The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-12-14

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q time when Territorial governments re-
ceived little attention from Congress,
enforced this duty of the United States
as to the States. But the act of 1907,
chapter 80, applied also to Territories.
This law seems to have remained in
| force until revision of the statutes, when
j provision for Territories was dropped.
/ am not advised whether this altera-
! ton was intentional or accidental, but it
seems to me the Territories should be
offered protection which is accorded to
States by the Constitution. / sug-
gest legislation to that end. 1t seems
| to me, too, that whatever views may
prevail as to the policy of recent legis-
lation, by which the army has ceased to
| be part of the posse commitatus, an
exception might well be made for per-
mitting the military to assist the civil
| Territorial authorities in enforcing the
! laws of the United States. This use Of
! the army would nol seem to be within
the alleged evil against which that legis-
lation was aimed. From sparseness Of
population, and other circumstances, it
is often quite impracticable to summon
a civil posse in places where officers Of
| justice require assistance, and where
a military force is within easy reach.
THE INDIANS.
The report of the secretary of the
interior, with accompanying documents,
presents an elaborate account of the
business of that department A sum-
mary of it would be too extended for
this place. l ask your careful attention
to the report itself. Prominent among
the matters which challenge the atten-
ton of Congress at its present session is
the management of our Indian affairs.
| While this question has been a cause of
trouble and embarrassment from the
infancy Of the government, it is but re-
eently that any effort has been made for
its solution, at once serious, determined,
consistent and promising success.
1t was natural, at a time when the
national territory seemed almost illimi-
table and contained many millions of
acres far outside the bounds of civilized
settlements, that policy should have
initiated which more than aught else
has been the fruitful source Of our In
diau complications.
refer, of course, to the policy of
dealing with the various Indian tribes as
separate nationalities, of relegating
them by treaty stipulation to the occu-
pancy of immense reservations in the
West, and Of encouraging them to live
savage lives, undisturbed by any earnest
and well directed efforts to bring them
under the influence of civilization. The
unsatisfactory results which have sprung
from this policy are becoming apparent
to all, as the white settlements have
crowded the borders of the reser-
vations. The Indians, sometimes con-
tentedly and sometimes against their
will, have been transferred to other
hunting grounds from which
they have again been dis
lodged whenever theirnew found homes
have been desired by the adventurous
settlers. These removals, and the from
tier collisions by which they have often
been preceded, have led to frequent and
disastrous conflicts between the races.
1t is profitless to discuss here which Of
them has been chiefly responsible for
the disturbances whose recital occupies
so large space upon the pages of
our history. We have to deal with the
appalling fact that though thousands of
lives have been sacrificed, and hundreds
of millions Of dollars expended in the
attempt to solve the Indian problem, it
has within the last few years seemed
scarcely nearer a solution than it was
half century ago; but the government
has been cautiously but steadily feeling
its way to the adoption of a policy,
which has already produced gratifying
results, and which in my Judgment is
likely, if Congress and the executive
accord in its support, to relieve us ere
long from the difficulties which have
hitherto beset us.
For the success Of the efforts now
making to introduce among the Indians
: the customs and pursuits Of civilized
life, and gradually to absorb them into
the mass of our citizens, sharing their
: rights and holding to their responsible
, ties, there is imperative need for legis-
lative action. My suggestion in that
regard will be chiefly such as have been
: already called to the attention of Con-
gress, and have received to some extent
3 its consideration: First, l recomend the
passage OF an act making the laws
{. of the various States and Territories ap-
plicable to the Indian reservations
l within their borders, and extending the
+. laws of the State of Arkansas to the
4 portion of the Indian Territory not occu.
2 pied by the five civilized tribes. The
3 Indian should receive the protection OF
= tllc law. ne SlOulu DC dllOWeu CC
l maintain in court his rights of person
: and property. He has repeatedly begged
5 for this privilege. Its exercise would
| be very valuable to him in his progress
. toward civilization.
Second, of even greater importance il
! a measure which has been frequently
: recommended by my predecessor il
office, and in furtherance of which
n several bills have been from time t.
time introduced in both houses of Con
gress. The enactment Of a genera
2 law permitting the allotment in several
b ty, to such Indians at least as desire it
e Of a reasonable quantity of land secured
6 to them by patent, and for their protec
0 ton made inalienable for twenty o
h twenty-five years, is demanded fo
Y their nrasent Welfara and thei