Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-12-15

PioNOC WhOlC OluCcIS vi JuSJlC6 dS-
sistance and where military force is with
in easy reach.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the secretary of the inter-
LOT, with accompanying documents, pre-
sents an elaborate account of the business
OF tnat department AZ summary of 1t
would be too extended for this place. l ask
your careful attention to the report itself.
Prominent among the matter which chal-
lenges the attention of congress at its pres
ent session is the management of our In
dian affairs. While this question has been
J cause of trouble and embarrassment
from the infancy of the government, it
was but recently that any efforts have been
made for its solution at once serious, de-
termined. consistent and promising sue
cess. 1t has been easier to resort to con-
venlent makeshifts for tiding over the tenn
porary difficulties and to grapple with the
great permanent problem, the easier course
mas almost invariably been pursued. 1t
territory seemed almost illimitable and
contained many millions of acres far south
or the bounds of civilized settlement, that
policy should have been initiated which,
more than ought else, has been the fruitful
source OF our Indian complications.
refer of course to the policy of dealing
with the various Indian tribes as a seperate
nationality, OF regulating them by treaty
StipulationS to the occupancy of the i'm
mense reservations in the West, and of en-
couraglng them to live undisturbed by any
earnest and well directed efforts to bring
them under the influences. The upsatiS.
factory results which have sprung from
tnis policy are becoming apparent to all.
AS the White settlement have crowded the
borders OF the reservations, the Indians
sometimes contentedly and sometimes
against will have been transferred to other
do frnr vuhf oh fl1n,y haxr
again been dislOdgCd whenever their new
found homes have been desired by the ad-
venturous settlers. These removals and
the frontier collisions by which they have
often been preceded, have led to frequent
and disastrous conflicts between the races.
1t is prohtless 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 although thousands of lives have been
sacrificed and hundreds of millions of dol
lars expended in the attempt to solve the
Indian problem, it had until within the
past few years seemed scarcely nearer a
solution than it was half a century ago.
But the government has of late been eau
tiously but steadily feeling its way to the
adoption OF policy which has already
produced gratifying results and which in
my judgement is likely if congress and
executive accord in its support TO relieve
us ere long from the difficulties which
have hitherto beSet US for the snccess of
the efforts now making to introduce among
the Indians the customs and persuits of
civilized life and gradually tofabsorb them
into the mass of our citizens sharing their
right and holden to their responsibilities.
There is imperative need for legislative
action. My suggestion in that respect will
be chiefly such as have been already called
10 the attention OF congress, and have re.
re do
First, l recommend the passage Of an
ACT making the laws of the various states
and territories applicable to the Indian
reservations within their borders, and ex
tending the laws of the state of Arkansas
to the portion of the Indian territory not
occupied by the five civilized tribes. The
law, and should be allowed to maintain in
court his rights of person and propertv.
he has repeatedly begged for this PRIVILEGE.
itS exercise would be very valuable to him
In MS progress toward civilization.
Second-Of even greater Importance is n
S measure wnicn mas been frequently recoI
mended by my predecessors in Office. and
In the furtherance of which several bills
nave been from time to time introduced in
Dotn houses or congress. The enactment
OF general law permitting the allotment
IN severalty 10 such Indians at least as de-
sire It OF reasonable quantity of land Sc
cured to them by patent, and for their own
protection made inalienable. From TWEEN.
" or twenty-five years is demanded for
tneI present welfare and their permanent
aoVancement In return for such Consider
ave action on part of the government.
u Lhere Is reason to believe that the Indians
IN large numbers would be persuaded to
sever their tribal relations and engage AZ
once 10 agriculture. 1t is now for their
pest interests to conform their manner ~
NE 70 the new order of things. By no
greaIer lnducement than the assurance of
permanent title to the soil can thew he
LED to engage in the occupation of tiiIino
II. Inc well attested reports of their in,
creaslng interest in husbandrv testify fha
nope and belief that the enactment of snch
q statute as recommend would be at once
as'ehoea ~ th WITH gratifying results. A resort
70 the allotment system would have a Al.
rect and powerful influence. Dissolv;no
tne trlDal bond, which is prominent faee,
ture OF savage life, which tends 81 stron@-
~ 70 perpetuate it there. 1 advise a iiS.
Sis Siar spPropriatlon TOT the support Of In
dian SCHOOLS, because Of my confident he
lief that such a course Is Consistent w;tb
the wisest economy, even among the most
uucultured Indian tribes. There is renort.
ed TO be general and urgent desire or
the part OF the chiefs and older memhers
for the education Of their children. n is
unfortunate in view of the fact that dnr-
ing the past year the means which have
been at the command of the inferiora aase dn
partment for the purpose Of the Indian,s
instruction have proved to be utterly in.
adequate, and the success of the Schools
wnlcn are In operation at Hampton. Car.
Isle and Forest Grove, should not onIv en-
courage a more generous provision for the
support OF those institutions. but sbonId
prompt the establishment of Others of a
s1m,,ar nTah r character. They are doubtless
schools upon the reservation, as the nnniis
are altogether separated from the snr.
roundings OF savage life and brought into
constant contact with citizens.
There are many other phases of this sub
ject which are Of great interest, but which
cannot be included within the becoming
limits OF this communication. They are
discussed ably in the reports of the secre-
tary Of the interior.