The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1885-12-11
TELEGRAPHIC.
THE INDIAN QUESTION.

| AAhA A-NOAAN XOACAAVN'
Commissioner Atkins Discusses it Com.
prcllcnslvely.
| WASHINGTON, ID. G., Dec. 2.-General
j, ID. Atkins, Commissioner of Indian
affairs, has submitted to the Secretary
OF the Interiorhis annual report for the
fiscal year ended June Both, 1868. The
commissioner prefaces his report with
the statement that "It requires no seer
to forefell or foresee the civilization of
the Indian race as q result naturally
deducible from the knowledge and
practlce upon their part of the art of
agriculture, for the history of agricul-
ture among all people and in all coun-
tries intimately connects 1T with the
highest intellectual and moral develop
ment of man. He continues: "The in
creased interest in agriculture manifes-
ted since the opening of last spring and
the preparation of several reservations
for a still increased acreage in farming,
are among the hopeful signs of Indian
progress and development. This brings
me directly to the consideration of the
practical policy, which believe should
be adopted by congress and the govern
ment in the management of the Indians
1t should be industriously and grave
ly impressed upon them that they must
abandon their tribal relations. and take
lands in severalty, as the corner stone
of their complete success in agriculture,
which means self support, personal in
dependence and material thrift. The
government should, however, in order
to protect them, retain the right to their
land in trust for twenty-five years or
longer, but issue trust patents at once
to such Indians as have taken individ-
ual holdings.
When Indians have taken their land
in severalty in sufficient quantities and
the number Of acres in each holding,
may and should tarry in different local
tiles, according to fertility, productive
ness, climate and other advantages.
Their having due regard to the immo-
diate and future needs of the In
dians; the remaining lands of their
reservations should be purchased by
the government and opened to home
stead entry at so or Is cents per acre.
The money paid by the government
for these lands should be held in trust
in five per cent bonds, to be invested as
Congress may provide, for the educa-
ton, civilization and material develop
ment and advance of the red race, re-
serving for each tribe its own money.
If this policy was adopted systematical-
ly by the government, it would be
strange if, IN 5years from its inaugur-
alton, and establishment, there should
be an Indian of any tribein the whole
country who would refuse to accept so
favorably and advantageous measure.
Every move made, every suggestion
offered, everything done with reference
to the Indians should be with a
view to inpressing upon them that
this is a policy which has been per-
manently decided upon by the govern
ment in reference to their government,
they must abandon tribal relations,
they must give up their superstitions,
they must forsake their savage habits,
and learn the arts of civilization,
they must learn to labor, and must
learn to rear their families
as white people do and to know
more Of their obligations to govern
ment and society. In word, they
must learn to work for living and they
must understand that it is their duty to
send their children to school. When
farm and school have become familiar
institutions among the Indians, and a
reasonable time has interviewed for the
transition from barbarism, or semi civ
iliZed state, to one OF civilization, then
will the Indian be prepared to take
upon himself the higher and more res
ponsible duties and privileges which
appertain to American citizenship.
There are in the United States, ex-
elusive of Alaska, 100000 Indians, full
! ly one-half of whom have as yet declin-
ed to commit themselves to the life of
the farmer. Exclusive of lands culti-
waited by five civilized tribes, the num-
Der of acres in cultivation by Indians
this year number 248,241, an increase of
1S,473, since last years figures. Refer
ing to the Indian outbreaks in the
southwest the Commissioner says: "It
has been deemed advisable to place all
the Apaches temporarily under the
charge Of the War Department, that
department to haye full authority
necessary for their management. This
office heartily sympathizes with the
effort of the War Department to con-
troll the Chiricahuas and I trust that
the military will he able to capture the
murderous band no " skullling in the
Sierra Madre mountains, and to bring
them to condign punishment"
CONGRESSIONAL.
IN TIE SENATE.