The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-12-08

cuities which have hitherto beset as,
for the success of the efforts now making to
introduce among the Indians the customs
and pursuits Of civilized life, and gradually
TO absorb them into the mass Of our citi-
Lens, sharing their rights and holden TO
! their responsibilities, there is an imperative
need for legislative action Ny suggestion
in that respect will be chiefly such as has
been already called 70 the attention Of Con-
gress and have received 70 some extent its
consideration. First, ! recommend the pas
sage Of an act making the laws of the vari-
Qua States and Territories appli-
cable 70 the Indian reservations within
their borders and extending the laws of the
State Of Arkansas to the portion of the
Indian Territory not occupied by the Eve
civilized tribes The Indian should re-
ceive the protection of law, and should be
allowed to maintain In court his rights of
person and property. He has repeatedly
begged for this privilege, and its exercise
would be very valuable in his progress to-
ward civilization. Second, and of even
greater importance, is measure which has
been frequently recommended by my
predecessors in Office, and in furtherance
of which several bills have been, from time
| to time, introduced in both Houses of Con-
grese. The enactment of general law per
/ hitting the allotment in severalty to such
Indian-at least, if he desired it-of rea-
sonable quantity of land. secured to them
by patent. and for their own protection
made inalienable from twenty or twenty-five
| wears, is demanded for their present well
| fare and their permanent advancement. In
return for such considerable action on the
part of the Government, there is reason to
believe that the Indians in large
numbers would be persuaded to
sever their tribal relations and en-
1 ltVt,-, al
pursuits. Their hunting days are over and
/ it is now for their hest interests to conform
their manner of life to the new order of
| things and by no greater inducement than
| the assurance of a permanent title to the
soil. Can thew be led to engage in the oc-
cupation of tilling it? The well attested
reports of their increasing interest in hus-
bandry testify the hope and belief that the
enactment of such a statute as recommend
would be at once attended with gratifying
results. A resort to the allotment system
would have direct influence toward
dissolving the tribal bond, which is the
prominent feature of savage life and which
tends 50 strongly To perpetuate it. / advise
liberal appropriation for the support of
Indian schools, because of nv confident he
| lief that such a course is consistent with the
wisest economv, for even among the most
uncpltured Indian tribes there is reported
-
part Of the chief and older members for the
education of their children It is unfortu-
nate, in view of this fact that during
the past year the means which have
been at the command Of the Interior De-
partment for Indian instruction have
proved to he utterly inadequate and the
success Of the schools which are in opera
ton at Hampton, Carlisle and Forest Grove
should not only encourage a more generous
tions but should prompt the establishment
nf Others of a similar character. They are
doubtless much more potent for good than
the dav schools upon the reservations. as
The pupils are altogether separated from
the surroundings of savage life and brought
into constant contact with civilization
There are many other phases of this sub
iect which are of great interest but which
rannot be included within the becoming
limits of this communication. They are
discussed ably in the reports of the Secre-
tarv of the Interior and of the Commissioner
Of Indian Affairs.
THE MORMON QUESTION.
For many years the Executive in his an
nual message to Congress has urged the
necessity of stringent legislation for the sup
preston of polvgamv in'the Territories es-
peciallv in Utah. The existing statute for
voting to the moral and religions sense
of Christianity, has been persistentlv
and cOntemptnOusly violated ever since its
enactment. Indeed. in spite of the COM
mendable efforts on the part of the authori-
ties who represent the United States in that
Territory, the law has, only in
very rare instances been enforced
and for cause, to which reference
will presently be made, is practi-
- r II II
ents of the Mormon church, which rests
upon polvgsmy as its corner stone have
recently been peopiing in large numbers
Idaho, Arizona and other of our Western
Territories is well calculated to excite the
liveliest interest andapprehension.l 1t imposes
upon Congress and the Executive the duty
of exercising against this barbarous system
all the power which under the Constitution
and laws they can WELD for its destruction.
Reference has been already made to the OBJ
stacles which the United States officers have
encountered IN their efforts to punish the
violation of law, prominent among them be-
ing the difficulty of procuring legal evidence
sufficient to warrant q conviction, even in
the case of the most notorious offenders.
Your attention is called to the
decision Of the Supreme Court
the United States. Explaining its iudgmen
Of reversal in the case of Miles, who had
been convicted of, biGamy in Utah, the
court refers to the fact ofthe secresy attending
the celebration of marriages in that Terri
tory which makes that part of poIoeamv
very difficult to prove and the propriety is
suggested of modifying that law of evil
dence which now makes the wife incompe-
tent to testify against her husband. This
suggestion is approved. recommend,
also. the passage of an act providing that
in the Territories of the United States
the fact that a woman has been
married TO person CHARGED
with big1my shall not dis
qualify her as a witness upon his trial for
that effense. further recommend leCisla-
ton by which anv person solemnizing
marriage in any of the Territories shall be
required. under stringent penalties for neg
Let nr refl1aal to file a certificate nf snch