The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-12-15

nspu,r 90 rns sroatrAng ~ rns isrsnios'
The report of the Secretary Of The inc
rior with accompanying documents, pre-.
senta mn accurate account VI The business OF
The Department. A summary OF IL woulu
be too extensive for this place. ask your
careful attention to the report ITSELF From
inont among matters which challenge the
attention of Congress at It's present session
is Inc management Of our Indian affairs.
While this question has been
cause Of trouble bn , ana cmo o@ the
Government Il Is but recently that any CT
fort has been made for its solution, at once
SERIOUS. determined, consistent and prom
ising of success. Ii has been easier to re-
sort TO convenient make-shilts for tiding
over temporary difficulties than to grapple
with the great permanent problem,
and accordingly the easier course ours.
pursued. 1t was natural at time when
The National territory seemed almost IL.
limitable, and contained many millions of
acres far outside the bounds of civilized set
Element, that a policy should have been mi
tiated which more than aught else, has been
the fruitful source of our Indian compli-
cations, i TeltT Vi COuIoC w bhC
policy of dealing with the various
Indian tribes as separate nationalities,
of Regulating them by treaty and stipula-
tions to the occupancy Of immense reserva-
tions in the West. and encourage them to
live a savage life undisturbed by any earn
est and well-directed efforts to bring them
under the influences of civilization, and the
unsatisfactory results which have sprung
from this policy are becoming apparent
to all. AS the white settlements have
crowded the borders of the reservations the
Indians have sometimes contended and
sometimes, against their will, have been
transferred to other hunting grounds,
from which they have again been ,dislodged
whenever their new-found homes have been
desired by Adventures and settlers. These
removals, and the frontier collisions OF
which they have often been preceded,
have led to frequent and disas-
trous conflicts between the, races
1t is profitless to discuss here which OF them
has been chiefly responsible for the dtstur-
Dances whose recital occupies SO large a
, space upon the pages of our history. we
have to deal with the appalling fact that
though thousands of lives have been sacri,
dollars expended in the attempt
to solve the Indian problem, it
has until within the past few
years seemed scarcely nearer solution
blluU ~ WAS udll CChtuly aSo' SuV 49,
government has been cautiously but
steadily feeling its way to the adoption OF a
policy which has already produced crafty
ing results, and which, in my judgment, is
likely, if Congress and the Executive accord
in its support, to relieve us from the diff
culties which have hitherto beset u.s. For
the success of the efforts now now p Pc,
Indians the customs and pursuits
of civilized life, and gradually to absorb
them into mass of our citizens, sharing
!. their rights and holding them to their re-
sponsibiiities there is imperative need for
Legislative action MY suggestion in that
ready called to the attention OF Congress
and have received to some extent its con-
Sideration.
First-I recommend the passage of an act
making the laws of the various States and
Territories applicable to the Indian reserva-
tions within their borders, and extending
the portion of the Indian Territory not oc-
cupied by the five civilized tribes. The
Indian should receive the protection of the
law, he should be allowed to maintain in
court his right of person and property. He
has repeatedly begged for this privilege. Its
exercise. would be very valuable to him
in his progress toward civilization.
Second-Of euen greater importance is
measure which has been frequently recon-
mended by my predecessors in office, and in
.fllrtherance Of which several bills have
been from time to time introduced in both
houes of Congress. The enactment of a gen.
eral law permitting allotment in severalty,
to such Indians at least as deserve
il. of reasonable quantity %, of
patent, and for their own protection, made
inalienable for twenty or twenty-five years,
is demanded for their present welfare and
their permanent advancement. In return
for such considerate 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 to engage at once in agricultural pur-
suits. Many of them realize the fact that
their hunting days are over and that
It is now for their best 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 they be led to engage in the occu-
nation of tilling it. The well-attested re-
ports of their increasing interest in
husbandry justify the hope and
belief that the enactment of
such statue as recommend would be
at once attended with gratifying results.
A resort to the allotment system would
have direct and powerful influence in dis
solving the tribal bond which is so promi-
nent feature of savage LIE and which tends
so strongly to perpetuate it.
Third advise q liberal appropriation
for the support Of Indian schools be-
cause of my confident belief that
Sh "a course is consistent with
ancultured Indian tribes. There is re-
ported to be q general and urgent desire on
fhp mart If tho 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
- Al Int 81
ment for the purpose Of Indian instruction
have proved to be utterly inadequate
The success of the schools which
are in operation in Hampton, Carlisle and
Forest Grove should not only encourage
more generous provision for the support of
these institutions, but should promote the
establishment Of others of similar character. |
They are doubtless much more potent for
good than day school upon the reservation, |
as the pupils are altogether separated from |
the surroundings Of savage life, |
and are brought into constant |
contact with civilization. There are
many other phases of this subject which |
are Of great interest, but which cannot be |
included within becoming limits of this
Communication. They are discussed ably |
in the reports of the Secretary Of the Int |
rior and the Commissioner Of Indian Al |
fairs.
ON MoRNoNIsN.
For many years the Executive, in his an
nual message 10 Congress, has urged the ne
cessty Of stringent legislation for the sup
preston Of polygamy IN the Territories, and /
especially the Territory Of Utah. The ex-
listing statute for the punishment OF this 4
odious crime, 20 revolving ito the /
moral and religious sense Of Christendom,
has been persistently and contemptuously
violated ever since its enactment. Indeed,
IN spite Of the commendable efforts on the
part OF the authorities, who represent the
United States in that Territory, The Law has
In VERY rare instances been infOrced, and /
therefore the cause to which reference will
dead litter. The fact that