National Republican., 1882-12-05
SECRETARY TELLER.

his views upon Indian affairs. Having re-
ferred briefly to the few disturbances that en-
livened existence upon the frontier during
last year, and recommended the consolidation
of the San Carlos and the Jiearilla agencies
in the Southwest, Mr.. Teller proceeds to
discuss the question of
DtsARMINa THE INDIANS.
In this connection the report says:
One great. hindranee to the civilization of the
Indian has been his passion for war and the chase
To the Indian there have been but two paths to.
ing in bis tribe depends ON his success 10 one or
the other of these pursuits If he is a successful
hunter, he has measure OF fame; IL a successful
nown, not only In his own but neghboring tribes.
All honors that an Indian can receive at the hands
OF his tribe are his He refuses to work, without
being indolent; for the patience, perseverance,,
courage, and energy displayed In war and the
chase disproye the assertion SO often made that
the Indian is too lazy to work.
The frontier farmer who subdues the forests.
tills the soil, aud maRes the wilderness blossom
ton than his wariike Indian neighbor In all
our dealings with the Indian we have iostered his
passion for war and the chase. We have allowed
many instances have assisted him SO TO do. The
highest ambition Of an Indian is to own gun,
the the, next to 9Th have an opportunity to use H. lie
when obtained, It will be the last thing he will
dispose Of With ~. possession comes the Tempt
u
ing for an opportunity to acquire fame and renown
in his tribe. On the slightest proyocalion he Stays
his adversary. He Kills the traditionary enemies
of his tribe, whether white man or Indian, with
out provocation, either for gain, to crafty his
passion for blood, or to secute the fame that awaits
q successful warrior. Armed and equipped. he
is proud, arrogant, and dangerous unafmed, he
is humble, timid and harmless. Nearly all the
Indians with whom we have, had any difficulty,
or with whom We may anticipate trouble, are
armed, and most of them well armed.
Feeble efforts have been made from time to time
to the of and SoSs Pmt
no trouble to procure arms; the limit has only
been the limit Of their ability to pay for them.
The government has armed at various times
scouts and police with improved guns, which in
very many cases have quickly found their way
into the hands of Indians, who, if not hostile ut
of good gun and plenty of ammunition. I'M
proved Winchester rifles hove been furnished to
af Ps'h shs sTs sRRo''f the o Rns RSss ds
assd Issi q9d p ought nes waehssiss VIM
fire arms, the policemans pistol, used by the
policemen Of our cities, will answer all purposes
and If the pistols fail Into the hands of hostile IN
dians they will not be dangerous to the settler.
No Indian will venture out on q raid armed only
with pistol; or II he does, as a raider he will be
comparatively harmless TO what he is with his
Winchester rifle: As soon as 1t eau be done with
out creating undue excitement among them, they
onght to be disarmed and the temptation to so on
use for their guns, for the game is SO scarce in
most sections that II forms but small portion of
their food. and the government provides, should
provide, an ample supply for their support with
out their resorting to the fruits of the chase.
We ought not to deprive them OF their guns
for crimes. Ihave no doubt that most of the In
dians can be dikarmed by agreeing to ray Them
the land secured to them and reasonable provision
made for them SO that they need not fear that
they will be removed or compelled to resort to the
chase for living and they should surrender
their guns and take in their stead CATTLE sheep or
the implements of agriculture. When the Indian
can be compelled or persuaded TO give up his gun
he will be readyto devote his energies to earning
living, instead of wasting them in the chase or
in raids on the frontier settlements. Give him
plow in place of his gun and hoe in place
of tomahawk, and impress on his mind that he
Is now with them, in part at least. to earn his
ow an fr sep has @ peen @ 1aaea
ever will be- the great agent Of civilization Of the
human race. Without labor we cannot hope to
civilize the Indian, and we can do no greater
kindness to the race than to induce them to labor.
This we shall find 1T difficult to do by persuasion,
or even compulsion while they have arms in
their hands.
Therefore suggest that the Commissioner of In
dian Atlnirs be authorized to adopt some system
chase the arms OF the id"ns r eta sS
that suitable appropriation be made, out of which
payment shall be made. and that the sale Of arms
ee prohibited under sesere penalties
LANDS IN sEvERALTY.
Secretary Teller recommends that a law be
passed giving each tribe Il patent for its lands
in common, the severalty system being to his
views impracticable, because of its repugnance
to Indian law, custom, and religion.
TRIBAL RELATIONS.
This system is regarded by the Secretary as
the only one adapted to the wants of savage,
or even partly civilized, Indians; and its
maintenance for the present, at least, not
tbgta, Inn thn nls -
it is confessedly open, Is urged. The Secre-
tary nevertheless advises that all legislation
should lock to the ultimate dissolution of the
system, and that measures be taken for the
closer supervision Of the Indians in all their
relations, and for the more certain punish
ment of crimes among, or by, or against
them.
RESERVATIONS.
The restriction of tribes within reservations
and the reduction of reservations in size to
suit the actual needs of the tribes is strongly
recommended as at once likely to free much
valuable land now held useless in their hands
and to compel self-support on the part of the
Indians
The enactment of a law adding imprison-
ment to the punishment by fines now pro-
vided for intruders upon Indian lands is asked
as measure of simple justice. The mere fine
now imposed Is found insufficient when APP
piled to the impecunious class TO which nearly
all such trespassers belong.
As an encouragement to industry and self
support, the Secretary asks for the passage of
an act to enable Indians to mine coal and
metals, and to cut and manufacture timber,
and dispose of these products after the man
ner of the mercantile white man.
Following these general matters the Secre-
tary goes into particulars as to the condition
of various bands Of Indians; the use and con-
dition of the civilization fund.- and of the per-
manent fund for schools. Upon the subject of
INDIAN EDUCATION
the Secretary says;
It was supposed by the friends of the cause of
Indian education that the knowledge of letters
ought to precede all other knowledge Of civilized
affairs, and but little etfortwas made 10 do more
than instruct them in the knowledge of books and
aeqnaint hem with theological doctrines that even
their well-informed white neighbors did not un-
dersland, and concerning which they did not at
tempt TO agree, ...
Little or no effort was made to educate them as
laborers, The Indian children were not behind
their white associates In committing TO memory
the contents of their books and all accounts agree
that they made commondable progress IN their
literary pursuits. The same success did not how
their religious education. This effort to civilize
them through literary ana religious education,
as might have been supposed. proved failure.
This system of Indian education, after trial of
nearly two hundred and ffly years has produced
but scanty results No intelligent effort appears
TO have been made TO educate the masses of the
Indian children, for the attempt made made by
the government through u few worthless agency
DAY schools cannot be designated as an inlelli-
gent enort and appears TO have been OF little or
no dement, 10 the Indian race. Exception, OF course
must be made to the prniseworthy efforts Of the
civilized Indians of the Indian Territory TO edu-