The Portland daily press., 1884-02-02
[speelal correspondence Of the Pres,.l


this Session.
Especial Correspondence Of the Press.l
WASHINGTON, Jan. %.
There is every indication that y solution OF
the Indian problem will soon be arrived at
which will be satisfactory to the Indian him
self, to his aggressive white neighbors and to
his friends all over the country. 1t has been
evident for some time that the policy OF con-
fning him upon a reservation, with scaDty ra-
tions upon the suppositon that he could de-
pend largely upon game for his support, must
be changed, for the buffalo, elk, deer aud an
telope are gone, and he is starving. The SEN
ate, last session, appointed 8 select committee
of which Senator Dawes Of Massachusetts,, was
chairman, to inquire into the condition OF the
Indian tribes in Montana and Dakota, and the
| following extract from the report Of a sub
committee, of which Senator Vest was chair
man, will show the condition OF the tribes in
Northern Montana.
1--WE found the condition of these Indians
| most deplOrabe They have heret fore lived
chiefly by the chase, but the game has now
| disappeared, aud as they are entirely ignorant
| of agriculture aud have NJ cattle, they Can ou-
| ly look to the government tor subsistence. Jer-
ry, head chief of the GrOs Ventres, stated pub
licly in the council that OF his tribe was
then dying from starvation, and We have no
doubt thst many of them will perish during
the coming winter unless relief is given them.
Their reservation is on the line Of British
America, and the winters very severe. lnsnfi-
| ciently clothed, and allowed from three to
| four pounds of beef to each person for week,
1t will be easily seen that unless the ratoD5 are
| increased, great suffering, and even death,
must eDsue. Mr.. Ii lcolu, the agent, ,tated To
| US that his supplies for the year amounted to
| 10000 pounds of fl ur, and 25,60O pounds OF
wheat, eqaal to 80 wesks' ralipns; 1S0, 900
pounds Of beef, in gross, equal TO weeks ra-
| tions; 5000 pounds Of bacon and 900 pounds
of coffee; but sugar, tobacco and coffee are on-
| ly issued in pay for work.
We cannot think THAI anything besides the
! bare statement We have made OF the terrible
| ieettuii0n among these unfortunate savsges
| is ecessary 10 secure the prompt action Of
| Congress In giving Teiief Justice, humanity,
religion, all call upon us "a a Christian people,
to act at ouce ana TO hesi aie would na last
ing stain upon our n tlional character"
This condition of things exists upon other
reserva ions also, and has existed for some tms
past Can we wonder that We have heard SO
often of outbreaks, resulting in rapins and
murder?
The problem finds its solution in treating the
Indian as an ind ividual He is TO be given
land in severa ty, for which he is to receive
patent. The protection of the laws OF the
States and Territories is to be extended over
him, and he will receive the highest education
he is capable of. Senator Dawes, the chair
man Of the committee on Iudan fairs, in
speech delivered at mass meeting held in
this city recently for the purpose of discussing
the Indian question, makes use OF the follow
ing language:
"Latterly it has occurred to us that II he is
to be, ike the poor in tue gospel, always with
u.s. it were worth while to consider whether
we could not N AXE something out OF him; and
for the first time in the whOt5 history OF our
dealings with The Indian within few years,
We have attempted to make something out OF
him. The philosophy of ths present policy is
70 treat him AS au individual, and not as in-
soluble substance that tue civiliz ttion of this
country have been unabls, hitheI to, to digest,
to take him as an individual-a human being
and treat him as you lind nj according to
the necessities of his Case. Ii he be- one who
hitherto has been permitted to grow as a wild
beast grows, without educ alton, ard thrown
upon his instincts for his suppOrt-a savage
take him, though grown up, and matuTed in
body and mind, take him by the hand, aud set
him upon his feet, aud teach him 10 stand
alone first, then TO walk, then to dig, then TO
plant, then to hoe, then to gather, aud then to
Keep. The last aud the best az ency of civilza-
ton is to teach q grown up I1dian to keep.
When he begins to understand that he has
something that is his exclusively TO enjoy, he
begins to understand that 1t is necessary for
him to preserve and keep it, aud 1t Is not
great while before he learns that to keep II he
must keen the peace; aud SO on, step by lep,
the individual is separated from the mass, es-
tablished upon the soil, and made ciuzsn, aud
instead OF charge he is a posi9iFegUOd=a
trioutor to the wealth, and strength, and pow
or OF the nation. II child in years, take him
as y0E 40 other children. and teach him as you
do other children. This, am happy to be-
iieve, is coming fast to be the settled policy of
the government. IL is full of encouragement
and full of hope to the Indian and to the
country.
These views are expressed in Senate bill No
As presented to the Senate on Dec. 4th, 1883,
by Mr.. Coke. It's title is "To provide fer the
allotment of lands in seveIalty to Indians on
the various reservations, aud to extend the
protection of the laws of the States and Terri-
tories over tNe Indians, aud for other pur.
poses." 1t is the same bill which was pre-
pared by Senators Dawes and Coke early in
the first session of the 9Th Congresses
which passed the Senate on April oath, 1882,
without dissenting vote; but was not reached
on the House calendar.
This bill is now in the hands of a sub-com-
mittee consist ng of Senators Dawes and
Coke, and will very soon be reported to the
Senate with a favorable recommendation, in
almost the same words in which it passed the
Senate before. Letters and petitions are COM
ing in from all sections of the country asking
members of the House and Senate to promote
the passage of the measure, and it is safe to
say that it will become law before the close
of the present session.
Speaking Of Senaro Dawes in connection
with Indian matters calls to mind the story
which has been published intimating that he
and Secretary Teller we're paid a sum Of
mouey in order to secure the passage OF the
following act, passed at the last session Of
Congress:
That the sum Of three hundred thousand
dollars IS hereby appropIil lated, to be paid into
the trt asury OF the Cherokee nation out OF the
funds due under the apprsisement for Cberc-
kee land west of the Arkansas river, which
sum shall be expended AS the acts Of the Cher
exec nation direct, this amount t. be imme-
dlately available; prOU{ded, that the Cherokee
nation, through It's proper authorities, shall
execute conveyances, satisfactory 10 the Stc-
retary OF the Interior, to the United States ia
trust only for tue benefit of the PaUnees,
Poncas, NeZ Perces, OtJes and Missourias,
and OsAges now occupying aid tract, as they
respectively occupy the same before tho pay
menJ OF said sum of money.
This money WAS paid to the Treasurer Of the
Cherokee nation last summer, aud soon after.
wsrds E. o. BOudlnOt CherOkee Iudian lo q
resident in Washington, and claiming to rep
resent his people here, Is reported by a ST
Louis paper as having stated in an ipterview
with one of its reporters, that Col. William A.
Phillips, an ex-msmber of the House of Rem
reseutdtlVes from X ansas, aud who has besn
for some years the attorney for the Cherokees,
In washington, had iBtmated that he had
palu senator Dawes aud Secretary Teller q
sum OF m9ney TO obtain their Influence 10 the
passage OF the act referred to. Alter this Bou-
ulnot tssaed circular letter addressed TO the
Cherokee nation, 10 which he accuses Phillips
Of stealing 22,500 from the Cherokee naii ion,
ana makes use Of tue following language:
Ibis plain insinu4tious that he had to sy
this money to Secretary Teller and Senator
Dawes OF Massachusetts,, is as evety body will
Deieve, sisnaer On two honest ofti5ials."
Col ilips denies in the strongest terms
the statements and accusations OF Boudiuot,
and presents satisfactory proof tar he receiy-
ed from tue treasurer Ol the Cherokee nation
nothing but his salary as attorney.
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