Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-02-21
Future of the Red Man.

From an article in the Chicago
Times, by Representative William NJ.
Springer. we extract the following:
The question of the most pressing
importance is as to the proper policy to
be pursued in reference 10 Indian Ter
ritory. The Indians in the territory
are already exercising Legislative. judi
cial, and executive functions. Each
tribe acts for itself But the whole pol
lev of the government toward these In
dians should be changed. A territorial
government should be established for
the whole territory. All tribe relations
should be abolished. The lands should
be allotted in severalty. in tracts suita
BILE to the condition of heads of families,
and made inalienable for twenty years.
The other lands should be appraised,
and sold or opened to homesteads for
actual settlers. The proceeds derived
from such sales and homestead pur-
chases should be set apart for educa-
tional purposes, and for erecting school
houses and other public buildings. A
sufficient fund should be reserved and
set apart for endowing free schools for
all time to come. If the Indians are
approached by the agents of the gov
ernment in the proper spirit, they will
readily consent to such q disposition of
their lands. They will derive all the
benefits and be subjected to no losses
or inconvenience. Their policy is now
that of the dog in the manger. They
DO not use the lands themselves and
will not let others use them. Or if 9TH
ers do use them it is upon leases of
doubtful validity and nominal rental.
But if they should, under the mistaken
and selfish advice of their so-called
chiefs and agents, refuse to accept a
policy having for its object the greatest
good to the greatest number of them
selves, as well as the best interests of
the people of the whole country, the
government may interpose its strong
hand, and by appropriate legislation
make such disposition of the lands in
the territory as will secure justice and
equal rights to all. 1t may be objected
to this policy that the government has
made treaties with and conveyed land
by patents to these Indians. The So
called treaties are mere articles of
agreement, procured in many cases
through fraud and Misrepresentation.
The patents of lands to tribes to be held
in common may be revoked, and the
! lands conveyed in severalty, and such
as are not conveyed may be sold and
the proceeds held in trust for the bene-
fit Of all. The government should not
stand upon technicalities and legal
bubbles, but should take the response
nf Iao1tnrr ir,cflu NTH fhaSa do
| pendent wards of the nation. Civiliza-
ton has crowded around Indian Terri
tory upon three sides, and can not
longer be kept from overfowing into
| its borders. This emergency must be
met in a spirit of justice to the Indian
and consideration to the whites. The
laws of the union should be extended
over the Indians in the territory as
well as over those on all the reserva-
| tions.
The Indians embraced in the second
| class require but little attention from
the government at this time. But eff
forts should be made to allot their
lands in severalty, as is being done al
| ready in some instances.
| Measures should be adopted at once
| looking to the allotment of the lands of
the semi-civilized tribes in severalty,
and the sale of lands not required for
allotment, the proceeds to constitute
trust funds for their education and CIV
| ilization.
The final solution of the Indian prob
lem will be found in the allotment of
lands in severalty and the abolition OF
tribal relations. In order to accomplish
this result, the Indians should be
taught practical pursuits of industry,
schools should be provided for the
youth, and the lands not required for
allotment should be opened to the oc-
cupancy of the whites. The Indians,
by being brought into contact with
white people, will soon acquire habits
of industry and frugality. and will be,
come citizens and part of the body
polite.
The greatest boon that can be coz
ferred upon the Indian is to make hin
a citizen, subject him to the laws of thu
land, give him homestead, and teacl
him how to earn an honest living fol
himself and family. A policy of sickl,
! -Cntimentalism is at war with his bes