West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1881-11-25
TIE INDIANS.
secretary KirkwOOd's Isccommcn-
dotiOnS Concerning Them.

Secretary Kirkwood's Isccommcn-
dotiOns Concerning Them.
Secretary Of the Interior Kirkwood, in
his annual report which has lust been sub
mi'tcd TO the President, says:
The Indians do not speak, and DO not
wish to speak, vi language. Hence all
business with them by the Government
aud by individuals must be transacted
through Interpreters. Misunderstanding
must continue TO arise between the Gov
ernment and the Indians under this con
dition of affairs, and, 50 long as it contin-
ues, the Indians are completely isolated,
and are compeileito adhere 20 their tribal
relation, which 80 greatly stands in the
way of their advancement. 1t Is not
probable, he says, that much can DO done
in the way of teaching cur language OF
adult Indians, but much may be done, and
is being done, in the direction of so teach
ing those of schoul age, and The efforts to
maintain and extend IGdian schools should
be earnest and constant. The "ci7ili-a-
ton fund" which has been devoted large.
~ to educational purposes, will be ex-
hausted before the end of this fiscal year
If the schools already established are con
tinued. When the Indian hes learned &c
speak and write our language, 20 earn his
living by his W labor, tO-obeY the law
and aid in making and administering it,
the Indian problem will be eolyed.
Adult Indians, he continues, who are
thoroughly grounded in the faith that la
Dor is degrading, prefer ~pauperism 20 in
dependence. This is not true, however,
of ell Indians. Many individuals of some
of the tribes are willing to work, but many
Others are content TO be end will remain
mere paupers. Another difficulty in the
way of making the Indians self-support-
ing, he says, IL that we nave not given
them q fair chance to become SO. The
titles OF the Indians TO moet of their res
erYations, perhap1 to all of them EXCEPT
those in the Indian Territory, are not
such as the courts are bound TO protect.
They are compelled TO rely largely If not
entirely upon the executive and legislative
departments of the Government. Mr..
Krkwood says It is clear TO him that no
Indian Will with good heart engage in
making and improving a farm with the
knowledge or prospect that after he hes
so done he may AZ any time be required
to leave 1t and move on. He may have
the privilege OF keeping his home if he
will sever the ties of kin and remain be-
hin his tribe; but few do this. He adds:
therefore earnestly recommend two
innings, In case the present number of res
erVatlons shall be maintained: First. that
existing reservations, where entirely ont
OF proportion TO the number of Indiana
thereon, be, with the consent of the In
oians, and upon just and fair terms, re-
uuced 10 proper SIZE; n second, that the
titles TO these diminished reserves he
placed by patent aa fully under the pro-
tecilon or the courts as are the titles of
all Others OF our people to their land.
He recommends that Indians be encour-
eyed to settle upon and cultivate farms by
money aid from the Government. He
recommends that Congress be asked to
appoint q commission of three or four
eminent citizens to visit during the next
year the -~eser7ations west of the Missis-
sippi River, fox the purpose of recon-
mending to Congress. if they deem it wise
TO DO 50, the concentration of the Indiana
on four or FIVE large reservations; or, if
this is not deemed wise, then to recon-
mend the concentration of existing small
agencies where it can be done, and the re-
ductiOn CT the area of others. He adds .
In my judgment it would be well TO
select some tribe or tribes among those
most advanced in civilization, and estab-
lsh therein a form OF local government
as ne5rly like az may be the system of
county government prevailing in the State
or Territory in which the reservation is
located, allowing the Indians to select cor
responding county officers, with authority
to enforce such laws of the State or Terri
tory as Congress may deem proper to de-
clare in force on each reservation for To-
cal purposes.