Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-12-06
DEPARTMENT. REPORTS.



haustiye review of our internal affairs, the
most important features OF which are here
with given:
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.
The Secretary recommends philanthropic
laws for his protection, and TO which he shall
himself be subject; that he shall be allowed
TO become a citizen OF the United States, II he
so wills, and that all treaties impossible of
fulhllment or contrary 20 public interest
shall be repealed or modified; and that no
more treaties shall be made or statutes en-
acted on the basis OF agreements made with
the Indians.
There was appropriated and expended dur
ing the fiscal year ending June 80, 1sS3, for the
support OF Indians with whom the Govern
ment has no treaty, 81, $4,000. The propriety
Of such appropriations is admitted, but the
Secretary urges that they should be at the
disposal OF the department, and he insists that
the cultivation Of land or the care of stock
should be made a condition precedent to re-
ceiving aid from the Government with view
to making the Indians, as far as possible, self
supporting.
DIsARMING THE INDIANS,
The Secretary renews his recommendation
point he says:
If we su6sist the Indian, he has no use for
firearms, and IL is not economy to allow him
to retain his arms for the purpose of supply
ing himself with game; far better to give him
asuf1ciency of food, and require him TO remain
on bis reservation. If the Indian is disarmed
he will cense to be an object OF terror to his
white neighhor, and the friendly relations that
ought to exist between the white settler and
his Indian neighbor will not be wanting. 1t
is unsafe to trust an Indian with gun; the
very possession OF It ineites in him
q desire to use it, The unarmed
the unarmed white man; it Is the possession
OF his weapon ana the knowledge that he
may be tempted to use it that creates hostil-
ity towards him on the part of the settler.
Disarm him and put him under the protesti0n
of the law, and his person and property will
be rs safe as that of his white neighbor. His
arms ought not to be conflscated; for every
rifle give him an OK of twice its value to till
his field, COWS, sheep, or horses as he may
need. The propriety of doing this cannot be
doubted; the beneficial results would be
readily seen. I renew the following sugges-
ton made in my former report:
II therefore suggest that the Commissioner
OF Indian Affairs be authorized to adopt some
system of disarming the Indians, and to that
end to purchase the arms of the Indians on
fair terms, and that suitable appropriation
DC made, out OF which payment shall be made,
and that the sale of arms or ammunition to
Indians holding tribal relations be prohibited
under severe penalties"
INDIAN EDUCATION
The Secretary reports an increasing public
interest In this enterprise which has been
attended with very satisfactory results. On
this subject he says:
The appropriations last year for the educa-
ton OF Indians were far below the actual
wants OF the service; yet | am able to report
q great Improvement in the condition of the
Indian schools, an increased attendance of
pupils and an increased interest among the
Indians, both adults and youths. The depart
ment located an Indian school at Lawrence,
Kan, to be conducted on the plan of Carlisle,
Hampton and Forest Grove.
The capacity of the boarding-schools now
established, including Carlisle, Hampton and
Forest Grove, is 5O25, and of the day schools
1000, making the total 9,025. The capacity of
boarding and day schools, old and new, is
about 11,000.
1t Is recommended that one.half of the
children of school age be put into manual
labor schools and kept there until they are
sufficiently instructed in the industrial arts
to support themselves. 1t Is urged that ac-
commodatiOns be provided for at least TO-
oOO children in addition to those now in the
manual-labor schools. Under the present ap-
preparation only about one-fourth are thus
provided for while three-fourths are growing
up In ignorance and vice. Pursuing this SUBJ
ject the Secretary says:
that such expense was within the true prin-
ciples of governmental economy, in the follow
ing manner: I'd.
The care, support, and education of 10000
Indian youths during theyyear 1884 ought not to
Der of children there ought to be reduction
in the cost, and the expense of 10000 children
ought not to exceed 81 600 per annum. To
the. 2O0O0, costing annually $4,0OOOOO, ought
each year to be added not less than one
fourth that number, which, at the same ex-
pense per capita will necessitate an additional
appropriation Of $l,0OO,0OO, and the account
will stand thus:
10000 children, fiscal year 1884, COM
80 putting put the cost at $3.50 each. S 2,5oO.OOO
10000 children, fiscal year 1885, at $500
5000 children, fiscal year 1885, at $500 '0'0''V0
$1,000 children, fiscal year 1857, at $500 ''O'0O'
$4,000 children, fiscal year iSSs at 500 ''O''''0'
eacn.. ...................... .......... 5,000,00O
The per capita allowance is greater than the. !.
schools are not kept up more than nine or ton
months while this estimate is for the attend
ance for the full calendar year.
Since 1872. period of only ten years, the
cost of Indian hostilities and military protec-
tion against Indians is estimated by the mill
tary authorities at $223 SOL 1854. so, or an annual
expense of 22,3S9, l26.45. To this must be
added the yearly appropriation for subsist-
year. To this must also be added the loss of
life and the horrors of an Indian war, only to
be understood by those who have had the mis-
fortune to be participants in or witnesses of
them. This cannot be computed in dollars,
but ought to be considered in determining the
policy of the Government In its dealings with
the Indians.
l am confident that the expense per capita
as above given is greater than necessary, and
that If appropriations are made of the amount
as above proposed, the number of children
proposed to be kept in such manual-labor
schools can be considerably increased. The
total expense of the Indian service cannot be
less than $5,50l,000 annually, and such expense
must increase instead of diminish If the In
dian is not made to do something towards
supporting himself. He will do but little if
he is left to himself, and if, forced by hunger,
he does become laborer. he will be without
skill and only able to do menial labor requir-
ing neither skill nor intelligence His children
will become beggars and thieves, adding to
the expense of the country by increasing
pauperism and crime.
1t is urged that a permanent fund for the
education of the Indians be created from the
net proceeds of the sale of public lands.
The subjects of "Courts of Indian Offenses,"
"Crimes," Contingent Funds" and kindred
topics are presented at length and in the
usual form
The Secretary insists that the salaries of In
dian agents are grossly inadequate, and urges
an increase of such salaries sufficient to Sc
cure good men and retain them In the service.
INDIAN TITLES. ~
The fact that the tenure of most of the
tribes to their land Is imperfect and unsatis-
factory is referred to, and the Secretary re-
news the recommendation Of last year, as fol-
lows:
To the end that the Indians may be secure
in their titles and have the assurance that
they will not be removed, except by their free
consent, recommend the passage Of a law
to give each tribe a patent for the land the
Government has guaranteed to It, leaving the
Indians to determine the question Of allot-
nent for themselves. This system has given
entire satisfaction to the civilized Indians Of