The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-12-05

the plains, whose appointment to the in
terror department was sneered at, treats
the question of the management of the
Indians in broad and generous spirit Of
practical and statesman-like philanthropy,
such as a man with good heart, capable
brain and practical experience would
bring to the subject. The progress of the
Indians of Indian territory and New York,
the secretary says, demonstrates their ca.
pscity and affords convincing proof that
the race is not to die out, but has the in
herent strength to maintain itself even
under unfavorable circumstances, and that
with intelligent assistance from the gov
eminent it may become self-supporting.
He does not believe in making the Indian
a savage pauper. The government should
not continue to support him in idleness,
and thus continue him in vice and saw.
agery. He believes in putting him on to
sufficient land to supply his wants when
taught to labor and take care of himself
1t is becoming impossible for him longer
to support himself by the fruits of the
chase. If he prefers stock-raising, as he
will in most cases, he should be furnished
with stock suitable to his wants, in
structed to care for it and then left to
his own exertions. Manual-labor schools
should instruct the male children in labor
on the farm and in the shops, and the
females in household affairs. Laws such
as an enlightened philanthropy would die.
tate should be enacted for his protection.
The courts should be as free to him for the
protection of his person and property as to
his white neighbors. The secretary makes
suggestions for limiting him by equitable
arrangements to such land as he really
needs, and for making him ultimately the
individual owner of the land. He coun.
sells that the hesthenish war and scalp
dances and other savage feasts which con-
tribute to the perpetuation of barbarism
in the race, be abolished. He also renews
his recommendation for the disarming of
the Indians. His arms ought not to be
confiscated, but for his rifle give him an
OK to till his fields, COWS, sheep or horses,
as he needs. Education is the great in.
strument by means of which the secretary
would accomplish the civilization of the
Indian. He favors the establishment of
more schools like those at Carlisle, Hamp.
ton and Forest Grove. Only one-fourth
of the Indian children of school age are
now at school. If it is wise to edu-
cate onefourth, the secretary finds it diff.
cult to see why it is not wise to educate
ALL He accordingly presents plan for
gradually bringing these children into
school, showing that the total expenses of
educating them and making them useful
citizens is an insignificant item by the side
of the money cost, merely, Of an Indian war.
The department of the interior is the
lsfgest and most complicated in the gov.
eminent. Its secretary treats of the in.
terests involved in the bureau of pensions,
of public lands, of education, of patents
and many other matters of vital import
ance. The recent explorations and dis
coveries in Alaska bring that territory to
the front with recommendations that
should procure good government that
shall foster and protect enterprise there,
and shall restore the schools which disap-
peared when the country passed from
Russian to American hands.