Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-12-03

loving Communication to the Secrssary
Of the Interior
deem 10 my duty through you "a
Gall the attention Of the Treasury De-
partmens 70 the smuggling carried on
between Arizona and the State of So
nora. Mexico. The counties of Pima
and Cochise have . border of several
hundred miles along the Mexican from
TIER, over which the smnQ9iers cross
upon 1nfrtq1ented trails, bringing int.
tnis Territory the products of M.xic,
without trouble or hindranoe frsu the
United states customs authorities. In
Arizona there are 1900 Inhabitants of
Mexican origin, the national drink of
whom ~ nesoal, liquor distilled from
tee csctus plant. thousands of gallons
OF which are annually consumed by
them. all OF IL being manufactured
within the borders Of our sister rspub-
lie. Hardly q gallon pays duty. Hon
dreds Of thousands Of Mexican cigars
and Quantities of tobacco, TO say moth
ing of beef and cattle. horses, mules.
etc, are smuegIed-
In this connection the Governor in
| elndes an extract from the report of
the last Grand Jury in support Of bis
assertions, and concludes a. follows /;
In order to enforce the customs laws
OF the United States, | would respect
fully recommend that four mounted
inspe ctors be appointed by the Depart
ment to be assigned to duty along the
borders Of Cochise and Pima counties :.
that tesy be selected 90 accouat of their
familiarity with the country, their know
ledge Of the trails and by paths leading
into Mexico, and that they speak the
spanish language and are frontiersmea."
Report OF the Cem0issieser OF Iadian
Affairs.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2. General ]. ID. G..
Atkins, Commissioner Of Indian All airs,
has submitted his annual report TO the
Secretary OF the Interior for the fiscal
year ending June 30. 1885 The CON-
missioner prefases his report with the
statement that 1t requires no seer to
foretel or foresee the civiliz alton of the
Indian race "a q result naturally dedu.
cibie from the knowledge and practice
upon their part OF the art OF agricui-
ture, for the history of agriculture
among all peoples and all countries in
timately connects IL with the highest
intellectual and moral development of
| man"
He continues, The increased interest
Ia agriculture manifested since the
opening of last spring and the prepare
ten on the several reservations for a
still increased acreage In farming, are
among the hopeful signs of Indian pro-
g'ess and development. This brings
me directly to consideration of tbs
practical policy which believe should
be adopted by Congress and the Gov
ment Ia the m engagement of the Indians.
II should be indu striously and generally
| impressed upon them that they must
abandon their tribal relations aud take
lands in severalty an the corner stone of
their complete success in agriculture,
and which means self support, personal
| Independence and material thrift. The
Government should, however, in order
to protect them, retain q right to their
land in trust for twenty five years or
! long r, but should issue trust patents at
oace to such Indians as have taken in
dividual holdings. When the Indians
have taken their lands in severalty in
Sufficient quantities, the nuaber Of acres
IN each holding may and should vary
in different localities according to
fertility. produetiveness, elm stiS and
other advantages. Then, having a due
regard TO the immediate and future
needs Of the Indians. the remaining
lands Of their reservations should be
purchased by the government and
opened to home stead entry at 90 or rs
cents per acre. The money paid by the
government for thsir lands should be
| held Ia trust in Ave per cent bonds to
be invested as Congress may provide for
the education, vilization, material de
vslopment and advan ,ement OF the red
g.. ii
| money. IL this policy were adopted
system atically by the government IL
| would be strange II in five years from
there should be any Indian OF
any tribe whs would refuse to
accept 80 favorable and advantageous
measure. Every step taken, every
move made, every suggestion offered,
| everything done with reference TO the
Indians, should be with q view to inn
pressing upon them the policy which
has been permanently decided upon oy
the Government. They must abandon
tribal relations; they must give up their
superstitions; they must forsake their
| savage habits and learn the arts of
civiiizs tion; they must learn to labor,
! and must learn to rear th sir families as
| white people do, and to know more Of
their obligations to the q ,vernment ard
70 society. In a word. they mast learn
to work for living, and they must an
derstand that II is their duty TO send
| their children 10 school. When the
farm and the school have become fami-
liar institutions among the Indians aud
a reasonable time has interviewed for q
transition from barbarism or a semi.
civilized state. to a civilized state, then
will the Indian be prepared to take upon
himself the higher and more respon
sibie duties and privileges which spper-
tain to American citizenship"
There are In the United States, eI-
elusive OF Alaska, 900 Indians, fully
half of VII N have az yet declined to
commit themselves 10 the life of the
farmer. Exclusive OF the lands Guilt
waited by the Ave civilized sribes, the
number of acres in cultivation by Indi-
ans during the year Was "a, 2tl, an in
crease Of lS,4T3 over las. years figures.
| Referring TO the Indian Outbreaks in
the South vest the Co nmissioner says :
1T has been deemed advisable to place
all the Apaches temporarily under the
charge of the War Department, that
Department TO have full authority
necessary for their management. This
office heartily sympathizes with the
efforts of this War Department 10 con-
troll the Chiraoahuas, and | trust the
military will be able TO capture the
murderous band nov skuiking in the
Sierra Msdre Mountains, and to bring
them to condiRn punishment"
| The Caseuses.
WAsHIN0TsN. Dec. "A caucus OF
the Democratic Representatives will be
held in the hall Of she House sf Repre-
sentstives on Saturday evening, 10 Sc
lect candidates for the various Offices
under the next House.
| senator sherman will preside At the
Republican Senatorial caucus, Friday.
| Indian Treubies.