The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-23

/ IN moral condition with the neigh.
boring iliiterate whites, twelve are
equally good, thirteen superior and
three inferior. The committee, after q
careful review Of the subject, do not consider
the solution to be az difficult as the public has
been led to suppose. The two ever. present
evils have teen absence OF protection by law
and insecurity Of titles to lands Many
tribes, 1t is urged. now desire the privilege Of
citizenship, and are emlnentlv qualified for
II. The committee thinks that the Indians
SHOULD be granted valid titles to their land,
| and that as long as this Insecurity exists the
progress OF the race will be seriously re-
tarded, II not absolutely stopped. They be-
lieve with President Seelye, OF Amherst Co-
lege: There can 30 no solution OF the Indian
problem until we treat the Indian not only as q
| fellow man. but as fellow-citizen whose
rights to citizenship ought to be assured to
him by tho fourteenth amendment to the con-
stltuton." II is regarded as OF the utmost i'm
portabce that the question involved In the
decision Of Judge Dundy, affirming that al
Indian is . person, should be settled by the
Supreme Court of the land. and In the most
| expeditions manner possible. The well-being
Of 100000 peopl depends upon the verdict
In his first message to Congress. President
Grant, referring to the Indian cause, said
that "a system which looks to the extinction
OF a race is too horrible for nation to adopt
without entailing upon Itself the wrath Of all
Christendom. and yet our paet dealings with
them have been In that direction. The
United States government has made $50 trea-
ties with the Indians, tho sole object Of each
being to deprive the Indian Of more land,
and which previous treaty had guaranteed
to them The history Of the shameless.
causeless violation Of these treaties ls a
lasting disgrace to the ma tlOn. And still the
honor OF the nation ls disre9arded, 30 far as
the violation OF treaty Is concerned. The III
dian has always lost and the white man has
always won. In a previous article In the
DEMOCRAT we think it was clearly shown
that the Indian wars have uniformly been
the result Of violation OF treaties. This sub
ject was investigated In 1868 by u special
committee, authorl Il by Congress and ap-
pointed by Congress- consisting Of Generals
Sherman, Harvey, Ferry and Anger, OF the
army, and four civilians. In their report
these gentlemen say: Here civilization
made It's contract, and guaranteed the rights
of the weaker party. 1t did not stand by the
guaranty. The treaty was broken but not by
the savage. Ii the savage ressts, clvillza-
ton, with tho ten commandments In one
hand and the sword In the other demands
his Immediate determination. Have
we been uniformly uniust2 We answer, I'M
yes. Naturally the Indian has |
many noble qualities. Heis the very embodl-
ment Of courage. II he Ia cruel and
revengeful 1t is because he Is out
lawed. and his companion is the
wild beast Let civilized man be his COM
panlon, and the association warns into life
virtues OF the rarest worth" This testimony
liz confirmed by a large number OF army
officers, Ms we'll rs civilians who have had
large experience In dealing with the Indians. |
In closing their report the committee pro-
pose the following recommendations, earn
estly asking the people OF the land, rs well
as the representatives OF the people In Con-
gress, to give them such attention and ap-
prevail as the facts may justify and reason |
and humanity demand:
1. That tho soemn treaties and pledges OF
the government to the Indians DO III all cases
honestly and promptly fulfilled.
2. That the Indian he recognized not only az a
person. out rs Jeno'h c'nzea enhueu 70 the
pro ection OF law. nnd also made amenaba to |
1t !; and that he enjoy all tho privileges accorded |
10 ali other persons and citizens.
3. That the present reservations now granted |
10 tho Indians. whether by treaty. executive
order or otherwiae. be eeded to them by abso-
ute tito. inalenahle for twenty-five years ex-
'ept up N q vote Of three fourths OF the male
Adults 81 the tribe. subject to the sent Of the
government. The Canadian Indians hold their
tiles In this way under the British law.
l. That Individual Indians should have the |
same privilege la selecting alotments that other |
persons enjoy. md that It'll should be granted |
. them uLon the same conditions. with this OK
'eption only hat these lands shall be inalien-
able for twenty five years.