Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-03-27
Inllinn IiinhIS.

The Indian RIGHTS association is doing
some noble and effective work i'm behalf of
the ,yrongcd and neglected tribes, which
our government has seen fit to pen up ON
their western reservations, aud leave eN-
rusrd to the tender mprcies of unscrupu-
lous agents and brutal land-grabbcrs.
The associatiou has published Il pamphlet
in which it's main objects are outlined,
substantially rs follows 1st, to awaken
in the nation spirit of Justice which will
demand that existing laws he made opera
tive: I'd. to secure adequate educational
provisions for developing to their highest
use of physical mental and moral powers
of the Indian: 3D. to protect individual
titles to land. "This," they say lis the
entering wedge by which tribal organiza-
ton is to be rent asundpr."
The first object of the association. to
secure the lust enforcement of existing
laws in behalf of the Indian race,-is one
which philanthropists have been too much
inclined to ignore. The disposition to pile
up laws. adding enactment to enactment
in the vain hope that accumulated lcgi~la
ton will enforce itself is the fault of all
modern reformcrs, and not the least fault
of those who have hitherto undertaken to
secure Justice for the Indian. There are
laws enough ON this point already, if they
could NE enforced. to place the Indian in
position of comparative comfort and wei
fare Bnt the disposition has been to cry
out for more legislation. rather than for
the rigid enforcement of such laws rs we
have 1t has seemed easier to plead for
new privileges, than to secure for the
/ Indians the protection ana the defense OF
property and individual rights which Is
| their due. Boomers. railway compan-
les, ranchcrS, squatters and cattle thieves
have plundered and wronged the helpless
tribes almost unchecked, while the phil
anthropists and the reformers have been
bending their energies to secure still more
empty and meaningless privileges and con
cessions for the Indians.
Although the Government probably
made a mistake-which it has since dis
covered-iu adopting the reservation sys-
TEN, we protest against the injustice of
practically repudiating its obligations I'M
der that system because it has found them
difficult and expensive to maintain. This
is nothing short of the deliberate viola
ton of its agreement. If the plan of sup
porting and caring for the Indians like
herd of cattle proves more of burden
than the Government expected, let us
have better plan, but until we have that
better plan, let MS live up to our present
contract with the Indian. Enforce the
laws framed for his beneht-that Is SIM
pie justice.
The Association has for its second aim
the providing of educational advantages
for the Indian-physiCa intellectual and
moral. This, really, is the fundamental
thing, so far as the real improvement and
elevation OF the Indian is CONCERNED.
Everything else is eXtraneOus a tenn
porary scafioldng, for the building of
character which shall fit the Indian to he
come a citizen of this great republic. The
character which shall he buiIt deDends nm
-, ,I,,,,,,I ,,l ,,,r.,I +ri,;,n,r of tbi
VII ,''e ",''''"' ', ~, i
neglected. race ne <ASsocl"'loi' may "oih
upon this line without let or hlnderance.
If it can secure, as it hopes, valuable aid
in tbo way Of lamentations from the
C,.,,.,s,,,, ,,.,Ii I'D ,,,,,,I.I,,+ +ho an
uoN ein'iieil'' wen anu So'"' ""O 'i''
terprlse Will sun remain, largely one Oh
individual and private effort. The estab-
Hshment of GOOD schools among the In.
dio,,s MINK. ,,,.t donand moro unnn tho
,''.,'' fi"''''! .; u,