Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1885-11-18
Gureka Dailp 9entilel.
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER IS, 1885
THE INDIAN QUESTION.

Ahh
The Indian question is one that ought
to be solved, and that right speedily.
Excellent solutions have been offered
from time to time, but none Of them
have, for reasons never given, been
adopted. In our Geographic columns
to-day will be found a recommends
tion emanating from General Sheridan
that occurs to US as having considerable
merit, and would, we believe, if adopted,
have the desired effect-to a great extent,
at least. Joseph Nimmo. Jr., for ten
years Chief of the National Bureau OF
Statistics, is writing a book on the great
dry area of the United States, and in it
he will deal with the Indian question.
Mr.. Nimmo, is now in San Francisco,
and on Saturday last a reporter of the
Alta California interviewed him, and
from the following it will be seen that
his views and those of General Sheridan
are practically the same. The reporter
asked:
"What is your opinion of the Indian
question, and what means would you
suggest to solve it?"
my idea, sir, is that Congress at its
next session should make provision for
the immediate survey of all the reserva-
tions. A law should be passed provid.
ing that all Indians should be settled
on the lands in severalty, the rest
of the lands being sold and tho
proceeds therefrom applied to pub.
lie improvements for their benefit.
Also, that every Indian, after a given
period. who is engaged in agriculture or
any other productive enterprise, should
be made citizens of the United States.
/ would give them inalienable title to
their land for twenty-five years, after
which period they should be left to take
care of themselves"
"What was the condition of the In.
dams on the reservations which you
visited?"
81 was very much gratified by the
evidences of substantial advancement in
agriculture and education which could
be plainly seen. Among the Sioux at
Pine Ridge and Standing Rock this was
particularly noticeable. A very large
proportion of the Indians at these points
have built houses and are cultivating the
soil. In every one OF the tribes | found
two political parties-the party of pro-
gress and the party of conservatism-or
as they express it, going the white
mans road or going the old road The
party in favor of the white mans road,
however, is predominant. The only
trouble which the agents now have i'll
their efforts towards advancing the In
dams in education and industrial pur'
suits in that locality proceeds from Red
Cloud and Sitting Bull. and a few other
conceited old chiefs who have won re.
nown as fighting men,"
"On what reservation is Red Cloud =
queried the reporter.
"He is at Pine Ridge. He has beer
to Washington q number of times. and
when there he always processes great
friendship for the whites. But when he
returns to the reservation he advises his
men not to till the soil and support them
selves, as if they do so the Government
will cut off their supply of blankets and
provisions. The opposition OF these men
to the advancement of their tribe in cul'
t~ivation appears to be a combination oil
cussedness and poetic sentiment. One
of them is responsible for this pernicious
but beautiful sentiment: The earth il
your mother; to scratch her bosom with
a pillow is to Insult her."
"Of course the military have consider
able influence over the reservation In
dians!"
Eyes" was the reply, "under the
mora! influence of the military, by whom
they are surrounded, and the more di'
rect influence of the agents, from whom
they receive food and raiment, the
authority formerly exercised by the
chiefs has almost entirely been broken
down. There is no police power exer.
cised now among the Indians through
the tribal government. That authority
has naturally gravitated to the agents,
who are, to all intents and purposes,
governors of the tribes, and under the
laws of the United States maintain
order through the Indian police. These
men are, as a rule, faithful and reliable
as much so. / think, among the Sioux
nation as the police of our principal
cities. The Indian question is ripe for
settlement, and all that is needed is
judicious legislation"
The Chicago Times tells the truth In