Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-03-10
THE INDIANS.

augural, with truth and force, that 'the
conscience Of the people demands that the
Indians without our boundaries shall be
fairly and honestly treated as wards of the
Govern nent, and their education and civ
ilization promoted, with view to their
ultimate citizenship" That is we'll put.
1t is the conscience of the people that de-
mands fair and humane treatment for the
Indians, and it is we'll that this conscience
has been awakened, at last.
Fortunately, in a prelude to Boston
Monday lecture, recently delivered, Mr..
Joseph Cook, who has given good deal of
attention to the Indian problem, and who
has had both observation and experience
in this direction, made some good points,
from which both the President and the
people may learn something. Mr.. Cook
stated these important and admitted facts:
First-That Gen. Crook (an Ohio man,
by the way) has reformed the Apaches.
Therefore" Mr.. Cook Justly concludes,
other tribes may be reformed"
Second-There is now no frontier. The
reservations are like islands surrounded by
civilization, which will have both an evil
and good effect in introducing vices and
virtues
Third-Mr. Cock gives the rather sur
prising information that the Indians con-
tinue to increase in numbers" For
many years it has been the popular i'm
preston that the Indians were wasting
away and likely to be obliterated
from the human family and phi
lanthropists and politicians have been
looking forward to this result as the only
practical solution land the easiest) of the
problem involved.
Fourth-The Indians are now we'll
armed
Fiith-"The Indians are desirous of
education" So says Mr.. Cook, and we
may add that it is well known that we have
several large schools for Indians and that
the pupils are making good progress in
pursuing educational branches and the me-
chanical arts. One Of these is at Carlisle,
Penn, another at Hampton, Virginia, and
one at Santee, Nebraska.
Mr. Cooks sixth statement is very i'm
portant-mainly-that 'the Indians are
desirous of owning land" If portion of
them are, the fact is full of hope.
Mr.. Cook further asserts that-"Raids
upon them (the Indians) ARE frequent.
Malicious killing of Indians is not consid-
cred murder; robbing them is no crime.
Rascally agents abound. A Democratic
House of Representatives has starved
many to death. and Republican Senate
has done the same" These are very Sc
rious charges but there is much truth in
them. But on the other hand, we are in
formed that Indian rights associations
are springing up" that Tribal organiza-
tions are breaking up and land is coming
to be held in severalty" Then we are
further informed that ''the Government re-
fuses to make treaties with the tribes" and |
that three million dollars are now due |
them for education"
In answer to the question what is now
needed Mr.. Cook forcibly replies:
l. Initiate General Cooks example
?. Support Indians only by giving
'ations in the transition periods.
3. Break up tribal organizations and
yive land in severalty.
4. Evangelize.
5. Educate.
6. Agitate.
I. Pass the Pope bill, pending in
Congress.
s. Give the Indian right to sue in the
courts.
9. Make the laws Of marriage, divorce
md crime applicable to them.
10. Provide better Indian agents at
arger salaries.
Let all this be done, as President Cleve-
and says: with a view to their ultimate
l.