in New Mexico, where Nielaud,
. the head of . small band of marauders, after
committing many atrocities, being vigorously
charged BY . military force made his way
sign soil.
While these occurrences, in which compa,a-
lively small numbers of Indians we're engaged,
are most deplorsble. vast majority of our In.
dian population have fully justified the expec-
tation of those who believe that by humane
can be Led to abandon the habits
OF savage life, and to develop
= capacity for useful and civilized occupations.
What they have already accom- t]ished is shown
in the pursuit Of agricultural and mechanical
work. The remarkable success which has At
tended the experiment of employing ss freight
ers . class Of Indians hitherto counted among
the Widest and most intractable, and the gen.
erAl and urgent desire expressed by them for
the education Of their children, may be taken
~ sufficient proof that they will be found ca
pable OF accomplishing much more if they con-
time to be wisely and fairly guided.
The lndian policy. sketched in the report Of
which il to make liberal provisions for the
education of Indian youths, to settle the In
aisns upon farm lots in severslty, and to give
them title inffee on their farms inalienable
for certain number of years, and when their
wants are thus provided, to dispose of by sale
OF lands on their reservations, not occulied
and used BY them, a fund to be formed out
of the proceeds for the benefit Of the Indians,
which will gradually relieve the government of
the expenses now provided for by snnual
appropriations, must commend itself a. inst.
and beneficial to the Indians and il calculated
to remove those distractions which the exist
ence OF large reservations presents to tho set
Element and development of the country.
Therefore earnestly recommend the enactment
of . law enabling the government to give Indi-
Ans title in tee, inalienable for twenty-five
veare, to the farm lands assigned to them by
allotment. also repeat the Recommendation
IN my first annual message that . Law be passed
admitting Indiana who can give
.sos ef unposar REosis sSe, t.. their
q number of years, and who are willing to de-
tach themselves from their tribal relations, to
the berefit of the homestead act, and to grant
them patents containing the same provision Of
inallenability for certain period.
The experiment of sending = number of In
aian children of both sexes to the Hampton
normal and agricultural institute, in Virgin,a,
and practical instruction in farming and other
industries, has led tn results 80 promising that
it was thought expedient to turn over the cav
airy barracks at Carlisle, in Pennsylvania, to
the interior department for the establishment
Of an Indian school on larger
scale: This school has now 1853
pupils, selected from vsrious tribes
and in full operation. Arrangements are also
made for the education of 4 number of Indian
boys and girls belonging to tribes ON the Pacific
slope IN similar manner 1T Forest Grove in
Oregon. Theee institutions will commend
themselves to the ]iberality of Congress and TO
the philanthropic muuihcence of the American
people.
Last spring information was received If the
Organization of an extensive movement in the
Western States, the object of which was tI,r
occupation by unauthorized persons of certain
lands in the Indian country ceded by the Chero-
KEGS to the government for the purpose of set-
tlement by other Indian tribes. On the
29th OF April issued a proclamation warning
all persons against participation in such an at
tempt and by the cooperation of . military
sorce the invasion was promptly checked. 1t
Is my purpose to protect the rights of the In
dian inhabitants Of that Territory to tho full.
extent Of the executive, but 1t would bo uu-
wise to ignore the fact that Territory 60
large, and With population so sparoe, and SO
great . wealth ct unused resources, will be
found more exposed to the repetition of
such attempts as happened this
year. when the surrounding States are more
densely settled, and the westward movement
of our population look still more eagerly for
fresh landa to occupy. Under such ciroum-
etances the difficulty of maintaining the In.
dian territory in its present state will greatly
increase, and the Indian tribes inhabitine il
would do we'll to prepare for such contin-
gency. therefore fully approve of the advice
given to them by the secretary of the interior
on recent occasion to divide among them
selves in severalty as large a quantity Of their
lands as they can cultivate. to acquire
individual title in fee instead of the present
tribal ownership in common, and consider in
what manner the balance of their lands may
be dlaposed of by the government for their
benefit. BY adopting such . policy they would
more certainly secnre themselves in the value
mote progress in civilization and prosperity,
than by endeavoring to perpetuate the present
state of things in the Territory.
The question whether . change in the control
OF the Indian service should be mado was in
tho Forty-hfth Congress referred to joint
committee of both Houses for inquiry and re-
port. In my last annual message expressed the
prospect, would arrest further agitation of
this subject, such a9itation being apt u pro-
duce disturbing effect upon the service ~
we'll as tho Indians themselves. Since then,
tho committee having reported, the
questions have been decided in
the negative by q vote in the House
of Representatives. For the reason here stated
and in view of the fact of further uncertainty
on thi" point, will be calculated to obstruct
other much needed legislation, to weaken the
discipline Of the service and to unsettle salu-
tary measures now in progress for the govern
ment and improvement of the Indians, I respect-
fully recommend that the decision arrived ut
by Congress ut its last eession be permitted tc
stand.
TIMBER 1HEF1s.
The efforts made by the department of tho
~ -->A~''S WIZ A~pANNOeAOuo
Der lsrda OF the United States have been con
timed ard have met with considerable succe.s.
large number of C2ses of trespaaa have been
prosecuted IN the courts of the United States.
Others aave been settled, the trespassers offer
ing 10 make payment to the government for
the value of timber taken by them. The pro-
ceeds OF prosecution and settlements, being
turned into the treasury, will exceed the
amount OF the sums appropriated
by Congress for the purpose. A more i'm
portant result, however, consists in tho fact
that the destruction of our public forests bv
depreciation. although such cases still occur,
has been grestly reduced in extent, and it il
possible If the presen. policy is vigorously
pursned and sufficient provision to that end
made by Congress, such trespasses, at least those
on a large SCALE can be entirely suppressed
except in the Territories where timber for the
daily requirements of the population cannot
under the present state of the law be easily OBJ
tanned. l therefore earnestly invite the stten-
tion of Congress to the Recommendation made
by the secretary of the interior that a law be
enacted enabling the government to sell tim
Der from tho public lands without converting
the fee, where euch ]ant}s are