Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-12-09


condition and welfare.
The agent who perfunctorily performs his
duty and slothfully neglects all opportun ty
to improve their physical condition, and
fails to inspire them with desire for better
things will accomplish nothing in the direc-
ton of their civilization, while he who feels
the burden of an important trust and has an
interest in his work, will by consistent exam
pie, firm vet considerable treatment, and well
directed aid and encouragement, constantly
lead those under bis charge towards the Light
Of their enfranchisement.
In the history OF all progress which has
been made in the civilization of the Indians
think will disclose the fact that the begin
ming has been religious teaching followed by
OF accompanying secular education, while
the self-sscriicing and pious men and wo-
men who have aided in this good work by
their independent endeavor, have for their
reward the benefc.en: results of their labor
and consciousness of christian duty well
performed. Their valuable services should
be fully acknowledged by all who, under
the law, are charged with the control
aud management of our Indian wards.
Whist has been said indicates that in the
present condition Of Indians, no attempt
should be made TO apply fixed and I'M
yielding action TO their varied and vary
ing needs and circumstances. The Indian
burdens, with their general oversight and
with details and establishment, Can hardly
possess itself with minute peculiar cases
needing treatment, thus the propriety OF
creating an fundamentally, auxiliary to
those already established, for the care OF the
Indians suggests itself.
/ recommend the passage Of q law author
izing the appointment of six commissioners,
| three OF whom shall be detailed from the ar
| my, TO be charged with the dutr of Il careful
| inspection from time 10 time of all Indians
upon our reservations or subject to the care
| and control of the government, with we"
| %. discovering their exact condition and
| needs, and determining what steps shall b,
| taken on behalf of the government to I'M
prove their situation in the direction of their
| self-support and complete civilization; that
| that they ascertain from such Inspection
| what, il Any, of the reservations may be re-
| duced in area, and in such cases what part
| not needed for Indian occupation may bt
| purchased BY the government from the In
| dians and disposed OF for their benefit
| What if any Indians may, with their con
sent, be removed TO other reservations with
| n view Of their concentration and the same
on their behalf of their abandoned reserya'
tons, what Indian lands now held in common
should be allotted in severalty. In wha'
manner and to what extent the Indians upon
the reservations can be placed under the
protection Of our laws and subjected 10 theiI
penalties, and which if any lnsians should
be invested with the right Of citizenship the
| powers and functions of the commissioners
IN regard to these subjects should be clear
| ly deferred though they should, in conjunc'
| ton with the secretary OF the interior, be
given all the authority to deal de,
| initcly with the qustions presented
deemed safe and consistent
They should be also charged with the duty
of ascertsining the Indians who might prop
erly be furnished with implements of agri'
culture. and of what kind; in what cases the
support of the government should be with
drawn; where the present plan OF distribu'
ting Indian supplies should be changed
| where schaols may be established and where
| discontinued; the contract methods and wit
| ness of agent in charge Of reservations; the
extent TO which such reservations are occu-
pied or in,ruded upon by unauthorized per
sons, and generally all matters related toths
| welfar and improvement of the Indian
They should advise with the secretary OF
the interior concerning these matters Of de
tail in management, and he should be gIver
power TO deal with them fully, If not invest
ed with such power. This plan contem
plates the selection of persons for commits
sioners who are interested in the 1ndiar
| question, and who have practical ideas on
the subject of their treatment.
| The expense of the Indian bureau during
the last fiscal year was more than $4,000, 600
| believe much of this expenditure may b.
saved under the plan proposed, that IT,
economical effects would be increased with
lis continuance, that safety of frontier set
tiers would be subserved under its operation
and that the nstion would be saved through
lis results from the imputation of inhuman
lty, injustice and mismanagement. In order
10 carry out the policy of the allotment ui
Indian lands in severalty, when deemed
| expedient, it will be necessary TO have sur
| vcys completed of their reservations, and
| hope that the provisions will be
made for the prosecution of this place
In May of the present year small portion
of the Chirachuahua Apaches on White
Mountain reservation. in Arizona. commit
| ted n number of murders and depredations
| on settlers in that neighborhood. Though
prompt and energetic action was taken by
| the military. the renegades eiuded captur,
and escaped into Mexico. The scanty infur-
nation OF the country throughout which
quaintsnce with the same, aided their escape
and the msnner in which they scattered and
concealed themselves among the mountains
near the scene of their outrages,
put our soldiers Mt great disadvantage In
their efforts TO capture them, though the ex-
pectstion is still entertained that they will
ultimately be taken and punished for their
crimes. Tue threatening and disorderly
conduct Of the Chevennes of the Indian
Territory, early last summer, caused consd-
cradle alarm and uneasiness. Investigation
proved that their threatening attitude was
due, in great measure, TO the occupation Of
the land of their reservation by immense
herds of cattle, which their owners claimed
were rightfully there under certain
lenses made by the Indians.
Such occupation appearing upon exsmina-
ton TO be unlawful, notwithstanding these
leases, the intruders were ordered 10 remove
with their cattle from the lands of the lnd-
ans by executive proclamation. The
enforcement of said proclamation had the
effect Of restoring pc ce and order among
the Indians, and they are now quiet and
well-behaved.
BY an executive order issued on February
y. 1885, by my predecessor, portion of the
tract of country, in the Territory, known as
the old Winnebago and Crow Greek reserva-
tons, WAS directed to be restored to the
public domain and opened to settlement,
under the land law of the United States, and
4 number of persons entered these lands.
This action alarmed the Sioux Indians, who
claimed the territory as belonging to their
reservation under the treaty of 1868. This
claim was determined after careful inyestiga-
ton TO be well-founded and consequently the
executive order referred to was by proclsma-
ton of April l., 1885, declared TO be in
operative and OF no effect. and all persons
were warned to leave. This warning has
been substantially compiled with.
The public domain had its origin in cessions
of land by the states to the general govern
ment- The first cessions WAS made by the
state of New York and the largest which in
area exceeded all the others by the state of
Virginia. The territory-ihe proprietorship
of which became thus vested in the general
government-extended from the western line
of Pennsylvania TO the Mississippi river
These patriotic donations of the states were
incumbered with no condition except that
they should be held and used .'ior the
common benefit of the United States"
By purchase with the common fund of all
the people, additions were made t. this do
main until it extended to the northern line
of Mexico on the Pacific ocesn and the Po-
lar sea. the original trust "for the common
benefit of the United States attached 10 sll -
In the execution of that trust tie policy of
many homes, rather than large estates. wss
adopted By wise government That these
might be easily obtained, and be the abode
of security and contentment, the laws for the
acquisition were few, easily understood,
and general in their character
Ru. the press,,re of loc,l interest com,