The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-12-09
thu matters which challenge the attention of
CONGRESS- AZ la nreaanI sesslnn La


Congress at its present session is
THE MANAGEMENT OF OUR INDIAN AFFAIRS
While this question has been q cause Of
trouble aud embarrassment from the infancy
OF the Government, IL il but recently that any
effort has been made for its solution Mt once
serious, determined, consistent and promising
success. IL has been easier TO resort to conyen-
lent makeshifts for tidmg over the temporary
difhcuities, than TO grapple with the great per-
manent problem, and accordingly the easier
| course has almost invariably been pursued.
y 1t was natural at time when the
national territory seemed almost illimitable
and contained many millions Of acres far
south Of the bounds OF civilized settlement,
that a policy should have been initiated
which, more than aught else has been the
fruitful source of our Indian complications
i refer, OF course, 10 the policy of dealing
with the various Indian tribes as separate
nauonalitles OF regulating them by treaty
stipulations to the occupancy of immense
reservations in the West, and of encouraging
them 20 live undisturbed, by any earnest
and well-directed efforts, and to bring them
under the influences of civilization. The
unsatisfactory results which have sprung
from TINS pohcy are becoming apparent to all
AS the white settlements have crowded the
borders OF the reservations the Indians, some
times contentedly and sometimes against their
VIII, have been transferred to other hunting
grounds, from which they have been again dis
lodged whenever their new-found homes have
been desired by the adventurous settlers
lnese removals, and the frontier collisions by
which they have often been preceded, have led
TO frequent and disastrous conflicts between
the races. IL Is prohtless to discuss here which
OF them has been chiefly responsible for the dis
turbances whose recital occupies 30 large a
space upon the pages of our hist Dry. We have
to deal with the appalling fact that though
thousands OF lives lave been sacrificed and
hundreds OF millions of dollars expended IN the
attempt to solve the Indian problem, it had
until the last few years seemed scarcely nearer
solution than II was half a century ago. But
the Government has of late been cautiously
but steadily feeling Its way to the adoption Of
policy which has already produced gratifying
results, and which, in my Judgment, is likely,
III Congress and the Executive accord in its
support, to relieve us ere long from the Diff
-cuitles 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 alb
sorb them into the mass of our citizens sharing
their rights and holden to their responsible
ties, there is imperative need for legislative
action. My suggestions in that respect
will be chiefly such have been already
called to the attention of Congress, and
have received, to some extent, its considera-
ton First, recommend the passage of an
act making the laws of the various States and
Territories applicable TO the Indian reservations
within their borders and extending the laws OF
the State of Arkansas 10 the portion Of the In
dian Territory not occupied by thesfive civilized
tribes. The Indian should receive
THE PROTECTION OF THE LAW.
He should be allowed to maintain Ill court his
rights Of person ana property. He has re-
peatedly begged for this privilege. Its exer.
else would be very valuable TO him in his prog
ress toward civilization. Second, of even
greater Importance, is a measure which has
been frequently recommended by my prede-
cessors III office, and In fuitherance OF
which several bills have been from time
to time introduced in both houses of Con-
gress. The enactment of q general law per-
hitting the allotment in seyeralty, to such
Indians at least as deserve It, of a reasonable
quantity of land, secured to to them by patent,
an for their own protection made inalienabe for
twenty or twenty-five years, Is demanded for
their present welfare and their permanent adj
yancement. IL return for such considerable action
on the part of the Government, there f reason
to believe that the Indians in large numbers
would be persuaded to sever their tribal re-
lations; and to engage at once in agricultural
pursuits, and that II ~ now for their best
interests to conform their manner of life
to the new order Of things. BY no greater
inducement than the insurance of permanent
title TO the soil can they be led to engage in
the occupation OF tilllng. The well-attested
reports of their increasing interest in husband
nv Justify the hope and belief that the enact
ment of such statute as l recommend would
be at once attended with gratifying results
resort TO the allotment system would have
direct and powerful influence in dissolvng the
II
savage life, and which tends so strongly to
perpetuate it there.
advise liberal appropriation for the sup
port OF Indian schools, because OF my confident
belief that such course is consistent with the
wisest economy even among the most uncul-
tured Indian tribes. There is reported to be
general and urgent desire on the part Of the
chiefs and the older members for the educa-
ton of their children. 1t is unfortunate,
in view of this fact, that during the
past year the means which have been at
the command OF the Interior Depart
ment, for the purpose of Indian instruction,
have proved TO be utterly inadequate The
success OF tine schools which are in operation
at Hampton, Carlisle and Forest Grove
should not only encourage more generous
provision for the support OF these lnstitu-
tons. but should l%ompt the establishment
OF others of similar character. They
doubtless more potent for good than the
dav schools upon the reservation, as the
pupils altogether separated from the
surroundings OF savage lie and brought
into constant contact with civilization. There
are many otner phases OF this subject which
are of great interest but which cannot be in
cluded within the becoming limits of this COM
munication. They are discussed ably in the
reports of the Secretary OF the Interior and OF
the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
For many years the Executive, In his annua
message to Congress, has urged the necessity
for stringent legislation for
THE SUPPRESSION OF PoLYGAMY
in the Territories, especially in Utah. The
listing statute for the punishment of this odious
crime, so revolving TO the moral and reli gious
sense of Christianity, has been persstently
and contemptuously violated ever since its en-
actment. Indeed, in spite of commendabe
efforts on the part Of the authorities who
represent the United States in that Terri
tory, the law has, in very rare in
stances, been enforced, and, for cause to
which reference will presently be made, is
ILL. LIT fnntt MT IL
herents Of the Mormon church, which rests
upon polygamy az its cornerstone, have re-
Gently been peopling in large numbers Idaho,
Arizona, and other of our Western Territories.
Is well calculated 10 excite
THE LIvEIIEsT INTEREST AND APPREHENSION.
lie imposes upon Congress ana the Executive
the duty of opposing to this barbarous system
al the power which under the constitution and
law they can WELD Tor its destruction. Refer
ence has been already made to the distractions
which the United States officers have encoun-
tered in their efforts to punish the violations of
the law. Prominent among the obstacles is
the difficulty of procuring legal evidence sufi-