New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-11
THE INDIAN PROBLEM.
A COMMITTEE CALL UPON TIE PRESIDENT.
Mr.. CLEYELAND's POLICY AND Mr.. LAMARs VIEWS
NOT READY FOR CITIZENSHIP.

Mr.. cLEvELAND's POLICY AND Mr.. LAMARs VIEWS
NOT READY FOR CITIZENSHIP.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.-The President gave
audience to-day to the committee appointed "t Tue
recent conference at Lake Mohonk, New-fork 10 pre-
sent TO him the result of their deliberations on the
Indian question General Fisk headed the delegation
and presented the members the President Eras'us
Brooks, of Now York, read address embOdymS tue
views OF tie conference TO the best method Oh I'LL
proving the condition Of the Indians. The queslohs
Mr. Brooks sald which seemed to them to demand inc
most immediate attention are those relating to land and
education. homes and families. What is now needea lh
regard lands he said, is severalty and Individuality
the protection OF law for persons and families
This would result settlements in homes and land cu
tiyation and in that may make the Indian selsup-
porting citizen endowed with all the rights privileges
aud duties OF citizenship. The speaker dwelt elO
quenty the evil effects of the lack OF laws to pro-
Indians and said they needed just what the
white hasthe force of law in their behalf and the
freedom OF the ballot 10 these ends. 1t was
urged that the tribal relations and reservations be abo
shed and the diffusion speedily possible OF the
Indian in the United States. encouraged that lie may
by association with his white brethren pure CIV
zatIon and full citizenship.
Remarks were also made by the Rev. Lyman Abbott,
NJ. E. Gaos aud General Fisk each Of whom advocated
the abolition of the system of Indian reserva-
tons and favored the adoption OF policy IN regard TO
case of the coOred population.
The President listened aentiyey to the speakers and
assured them OF the deep interest he had In the Indian
question. lie reviewed briefly the many
difficulties encountered IN dealing with
most important and said that the great trout
bic to his mind to the first practical step to be
taken in improving the condition Of the Indian. "shall
We give them more schools aud churches and agIcul-
tural implements their reservations shall
deed them landsn Seyeralty and leave them to their
One trouble he found get rid Of
the Influences OF the old chiefs Then again. If we leave
the Indians to thens Ives and one becomes hungry
loud cry goes up az over the country that we arc starry
ing the Indians. How we TO get the indians 10
mingle with the whitesl We certainly cannot drive
them OIL their reservations Is IL better 70
keep them under tutelage where they
could their civilization be better accomplished IN
some other way The question Is surrounded Win
portant consideration to my mind at present H. What
Is the most useful thing to oe done nowf lie sald
that while It might not be- well for tho to disturb
tho Indians In their present homes he believed tat inc
reservations would ultimately be given 10 them IN sew
crafty, and the Indians thrown their own resources
The President reminded the committee that the cause
which they advocated would require years TO cOnsuIn
mate, but ntimated that lie hoped o. be able to make
beginning I'm the right direction during the remaining
years of his administration.
The committee after leaving the White House pro-
cccicd TO the Interior Department whore they had
long interview with Secretary Lamar and through their
chairman presented him u statement OF tho
had boon reached in the history that interesting
that must he met By methods different from those
hitherto pursued lie did not advocate the division
Of the entire reservation among the Indians
and believed the abandonment or the reservation
system at This time would br premature. He was I'M
pressed with the belief the Christian religion
the interests OF the white people alone were concerned
the problem could be solved by making the Indian a
swallowing four million black slaves and dgesting that
pretty well should strain ut this. But 10
made the Indian citizen at present would be sad SER
vico to him. and there would not DO much Of him left If
dORe suddenly.