The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-12-14
THE PRESIDENTS
MESSAGE.

natural. at time when the national
territory seemed almost illimitaoie
and contained many millions OF
acres far sou h of the bounds OF CIV
ilizea settlements that a policy
sbonld have been initlaied winch
more than aught else has been the
frnitfal source of our Indian COM
plications. refer. Of course, to the
policy of dealing with the various
Indian tribes As separate nationall-
ties. of relegating them by treaty
stipalations to the occupancy OF I'M
mense reservations in the West, and
of encouraging them to live saw
are lie uadisturhed by any earnest
and wen directed efforts to brlng
them under the influences OF civili-
zation. The uis satisfactory results
which have sprung from this are
becoming apparent to all. As the
white settlements have crowded the
borders of the reservations the ln-
dians. sometimes conteatediy and
sometimes against their Will, have
been transferred to other hunting
grounds from which they have been
again di.lodgeI whenever their new
found home have been desired by
the adventurous settlers. These re-
movals and the frontier collisions by
which they have often been preced-
ed nave led TO frequent and disas-
trous conflicts between the races
tits profiiless to discuss here which
OF them has been chiefly response
bic for the disturbances, whose reci-
tai occupies so 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 in the attempt
to solve the Indian problem, 1t had
until within the past few years
seemed scarcely nearer solution
than it was half Il century ago. But
the Government has of late been
cautiously but steadily feeling It's
way to the adoption OF the policy
which has already produced gretify-
ing results. and which in my judg-
ment is likely, if Congress and the
Executive accord in its support, to
relieve us ere long from the difficult
ties which have hitherto beset as.
For the success Of the efforts now
making to introduce among the In
dians the customs and pursuits of
civilized life, and gradually to alb
sorb them into the mass OF our cltl-
zens, sharing their rights and hold
ing 10 their responsibilities, there is
imperative need for legislative ac-
ton. Ny suggestions in that regard
viii be chiefly such as have been
already called to the attention of
Congress and have received to some
extent its consideration. First, /
recommend the passage of an act
making the laws of the various
States and Territories applicable to
the Indian reservations within their
borders, and extending the laws of
the State OF Arkansas TO the por-
ton of the Indian Territory not oc-
capied by the five civilized tribes.
The Indian should receive the pro-
lection of the law. He should be
allowed to maintain in court his
rights of person and property. he
has repeatedly begged for this priv
ilege. It's exercise would be very
valuable to him in his progress to-
ward civilization. Second, the
great importance Of measures which
have been frequently recommended
by my predecessors in Office, and in
the furtherance of which several
bills have from time TO time been
introduced in both houses of Con-
gress, the ena, tment OF the law per-
nitting the allotment in severalty TO
such indians at least as desire it of
q reasonable quantity of land secur-
ed to them by patents and for their
own protection inalienable for twen-
ty-fve 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 be-
lieyt that the Indians in large num-
bers would be persuaded TO sever
the tribal relations and TO engage at
once in agricultural pursuits, con-
WINGED that their nomadic days were
over, and that it is now for their
best interests to conform their man
ner Of life to the new order of things.
BY no greater inducement than the
assurance of a permanent title to the
soil can they be led to engage in the
occupation of tilling it. The well
attested reports of their inr easing
interest in husbandry justify the
hope and belief that the enactment |
of such a statute as | recommend |
would be at once attended with graf /
ifying results. A resort to the allot-
ment system would have a direct /
and powerful influence In the dis
solution of the tribal bond which is
a prominent feature OF the savage
life, and which stands so strongly |
TO perpetrate it there. ! advise a
liberal appropriation for the sup /
port of Indian schools, because Of
my confident belief that such a
course is consistent with the wisest
economy. Even among the most
uncultivated Indian tribes there Is
reported TO be general and ur-
gent desire on the part ofthe chiefs
and older members for the educa-
ton OF their children. 1t is unfort-
innate, in view of this fact, that du-
ring the past year the means which
have been at the command of the 4
Interior Department for the purpose
Of Indian instruction have proved 1
TO be utterly inadequate The sue
cess OF the schools which are in op- |
Grafton at Hampton, Carlisle and
Forest Grove, should not only en-
courage more generous provision for !
the support of these institutions,
but should prompt the establish
ment Of others of a similar charac-
ter They are doubtless much more
potent for good than the day schools
upon the reservations, Us the pupils
are altogether separated from the |
surroundings Of savage life and
brought into constant contact with |
cs,-tli1atio,,