Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-06

from which they have again been dislodged when
eyer eve tnelr w-found homes have been desired by
These removals, and the frontier collisions by
which they have often been preceded, have led e
races. VIZ
1T It is proftless to discuss here which of them has
oeen cneny responsible for the disturbances
whose recital occupies so large space upon the
pages OF our history.
though thousands Of lives have been Sacrificed
ana hundreds OF millions OF dollars eNrended I'm
n,, Ine attempt 70 solve the Indian problem, 1t has
nearer solution than il was half century ago
But the government has of late been cautiously
put steadily feeling its way TO the adoption OF a
policy which has already produced gratifying re-
suits, and which, in my judgment, is likely II
Congress and the Executive accord in its supnort'
to relieve Us ere long from the dif,ic,lfies Which
have hitherto beSet us.
For the success of the efforts now making &c
introduce among the Indians the customs and
pursuits OF civilized life, and gradually 70 absorb
them into the mass Of our citizens, sharing their
Imperative need for legislative action. -
My suggestions in that regard Will be chiefly
sucn as nave been already called to the attention
consideration:
First. recommend the passage of an act making
the laws of the various States and TerritnrteS
applicable to the Indian reservations within their
borders, and extending the laws OF the state OF
Arkansas to the portion OF the Indian Territory
The Indian should receive the protection OF the
law. He should be allowed to maintain In court
Segsa ReSpe as has
oe very valuable to him in his progress toward
Second. OF even greater Importance is a measure
Whlcn mas been frequently recommended by my
predecessors In Office, and In furtherance OF which
several bills have been from time to time intro
duced In both Houses Of Congress The epaetment
OF general law permitting the allotment in sew
crafty, 70 such Indians, at least desire it, OF
w nf Ian rod
patent, and for their own protection made 1nalen-
able for twenty or twenty-five years is demanded
vancement. -"
In return for such considerate action on the part
OF the government there is reason 10 believe that
the Indians I'm large numbers would be persuaded
to sever their tribal relations and to engage az
once In agricultural pursuits. Many OF them real
@ re ths e TACT that their hunting days are over and
that 1t is now for their best interests to conform
their manner OF life to the new order of things.
& BY no greater Ter tndueement than the assurance OF
permanent title to the soil they be led to en-
gage In the occupation of tilling It.
The well-attested reports OF their increasing in
tsaf the In justify the hope and belief
mend would be at once attended with gratffyinp
results A resort to the allotment system would
nave direct and powerful influence in dssolving
the tribal bond, which is prominent feature Of
savage life, and which tends strongly to perpet-
Third advise a liberal approximation for the
support OF Indian schools because of my confident
belief that such course Is consistent with the
| W1SeSt economy.
Even among the most uncultivated Indian tribes
there is reported to be general and urgent desire
t on the part OF the chiefs and older members for
the education 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 department for the purpose OF Indian
| instruction have proved to be utterly inadeuu te
The success of the schools which are in oneFatton
at Hampton, Carlisle, and Forest Grove should not
only encourage more generous provision for the
support OF those institution, but should prompt the
establishment Of Others of similar character.
| They are DOUBTLESS much more potent for good
than the day schools upon the reservation, as the
pupils are altogether separated from the surround
Oh SAVAGE me- and brought into constant con-
There are many other phases OF this subject
Whch are OF great interest but which cannot be In
cluded within the becoming limits OF this COM
| munication; they are discussed ably in the re-
ports OF the Secretary OF the Interior and the Com.
| missioner or Indian Affairs.
| For many years the Executive, I'm his annual
message 70 congress, has urged the necessity Of
strin gent legislation for the suppression of poiyg-
ritOry of Utah. The existing statute for the pun
lsnment OF this odious crime, so revolving to the
been persstentiJ and Se S!enoom mas
ever since Its enactment Indeed, ia spite OF COM
mendable efforts on the part of the authorities who
represent the United States In that territory the
law has In very rare Instances been enforced and.
| for cause to which reference will presently be
The fact that adherents OF the Mormon church.
which rests upon polygamy as its corner stone,
nave recently been peopling in large numbers
tories is well calculated to excite the liveest In
terest and apprehension. 1t imposes upon Con-
greSS and the Executive the duty of arraying
against this barbarous system all the power
which, under the Constitution and the law, 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 violations of
/ law. Prominent among these obstacles is the
difficulty of procuring legal evidence sufficfhnt to
| warrant conviction even in the case OF the most
| notorious offenders
af &c aa11 IN q
the Supreme Court OF the United States, explain
ing its Judgment of reversal in the case of Miles,
who had been convicted of bigamy In Utah. The
court refers to the fact that the secrecy attending
the celebration OF marriages in that Territory
makes the proof OF polygamy very difficult; and
| evidence which now makes a wife Incompetent to
testify against her husband
This suggestion Is approved recommend also
the passage OF an act providing that i'm the Terri
| tories OF the United States the fact that woman
has been married TO person charged with bigamy
Shall not d1Squalify her as witness upon his trial
Tor that ofense. further recommend legislation
by which any person solemnizing marriage in
| any OF the Territories shall be required, under
stringent penalties for neglect REFUSAL to file
certificate OF such marriage In the supreme court
| Doubtless Congress may devise other practicable
measures for obviating the difficulties which have
hitherto ATTENDED the efforts to suppress this
to cooperate with you in any lawful and discreet
measures which may be proposed to that end.
Although our system OF government Goes not
support system for the education of our people,
no measures calculated to promote that general
intelligence and virtue upon which the perpetuity
OF our Institutions 30 greatly depends, have ever
been regarded with indifference by Congress or
the Executive.
A large portion Of the public domain has been.
from time to time, devoted to the promotion OF
There is now Especial reason why. by setting
apart the proceeds OF its sales OF public lands or
by some other course, the government should aid
the work OF education. Many who now exercise
the right OF suffrage are unable to read the ballot
which they cast. Upon many who had Just
emerged from condition OF slavery, were sud.
denly devOlved the responsibilities of citizenship
In that portion OF the country most Impoverished
by war; have been pleased to learn from the
report OF the Commissioner OF Education that
there has lately been commendable increase or
interest and EFFORT for their instruction: but all
that can be done by local legislation ana private
generosity should be supplemented by such aid as
can Oe consatuttonally afforded by the national
government
would suggest th at II any fund he dedicated to
THIS purpose 1t may be wisely distributed in the
dnerent States according to the ratio OF iteracy,
as py TINS means those localities which are most
In need OF such assistance VIII reap It's special
benefits
The report OF the Commissioner OF Agriculture
exhibits the results OF the experiments in which
that department has been engaged during the past
year and makes important suggestions in refer