Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-12-17
TIE rNrrRroR DEPARTMENT.

The report Of the secretary Of the interior con
tanning an account OF the operations 81 TINS iui-
portant department and much interesting lnioI-
nation will be submitted for your consideration
The most intricate and difficult SUBJECT Ia chaIBe
OF this department. IS
THE TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF INDIANS.
l am satisfied that some progress may be noted
in their condition a result OF prudent admin
istration Of the present laws and regulations Tor
their control.
But It is submitted that there is lack OF Ak
ed purpose OF policy os this subject which should
be supplied II il useless to diate upon the
wrong Is Of the Indians, aud as useless 10 Indulge
In the heartless belief that because their wrongs
are reyenged in their own attroclous measures
therefore they should be extermlAated. Ihey
are within the care OF our government, ana their
rights are, or should be protected from INVASION
by the most solemn obligation. They are prop
erly enough called the wards OF the government
And it should DO borne in mind that this gparo'
ianship involves on our part an EFFORT Tor the I'M
provement OF their condition and the enfeTce'
ment OF their rights
There seems 70 be a general coneurrense In the
proposition that the ultimate object OF their
treatment should be their civilization and citizen
ship Fitted by these TO keep pace In the march
Of progress with the advanced civilization about
them will readily assimilate with the MASS OF
population assuming the responsibilities necessary
to the protection incident to their condition. The
difficulty appears to be 10 the selection OF the
means to be at present employed toward the at
taiumeut of this mSlt
our Indian population exclusive Of those IN
Alaska, ts reported as numbering 10000 nearly
all being located on land set apart for their use
aud occupation AIS regating over lI000p00 OF
acres, These lands are included In the bOundar
les OF Ia reservations of different dimensions
scattered in 81 states and territories presenting
great variation i'm climate and the kind and qual
iy of their soils. Among Indians upon these
several reservations there exist the most marked
differences IN national traits and dispo-
sitiou ard in their progress towards civilization
While some are lazy, vicious and stubborn, others
are industrious, peaceful aud intelligent, while a
portion 9f them are self supporting and indie
pendent, aud have So far advanced lu civilization
that they made their own laws. administered
through officers of their own choice and elu-
cated their children in schools cf tbeir own es-
tahIishUeut and maintenance. Others still ne.
tain IN Slullcr ami dependence almost the S2v.
aEery ct their natural state.
ln dealing with this question the, desire mHui-
Tested 10y the Indians should nOt he ignored Here
aEaln We ind great diversity. With some or the
the ttrtoaI rel atoms is cherished the utmost te
uac.ty wn.le its hold upon others IS considerably
rel aNea Tire love DC home is strong within all
ald yet there are those whose attachment To
Particular Goc alitv is by no means unyieldirg. The
ownership of ther lg1ti iii severairy is much de-
Sisaa By some, while hy others. and sometimes by
al the most civilized suel a distribution would be
bitterly opposed
Ihe variation q their wants growing out Of and
CONNECTED VIII tie caaracterof their several LIZ