Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1884-01-24
TIE NEZ PIERCE RESERVATION
QUESTION

We this week have published a bin for
the relief Of the Nez Perces which pro
vides that the allotment of land to the
Nes Perces should be increased from 20
acres to so acres for each Indian above
81 years Of age who is single and to l69
for each Indian who is the head Of e
family, and the statement Ct the commits
sioner, who prepared the bill, makes the
whole number of Indians to be less than
1900. The bill provides that these al
lotments be made upon reservation lanis
and the commissioner says that if all the
Indians were allotted land in quantity, az
provided in the bill, they would not alb
sorb more than one-fourth of the reserva
tion lands, aud that if only those proyid-
ed for in the bill had their allotments.
only about one-eighteenth of the lands Of
the reservation would be absorbed This
bill is reported by the President with the
Enforcement Of the secretary Of the inter
ior and the commissioner, in special
message of the President, and has been
reported to the committee on Indian al
fairs. 1t is difficult to say what DISPOSE
ton this committee will do with the bill
They may modify it in several essential
points and make 1t either better or worse,
and then it may not receive the sanction
Of Congress. We are inclined to the
opinion that Congress will pass bill
equally as good as the one reported, if not
better, provided they reach the matter so
Is TO pass any bill at all upon the subject.
We hope they will pass some act upon
the question, as i. will give the Indians
and the people generally to understand
what may be expected Of Congress in this
matter that has long been neglected. The
condition Of the Indians demand that
there should be some expression Of Con
gress in the matter Then the question
occurs, what will be done with the resi-
due Of the lands? At late council of
the Indians held at Lapwai, Indian Reu-
ben seemed to claim that this residue
should be held in reserve till such time
a the children should become of sufficient
age to take up lands, and then they be
permitted to take and occupy it, As well
might the Government reserve large
bodies Of land to be taken by the infant
children Of the whites. But the Govern
ment never docs anything of the kind,
and Why should they do this for infant
Indians? 1t seems that Reuben's theory
u an anomaly, ard we suspect that it is
put forward moro as basis for uphold
ing the Indian chieftaincy system than
for the purpose Of bringing the Indians
under the government Of the white man
or under republican government. |, is
no advantage to the Indian to retain these
ands, unoccupicd for long series of years,
when they can be sold aud the proceeds
b applied for the benefit of tho present
generation Of Indians, in giving them the
neaHs Of educating their children and
bringing them into the pale of citizenship
and preparing them fully to take advan-
lage II the Indian homestead lands, SO
hat they can take land anywhere off the
reservation and manage it as well as the
whites. The policy Of the Government
'hould be and must be to make no dis
'inction between the races who come
within the purview of the Government
y citizens, who seek its fostering care
md protection. We want no petted and
classes, except those that are
'referred on account Of their intelligence /,
nd good conduct. In the event of the /,
annge Of the bill recommended or any i
thes bill Of similar character, the Pres j,
TENT and the cabinet will still have large :,
powers, in making the ap
hcation Of the provisions Of the act and ;,
Aaping these provisions to the real con- :,
ition and wants Of the Indian, and I'm ;,
er them II will be long time before the \
'rvices Of an Indian agent can be dis =,
ensed with, who shall reside among them :,
J securing their rights under the law. ii
70 think, however, that the bill proposed =,
VI be an important advance step for the y.
'seht Of the Indian and other steps will J.,
on follow. =.