Delta chief., 1883-12-12
TnG interior Department.
Secretary Teller's Report.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.

The report of the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs shows that there has been a very con-
siderable improvement among the various In
dian tribes, with but little dissatisfaction and
but one outbreak, and that among the Apaches
OF Arizona. It is believed that 1t is quite pos
sble, with wise and judicious treatment of
the Indian question, to prevent the recurrence
of hostilties between the Indian and his white
neighbors that have marked nearly every year
OF our history. The Indian can no longer hide
himself In the Businesses Of the mountains or
the solitude of the wilderness Contact has
come between the settler and the Indian In all
parts Of the country. Civilization and savagery
can not dwell together; the Indian cannot
maintain himself In savage or semi-civilized
state In competition with his white neighbor,
and he must adopt "the white mans ways" or
be swept away by the vices Of savage life, in
tensined by contact with civilization. Human
tty revolts At the idea Of his destruction yet 1t
is far better that he should disappear from the
face Of the earth than that he should remain in
his savage state to contaminate and curse those
With whom he must necessarily come in contact
In the future.
It has been demonstrated that the Indian is
capable OF advacement, although he has not
reached high state Of civilization, except in a
few individual cases. The progress OF the In
dams Of Indian Territory and New York, as
we'll as some other sections, not only demon
strates his capability, but also affords convinc-
ing proof that the race is not to die out, but
has the inherent strength to maintain itself
even under quite unfavorable circumstances
ana tnat Win lntelllgent assistance from the
government 1t may become self-supporting.
II the Indian is to become civilized being 1t
must be by the aid of the government, intell-
gently directed. and one of the first steps to be
taken is to fix the Indian in a permanent home.
Civilization will come slowly, If it comes at all,
TO those howander about without fixed homes
however well the government provides for tb.ir
wants To this end the reservations shc.lld he
reduced in size commensurate With ,;he wants
OF their occupants, and fee simr, ,e title there
to given to the tribe, to be b., for the benefit
of the members thereof, according to Indian
polity, until such tim" as the Indians them
selves shall choose to divide it. The surplus
lands OF such re- ervations should be bought by
the governn, mt, and parceiied ont to actual
settlersAS.iy. The proceeds of the land so sold
shonlS ,Je used, not in providing food only for
tnc~. indian, but in the purchase OF stock, farm
3ps implements, and in the education of their
youth. When the Indian is fixed In his home
and understands that he has title to his land
Of which he cannot be deprived, one great
source OF his discomfort will be gone.
He must be taught to labor and care for him
self, by persuasion II possible, by compulson II
necessary. The government should provide
schools for his children where they should be
taught the English language, and all kinds Of
useful labor, and the attendance Of all children
of school age will be required II he chooses
to be a farmer he should receive suitable assis-
ianee in the first instance, with the understan-
ding that such assistance is only temporary
and must soon cease. II he prefers to be a
stock raiser, as he will in most cases, he should
be furnished stock suitable to his wants, In
.structed to care for them and then left to his
own exertions. The manual labor schools
should instruct the male children in labor on
the farm and in the shops, the famaes in house
holds. Opportunities to engage in such labor
can be readily found among the settlers on the
Borders OF the reservations.
Laws should be enacted for his protection,
not, however, at his dctation, but such as an
enlightened philanthropy" determine for his
benefit He must not only have the protection
of law, but must be subject to its provisions.
The courts should be as free to him for the pro-
lection Of his person or property as to his white
neighbors.
IL he desires to abandon his tribal relations
and become a citizen Of the United States, he
should be allowed to do so, without the loss Of
his interest in the tribal property.