The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-12-24
THE NATIONS WARDS.


Secretary Lamar Shows That the Red Man
Can Not Charge upon the Country a
"Century of Dishonor'-His Plans.
Secretary Lamar estimates that the
Indian service has cost the Government
an average of $3.50, ,629 per year from
the year 1882 to the present time: 1t
now costs S6,0O0,000 per annum. All
the expenditure of money, effort and
organization is for the control, 'protec-
ton and management of a population
of 100000 men, women and children
He says:
Whatever may be said about the
injustice and cruelty with which the
Indians have been treated in the past,
characterized by some as 'tcentury
of dishonor," the Government is now,
as all must admit, putting itself to
great trouble and expense for a very
small and inutile population. The
question arises: What is the purpose
sought to be accomplished Is it to
protect this country against the Indian
as menace to the security and peace
of our people. Nothing could be more
absurd. The Indian race is no longer
source of danger to the peace or Sc
curity of this great Republic. Most of
the reservations are encircled by pow
erful communities, and those upon the
frontier are completely in the hands of
our military forces. Nor is the Indian
any longer an obstacle to our National
progress or to our material develop
ment. So far as the interests of our
own people are concerned, apart from
the needs of the Indian population, the
Indian problem could be easily solved
by simply Withdrawing all Government
supervision over these people and con-
ferring upon them the rights of American
citizenship. Those who would not pass
away would be soon absorbed into
American society. After incorporating
into our body polite four millions of
blacks in a state of slavery and invest
ing them with citizenship and suffrage
we need not strain at the gnat of 260,-
600 Indians. 1t would only be an ad-
ditional morsel and q verv small one
80 80
cruel and destructive To the Indian in
a. L.1,,1o.. -, d;t;o-, - ,rrh;oh a. ~
che neiPless coiioiCioii W Which 'he CA
tension of settlements will soon reduce
him than a war of determination.
AA.- - :" !" -. W -. A..
peace of the country, or the security of
tts from t;o,.s from, tho donror of Tu6;on
ioe lion'ioie lionI .no n
war, or on account of their hindrance
to our material progress, that all these
efforts and expenditures are made in
their behalf. 1t is because this Gov
ernment is bound by duty, humanity,
religion, good faith and National honor
| to protect, at whatever of expense or
| sacrifice, these original possessors of
the soil from the destruction with
| which they are threatened by the very
agencies that make our prosperity and
greatness. The sense of this obligation
was profoundly felt by the founders of
our Republic. They not only recog-
nized it as the rule of their own con-
duct. but thew wrote it down in their
statutes and ordinances for the guild
ance of their posterity. The ordinance
| of 1887 (articfe 81 contains the follow
| ing language:
S.Religion. morality and knowledge being
| necessary to good government and the happi,.
mess OF ShaII n anconragae Tbe
utmost good faith shall always be observed
| toward the Indians; their lands and properly
cn%sent. % and in their nronerfv % rights and iib.
| erty they never shall be invaded or disturbed
10 Just n ana aws swf IN %sce
humanity shall from time to time be made for
preventing wrongs being done to them and
tbemp tbe preserving pe"'e anu Ai.e"o'n'p WIZ"
| 1.-The principles embodied in these
noble utterances constitute the funda-
mental principles of genuine Indian
policy. Assuming, then, that the civiliza-
| ton, the moral, intellectual, social and
| industrial elevation of the Indian to
fit him to take part in the civilization
of the country and the age, is the COM
| mon object of all, the question arises:
What means should be adopted to ac-
complish thisp 1 have not been long
enough in this office to become
SO thoroughly acquainted with the
characteristics, customs, habits and
wants of the Indians as to feel myself
competent to propose any general plan
or policy which in all respects will be
adapted to the conditions of the pres
ent and ADEQUATE to the probable exi-
gencies of the future. There are, how
ever, some measures which think are
necessary to lay a solid foundation for
Indian civilization, and to avert the de-
moralization and destruction of these
people, which the environment of the
white race now threatens. l recon-
mend that a portion of every reserva-
ton be divided up into separate tracts
of suitable size for farms, to be allotted
to each individual as his sole and sepa-
rate estate. Provision should be made
against the power (until after time
limited) of selling or mortgaging the
same, or even leasing it to any but In.
dians living within the same reserva-
ton. Without legislation of this kind
all efforts to make the Indian support
himself by his own labor will prove
fruitless and unavailing. To over
come his natural aversion to labor
there must be the incentive given alone
by sure guarantee that the fruits O,
his labor shall be enjoyed in security
No man will clear forests, inclose field
and cultivate them, and rear house.
and barns when at any moment he may