Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-09-23

the House Calendar, with a favorable
renort.
May I hear be INDUCED a word Of
comment on the general question oil
Indian affairs? Being member Of
the Committee on Indian Affairs, the
subject has been forced upon my spe-
cial consideration. In my humble
Judgment, the treatment of the In
dian by the government has vascillated
too much between sentiment and force,
between prayers and powder, between
hymns and howitzers. Twenty mil
lion a year, to keep about 100. 600
nomadic red men in order. and sup
port them in comparative idleness, up
on domain which should be public.
should not much longer be INDUCED.
That every foot Of soil within the
limits Of the United States, and every
human being inhabiting the same,
must ultimately, and very soon, come
under and be subject to the absolute
| jurisdiction Of the government, is IN
Standardization and Mormons inclu-
ded The transition cannot be too
rapid. The day Of stalwart pauperism
should soon cease. The sweat of
white men should no longer purchase
bread for ALE bodied savages. The
government S great and can afford to
be just to al classes, and SO fast as
the needs Of advancing civilization re-
quire the hunting grounds Of the In
dian, he should be given other and
better opportunities to earn a liveli,
hood and make better homes. To ac-
complish this, these savages should
not be pressed westward to harass and
murder our irontiersman Barbarism
should always be kept in the minority,
and hence a "right about face, cast
ward march, should be ordered. The
youth, SO fast as practicable, should
be placed in industrial schools, such
as are being successfully conducted at
Carlisle and Hampton, who, while
they are being fitted for usefulness,
constitute hostages and pledges Of
good behavior on the part of their pa
rents. more potential for peace and
good order than 100000 soldiers.
The Indian must be taught how TO la
Dor. Idleness would. in less than a
generation, make sayages of the white
race. To promote this policy, [ am
urging measure to convert our unoc-
cupied barracks into industrial Indian
training schools, and detailing army
officers as teachers and trainers
There are now at the Carlisle barracks,
Pa, about 200 youths of both sexes,
who show as much progress as white
children, and the system is becoming
very popular with many of our Indian
tribes.
The improvement of our rivers and
harbors heretofore begun is being con-
tinued under further appropriations,
included in the last river and harbor
act, but not the extent which I had
hoped, nor was it possible at the last
session to secure aid for new projects
[ am constrained to say that fair dis
tribution of public moneys for inter
nal improvements cannot be had so
long as our national legislation is con-
trolled by southern representatives.
In support Of this opinion I need only
cite the last river and harbor act,
which appropriated to democratic dis
tricts, mainly in the south, more than
million dollars in excess Of their
quota, based upon the engineers esti-
mates. SO obnoxious was this meas
ure in this regard, that but for the ur-
CUNT needs of our northwestern works,
| should have welcomed its defeat.
We hope to furnish the better remedy
this fall by reinstating republicans,
which means northern control in con-
gress. So much for matters of local
interest
The two great parties are again face
to face, contending for supremacy in
the administrative department Of the
government. Which is to succeed?
Which ought of right to succeed?
These are grave questions addressed
to seven million voters, involving the
interests of fifty million souls Many
will make response purely and entirely
from partisan stand points. In the
matter of partisan attachment we must
confess the democracy have the advan-
tage. There are more fathers and
grandfathers who are or were Demo
Gratis than Republicans. The demo-
cratic party is venerable, so far as age
can make it SO. Our party is Of this
generation, and its history and handi-
work of to-day. But while many will
make response from partisan prejudice.
many, especially Of the younger classes,
Will reason with us on the situation.
To such | would address a few sugges-
tons
Shall the republican party, with
Garfield as its representative head,
succeed at the pending election, or
shall the democratic party, with Han
cock as its nominal head, succeed?
The answer should be determined by
the relative fitness of the candidates
for the position Of President Of this
great government and the reIGtjUe
merit of the parties, their purpos es
and inspirations. What can be truth
fully said Of the fitness Of the candi-
dates?
General Garfield, the candidate of
the Republican party our candidate