The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-12-10
REPORT OF SECRETARY sCHURz.


The larger part of the report of the Secretary
OF the Interior is devoted to Indian affairs. II
his opening chapter upon this subject the Sec
rotary gives an explanation of the importan
change which has taken place with regard (
the reservation system. He says that although
at first accepting, as he found It, the reservation
policy which had 80 long been followed by tn,
Indian Office, mole extensive observation and
study OF the matter gradually convinced him
that this was mistaken policy that it would be
better for the Indians and more in accordance
with justice as well as wise expedicncy 10
respect their home attachments; TO leave
them upon the lands they occupied, pro
yided such lands were capable of
yielding them sustenance by agriculture or
pastoral pursuits. and to begin and follow III
the practice OF introducing among them th.
habits and occupations OF civilized life on
ground they Inhabited. In view Of the fact
also, that the maintenance Of the system of
large reservations against the pressure of white
immigration and settlement would, in course of
time, become impracticable different policy
has been followed, having for its object III,
settlement OF the Indians upon lands in sew
crafty, and the disposal for their benefit of
their lands not required for this purpose, and
gradually to prepare the way for their final
INCORPORATION into n body polite rs indepen
dent and self-relying mer, invested with all
the rights which the other inhabitants OF the
country possess. The results already accom-
pllsbed in pursuance of this policy and the
promising outlook in the same direction are de-
scribed III general terms, and illustrated 10y
specific accounts of the progress made by the
individual tribes.
Secretary SchurZ expresses the firm belief
that the agricultural industry of the Indi n
would be greatly stimulated and its product
much increased il assurance were given TO
them that they will be- secure in the possession
Of their lands.
call attention once more To the bill repeatedly
introduced in Congress extending over the In
dian reservations the jurisdiction Of the courts
Of the States or Territories il which such res
ervations are located, giving the Indians
standing III such courts, and securing to them
the full benefit OF the laws. venture to ex-
press the hope that Congress may not adjourn
again without having taken action upon these
important measures essential to the prog
ress and security of our Indian wards
The number of Indian youth learning trades
in workshops at the agencies has increased
from 1875 last autumn to 1853 this year. The
policy of employing Indians a. workmen, and
even as foremen and machinists, at the agen-
cies has been continued and extended with
great success. BIickmaking has teen begun.
Houses for the Indians are now almost ex-
clusively built by the Indians themselves. The
aptitude shown by the Indians for me-
chanic | work has, i'll many cases, been
surprising, and IL considered deserving OF
every possible enc engagement. Expressions
Of anxious desire on tue part OF Indians
belonging 10 the so-caled wild tribes TO have
their children instructed in the ways of civil
lied hie have, it is stated, grown 30 numerous
and urgent that tue inadequacy OF the means
placed at the disposal of the department for
this purpose has become particularly painful.
| The desire and purpose OF the department Is To
largely increase the present small number Of
industrial neutrality-suspicious. for Indian youth
! az the Cay-schools at the agencies do not with
draw the pupils from the influences of home
! surroundings sufficiently to facilitate a change
| Ill Their habits of daily life
! The report next mentions as another import
ant ciyilizing agency. largely introduced under
| the present administration, the organization oil
| police force consisting OF Indians, which has
| been put III operation at forty agencies. the
force now consists OF 1872 officers and 653 pri-
Yates. It's benefits, both as means of main
! tanning good order and as n moral
influence upon the Indian tribes among
whom it has been established. are set
| forth AZ worthy of special notice. Look
ing at the present condition Of things,
il may be said without eXaggeration that. ON
the whole, the Indian situation is now more
! hopeful than ever before. The desire of the
Indians to maintain friendly relations with
their white neighbors, to 20 TO work for their
own support, to cultivate the soil, to acquire
permanent homes, TO have their children edu-
Gated, and to assimilate themselves to the civ
ilization of the country il growing stronger
and more general every day.
Secretary SchurZ remarks that experience has
strengthened his conviction (Which, as this IL
his last report, he now feels at greater liberty
TO express) that the management OF Indian AZ
fairs should continue TO be intrusted to the civil
and not to the military branch of the public
| service. Ills argument on this topic has been
fully foreshadowed III former annual reports
The report enters into many interesting de-
tails concerning the present condition of in
| dlvldual tribes. The case of the Poncas re-
ceives minute attention. The injustice done
them by their original removal from their Da-
koa lands is fully described, but it in also clear
to the Secretary that il would be contrary alike
to their own interests and to those of the coun-
try at large to remove them from their present
homes
Attempts by evil-dsposed persons to in
wade the Indian Territory and to take posses
sion OF certain unoccupied lands there have 80
far been successfully frustrated by the prompt
action Of the Government, but they have been
as persistently repeated. II is reported that
another attempt is in preparation now. The mil
itary forces of the United States in the Terri
tory are instructed to arrest intrud-
ors, and to take proper measures 10
bring them to justice, as they have
done heretofore. But it is evident that
the penalty imposed upon repeated intrusion
into the Indian Territory, which penalty con-
ssts i'll mere fine, and il difficult of enforce
ment. Is not sufficient to deter lawless charac-
ters from such undertakings. ! concur with
the Commissioner in recommending that II law
be passed adding penalty OF imprisonment 10
that of fine. If this is done invaders will
know that such attempts are not without seri-
GUS risks to .hem."
Referring TO the measures Instituted by the
department to put stop to depredations on
public timber lands, the Secretary reports they
have been highly successful. Du ing the past
three years upward of $4,000 have been
turned into the treasury AZ the result Of keep
ing the departments special agents Ill the field
to defend and prosecute Wholesale timber tres
passers. and the illicit cutting and expectation
of timber from the public lands along our
coasts, which had grown to an enormous yearly
aggregate, has been almost entirely arrested.
The Secretary again urges upon the attention
Of Congress the greatd esrability Of enacting
laws to provide for the proper preserv alton of
our forests by preventing the reckless waste
which now attends the cutting of timber in many
parts of the country without restraint
The report also contains, among other mat
tiers not above indicated, a series of synopses
of reports. extension Of the geological survey