The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-12-09
GERS Of justice require assistance when mill
tary force il within easy reach
THE INTERIOR.

INDIAN AFFAIRS
The report Of the secretary Of the interior.
with accompanying documents, presents an
elaborate account Of the business of that de-
partment A summary OF it would be TOO ex-
tended for this place. ! ask your
careful attention to the report itsclf
Prominent among the matter which
challenges tho attention Of congress
at its present session is the management of our
Indian affairs. While this question has beon
cause Of trouble and embarrassment from
the infancy of the government, 1t Is but re-
Gently that any effort has been made for its so
luton. at once serious, determined, consistent
aud promising success 1t has been easier to
resort to convenient makeshifts for tiding over
the temporary difficulties than to graphic
with the great permanent problem, and
accordingly the easier course has almost ill.,
variably been pursued 1t was natural at
time when the national territory seemed almost
lllimitable and contained many millions OF
acres far south Of tho bounds of civilized set
Elements, that . policy should have been in
stltuted which moro than aught else have been
the fruitful source of our Indian complications
! refer, of course, to the policy OF dealing with
the various Indian tribes as separate national
ities, of regulating them by treaty stipula-
ton to the occupancy OF immense reser-
vations in the West and of en-
couraging them to live undisturbed by
any earnest and well directed efforts to bring
them under the influence of civilization. The
unsatisfactory rules which have sprung from
this policy are becoming apparent to all. As
the white settlements have crowded the bor-
ders of the reservations, the lndians-some
times confentedly, and sometimes against their
wiil-have been transferred to other hunting
grounds, from which they have again Oeen
,lislodged whenever their new-found homes
have been desired by the adventurous settler.
These removals and
TIE FRONTIER COLLISIONS,
by which they have often been preceded have
led TO frequent and disastrous conflicts be-
tween tie races. 1t profits not to discuss here
which Of them have been chiefly responsible
for the disturbances whose recital occupies 30
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 III the attempt
to solve the Indian problem, it had, until
within the past few years, seemed scarcely
nearer solution than it was half century
ago; but the government has of late been
continuously but steadily feeling its way to
the adoption OF a peace which has already
produced gratifying results and which in my
opinion is likely, II congress and the executive
accord in its support, to relieve us before long
from the difficulties which have hitherto bcset
us for the success of the efforts now making TO
intro !uce among the Indians the customs aud
ually to absorb the mass of them among our
citizens sharing their rights and holding tEG M
to their responsibilities, there is imperative
need for legislative action. My suggestion III
that respect will DO chiefly such as has been
already called TO the attention of congress anu
have received to some extent its consideration.
First recommend the passage OF an act
making the laws of the various States and Ter
ritories applicable to the Indian reservations,
within their borders and extending the laws o.
Arkansas Ina
Indian territory not occupied by the
five civilized tribes. The Indian
should receive the protection of the
law. He should be allowed to maintain in
has repeatedly begged for this privilege. it,
exercise would be very valuable to him in his
progress toward civilization.
Second-Of even greater importance is the
measure which has been frequently recon-
mended by my predecessors in office, and of
which several bills have been from time TO
time introduced in both houses of congress
The enactment of a general law permitting
the allotment i'll severalty to such Indians al
least Us desire it, of q reasonable quantity Of
laud secured to them by patent and for THEN
own protection made inalienable from twenty
or twenty-five years, is demanded for their
present welfare and their permanent advance
ment In return for such consideration Oh tie
part of the government there is reason to be-
lieve that the Indians in largo numbers
tons aud to engage at once in agriculture,
believing their nomadic days were over and
that it is now for their best interests to con-
form their manner of life to the new order Of
things. There can be no greater inducement
than the assurance of permanent title
to the soil can they DO led t.
engage in the occupation of tilling it. The
well attested report of the increasing iptore sts
in husbandry justify hope and belief that the
enactment of such statute as / recommend
Loa altar laI x.-ifh ,c,,.
suits. Resort to
THE ALLOTMENT SYSTEM
would have direct and pOwerfulintuence, dis
solving the tribal bond which is prominent
feature of savage life, and which led so strong
ly to perpetuate it there. l advise q liberal
Indian schools because of my confident
believe that such course is consistent
with the wisest economy. Even among mo-
uncultured Indian tribes there is reported to 10
general and urgent desire on the part of
chiefs and older members for the education Of
their children. 1t is unfortunate in view of this
fact that during the past the means which hi ve
been at the command of the interior depart
ment for the purpose of Indian instruction
have proved to be utterly inadequate;
Carlisle, and Forest Grove Shout
not only encourage more general provisl, Ii
for the support Of the institutions, but should
prompt the establishment of others of 4
similar character. They are doubtle
much more potent for good than ITO
day schools upon reservations for the
pupils are altogether separated from the
surroundings Of savage life and brou ht
into constant contact with civilization. There
are many other phases Of this subject which
are of great interest, but which cannot be in
cluled within the limits OF the present cOmmu-
nication. They are ably discussed in the re-
ports OF the SECRETARY OF tle interior and Of tie
commissioner of Indian afiaira