The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1880-05-01

THE INDIAN QuEsrIoN--THE GENEVA
AwARD-AaoUT THE PATENT OFFICE
coMMIssfoNERsH1P.



WAsHINaToE, ID. e., April Is, 1850.
The Indian question and the Genevi
award bill have engrossed the attention
Of Congress during the greater part o
the week. Both subjects are too wei
worn to be very vigorously exciting
Millions are expended every year t.
clothe and feed the red men SO tina
they will bepeaceable and rcfrainlfron
taking scalps, and cattle, and burning
sqnatters huts. 1t is possible that !
the same bride were givcnthe burglars
foot-pads, and common.thieves all ovcl
the country, we would realize q guam
tum of domestic peace and security
that would prove the home charity the
better of the two, although no enthu-
siast, even in this sentimental age, will
advocate it. If then, nobody will de-
fend the least bad Of two policies what
should become of the worseg 1t is a
principle long established in nature,
and written in law, that human beings
must be honest and work, and maui
randcrs and brigands, no matter how
wide they pitch their tents, must yield
to the benign encroachments of civil
ization. In the light and might of
civilization the Indian has no more
right to the soil over which he roams
than the prairie wolf and grizzly bear.
If be is an animal of superior intelli-
gence, he is also fiend of more dia-
lbolical cruelty.
The bill to carry out the agreement
of the Interior Department with the
Utes was passed in the Senate on Mon
day by 81 to l6. This measure was
most vehemently resisted by Western
Senators, who desire to open all avail
able Indian reservations to white in
dnstry or cupidity, though, singularly
enough, the two Colorado Senators
were found on opposite sides. 1t was
also opposed, on the final vote, by Mr..
Edmunds, on the ground of its uncon-
stitutionality, as infringing on the
treaty-making power of the executive.
The agreement" requires the assent of
three-fonrths of the Utes, and one of
the difficulties pointed ont by Mr.. Ed
munds is, that they are divided into
three separate communities, compelling
any one Of which to bulge by force
because out-voted by the remainder,
would seem a great hardship. Inci-
ientally, also, he showed how doubtful
IS the power to exempt from State tax
alton the lands itoibe granted to the
Indians in severalty. With no preju-
dice against the experiment, and appa-
rently unable to suggest better way
from the old to the new system, he
could not overcome his scruples as to
the legality of the bill. 4.
The Office of Commissioner of Pat
ents is about to be vacated by Gen.
Paine, and it isrumored that his desig-
mated successor is, though lawyer,
without any considerable special train
ing and experience in. patent matters"
His decisions on appeaied cases, in the
Of legal adviser to the Depart
ment Of the Interior, have been far
from giving satisfaction. Gen. Paine's
administration has, in all respects, ex-
cept personal integrity, borne out the
fears expressed at the time Of his ap-
pointment, and strengthens the argn-
nent Of those who contended then, as
they contend now, that the appoint
lnent should be in the line Of promo
ton from within the office, not only
on the theory Of sound civil service,
but because the requisite experience |,
and trained Judicial faculty can only
be founfI there Anv dsf3,cultv vrh;cl,sl