Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-11-13
Statistics From the Report of
the First Assistant Post.
master General.
Annual Report of the Railway
Mail Service.
The Appointments and Other
Washington Matters.
Washington Notes.


CONSIDERING THE INDIAN QUESTION.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.-The presi.
dent to-day gave audience to the com
mittee appointed at the recent con-
ference at Lake Mohonk to present to
him the result of the deliberations on
the Indian question. Gen. Fish headed
the delegation and presented the
members to the president. Hon. Eras~
tus Brooks, of New York, read an adj
dress, embodying the views of the
conference as to the best method of
improving the condition of the In
dians. Remarks were made by the
other members OF the delegation, each
approving the present system of In
dian reservations.
The president listened attentively
and assured them of his interest in
the question. He reviewed briefly
many of the difficulties encountered
IN dealing with the question, which
he acknowledged was most import
ant one, and said that the great trou>
BILE to mis- mind was as to the first
practical step to be taken In improv-
ing the condition of the Indian. Shall
we give them more schools and
churches and agricultural implements
for use on the reservations, or shall
we deed them lands in severalty and
leave them to their own resources.
One trouble he found was to get rid
of the influence of the old chief.
Again, we leave the Indians to Them
selves and loud cry goes up all over
the country that we are starving the
Indians. How are we to get the In
diaas to mingle with the whitesa We
certainly cannot drive them off their
reservation. Is it better to keep them
under totelege where they are or
could their civilization be better ac-
complished in some other way2 The
question is surrounded with difficulty
continued the president, and the
most important consideration to
my mind is, what is the
most useful thing to be
done. He said that while it might
not be we'll for the cause to disturb
the Indians in their present homes, he
believed that the reservation would be
ultimately given to them in severalty,
and that the Indians would be thrown
on their own resources. s
The president reminded the commit
tee that the cause which they advo'
Gated it would require years to consum-
mate, but intimated that he hoped to
be able to make beginning in the
right direction during the remaining
years of his administration.
THE MoHoNK CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
CALL UPON SECRETARY LAMAR.
WASHINGTON, Nov. O.--The Mo-
honA Indian conference committee,
after leaving the white house, pro,
ceeded to the interior department,
where they had long interview with
Secretary Lamar, and through theil
| chairman presented to him a written
statement of the views of the confer
ence. In reply to brief address by
Gen. Fish, Secretary Lamar said he
would in his forthcoming annual re-
port, acknowledge his obligation tc
the philanthropic and benevolent asso
Citations and individuals in the work
he has to carry on. The ultimate
object was the civilization OF the In
dian, and a crisis had been reached
in the history of that interesting race
that must be met by some measures
different from those heretofore pur-
sued.
His own knowledge of the Indians
wants were as yet too limited to per-
NIT him to formulate general poll
cy adapted to the present and the exi
gencies of the future. The process
must be one Of improving the Indian
out of his present condition into civil,
ization, and it would be a gradual
process. The first points should be tc
secure their reservations to them
| (either as now located or com.
pressed into smaller space in fee
simple SO that their title shall be
inviolable, at some time he did lot ad
vocate the division of the entire reser
vation among the Indians, and be-
lieyed the abandonment of the reser.
vation system at this time would bt
sought, bat the first step would be taker
after bringing the Indians with then
consent into limits proportionate
with their members to protect them
fran the destructive influence from
stronger civilization surrounding
them. The whites should bG
vigorously excluded, and wher
the reservations had been sub
divided considerable portion
ought to be left undivided and undis-
tributed. In the transition the sta Il
tribal system must be adhered to. 1
was the normal condition of the race
and 10 take him out OF It would be Il
change his social condition before d,
was fitted for higher civiliz alton
He was impressed with the beiief tha
the Christian religion was the iustru
mentality for the elevation of thi
race. He knew that, from hi
own experience in the South
and his knowledge of the tribes IL
the Indian territory that the Indial
could not stand it to be thro sn on
unprotected iEto the civilization o
this country. 1t would be almost a
bad as exteraination He should b
improved out of one condition int
another. II the interests of the whit
people were alone concerned, tn
problem could be solved by making
the Indian association and Civ
J ing him the RIGHT o
suffrage after shadowing,, tn
four million black slaves and digest
ing that mass pretty we'll we shal
!. not strain at this. Bu:, continue,
. Secretary Lamar, to make the Indial
, q citizen at present would be a sad ser
vice to him and their would not b
much of him left If il were done sud
, denly. Those who are ready for CIV
, ilization he would push ON and thos
who are not he would protect.