Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-03-27
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Ex-Secretary SChurZ on the Management of the
Indian Bureau of the Nation.

Indian Bureau of the Nation.
EX-Secretary SchurZ was dined at
the hands of several hundred citizens
of Boston on March %. Speeches were
madeIbyjPresident Elliott, of Harvard,
James Freeman Clark, Mr.. Schurz
and others. The latter gentleman
reviewed at length his management
of the Indian affairs of the Nation,
and during the course of his remarks,
said
GAS to my own administration of
Indian affairs, am perfectly content
to leave it to the public and even the
Judgment of its critics, when the
hea of unnecessary controversy
shall have subsidized. L know that my
conduct has grown from just and
human purposes, and that my natur-
ally kind feelings for the Indians have,
by direct intercourse with them, ripen-
ed into personal friendship, and that
friendship is reciprOcated by most of
the Indians with whom / have had
occasional contact, and who some
times express their feelings in delicate
and tender manifestations Of attach
ment and gratitude; for may assure
you that the Indian is by no means
devoid of such impulses. think also
that the policy followed by me during
my administration, the policy Of pro-
noting the transformation of Indians
from shiftless paupers into thrifty
and orderly workers, as agriculture
alists, herdsmen, traders and mechan-
les, of extending their educational
facilities to teach them how to learn
and how to live, of stimulating their
desire to become individual owners Of
lands and other property like white.
men-a policy, in one word, of pre-
pairing them for ultimate absorption
into the great body Of American
citizenship, with rights and duties,
have been as successfully carried or
as four years of hard and conscientious
work in the executive department
could make it, and that will and yigor-
Gus pursuit of the same ends will
finally solve that Indian policy which
in the past has so often proved a
trouble and sometimes a disgrace to
the American people.
Not as a matter of justice, but as a
matter of fact, the development of
the country put before the Indians
the stern alternative of civilization or
destruction by conflict. Wise and
humane craftsmanship will see to it
that the Indians don't stand in the
way of that development, but became
a part Of it, and so be benefited by it,
and [ don't hesitate to declare my
convictions, showing from much study
and some practical experience, that
Indians can be civilized sufficiently to
secure orderly, harmonious neighbor-
hood with the white race. But TO
bring about this result all our cOun-
try requires not only the proclamation
of a general purpose, but steady and
judicious work in detail. To this
work l have been devoted four years,
and the warm interest | take in the
Indian race will induce me to aid it in
whatever way l can as a private
citizen as long as l live. 1t is a
singular thing that we are impugned
in our best motives and actions by
those whom identity of general pur-
poses should make our friends. Most
discordant sounds are produced by
different people playing the same mel
ody at the same time in different
key, and so / had to suffer attack not
only from the reckless border senti-
ment, bent on war and destruction,
but from some Of these who speak in
the name Of philanthropy. suppose
I am not the first who has had to en-
dure this, and shall not be the last.
But now the So-called P0nca question
appears to be happily disposed of.
Congress has appropriated a liberal
sum to indemnify the Poncas for their
losses to settle them comfortably, &C
cording to their wishes. The Poncas
in the Indian Territory are content to
stay there. The provisions made for
them is all they ask. The PoncaS are
satisfied. The American public at
large seem satisfied, and it is to be
hoped soon, that to that general salts
faction there will be no exception,
and that honest philanthrophy will
find for this unity of purpose also one
more harmony Of action. Let us
join hands and do something Of prac
teal Importance for the Indians, and
let us hope that in such useful efforts
the old Ponca quarrel may no longer
divide us, but as the Ponca question
was not the whole Indian problem, so
the Indian problem is only a small
part of onr national concerns.
THE value of the grape and wine
product of California for 1880 is esti-
mated at So 100000. The state fur
nished over 100000 gallons of wine,
$50 gallons of brandy, 100000 worth
of raisins and grapes for preserving
and table use to the value OF 100000
49, A1EO nm ,,oro Tho NOW brandy 10