The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-12-10

The district courts are now crowded
with petty prosecutions, Involving pun
ishment, Ia cases OF conviction, of only a
flight 6ne, while the parties accused are
harrassed by an enforced attendance
upon courts held hundreds OF mflss from
their homes; IL poor and friendless they
are obliged 70 remain Ia isiI during the
months thar e3apse perhaps before the
DISTRICT court Is held, and are finally
brought 70 trial surrounded by strangers,
with little real opportunity for defense.
In the meantime, frequently the mar-
shall has = charge ainst the government
on his nles for an arrest. the fransporta-
ten Of the accused and the expense OF
the same for the kummoning OF witnesses
beaoro commissioner, grand Jury and
a court. The witnesses have been paid
from the public fund. Large fees and
travelling expenses and the Commissioner
and district attorney have also made
their charges against the government.
This abuse In the administration OF our
criminal law should be remied, and, If
the plan above suggested Is not prac-
tieable, some other should be devised.
The report of the secretary of the in
terror containing en- account Of the oper-
atoms OF the important department and
much resting Information will be SUBJ
United for your consideration. The most
intricate and difficult subject in charge of
this department. is the treatment and
management of the Indians, ] am salts
fed that progress may be noted in their
condition as result OF O prudent ad-'
ministration Of the present laws and
regulations for their controle.
Bur it is submitted that there is lack of
q fixed purpose OF policy on the subject
which should be supplied or IL Is useless
to delate unon the wrongs of the Indians
and as useless to indulge in the heart
less belief that because their wrongs are
reYenged in their own etrocious manner
| therefore they should be exterminated.
They are within the care Of our govern
ment and their rights should Be pro-
teeted from invasion by the most solemn
obligations. They are properly enough
called the wards of the government and
1t should be borne In mine that this guar
dianship involves on our part efforts for
the Improvement Of their condition and
the enforcement of their rights.
There seems TO be q general concur
renee In the proposition that the ulti-
mate object of their treatment should be
their civiliE cations and citizenship Atted
by these to keep pace In the march of
progress. With the advanced oiviliSa-
ton about them they will readily sssimi-
late with the mass OF our population, as
suming the responsibilities and FeceiV-
ing the protection Incident to this condi-
ton. The difficulty appears to be In the
| selection Of the means to Be at present
employed to attain this result.
Our Indian population, exclusive of
those In Alaska, is reported as number
in5 2e0, 000, nearly ali being located on
| lands set apart for their own use and oc-
cupation, ag®atlng over 1S4, 900 900
OF acres. TEese lands are included in
the boundaries Of III reservations Of
different dimensions scattered in twenty
| one states and territories, presenting
great variations Ia climate and In the
kind and quality Of their soils. Among
! the Indians upon these several reseIYa-
lions, there exists the most marked Diff
ferences In national traits and DISPOSE
ZION, aud their progress toward civiliza-
ton.
While some are laHy vicious and stupid,
others are In dustrioue, peaceful and IN
telltgeEt. while portion of them are seIf
supporting and independent, and have
| so far advanced in civilization that they
make their own lava administered
! through officers Of their own choice and
educate their children in schools Of their
own establishment and maintenance
Others retain In Equslor and independ-
| erce almost the savagery OF their ma
iurs.
In dealing with this question the de-
sires manifested by the Indians should
| not be ignored. Here again we find 8
great adversely. With some the tribal
relations are cherished with the utmost
tenacity, while its hold upon others il
considerably relaxed. The love of home
| is strong with all. There are some
| whose attachment to q particular loca-
! tlon ia by no means unyieldins. The
ownership of their lands IN seY0ralty is
| much desired by some, while not by
others. And sometimes, again, by the
most civilized such distribution would
be bitterly opposed,
The variation of their wants growing
out of and connected with the character
of their several locations should b. re-
garded. Soma are upon reservations
| most ut for grazing but without Aocks or
herds aud some on RrabIs land have no
agricultural implements. Some of the
| reservations are double the size necessary
70 maintain the number of Indians now
on them. Ia cazea perhaps they should
be enlarged. Add TO all this the differ
ence in administration of the agencies
while the same duties are devolved upon
all, the dispositions of the agents and the
manner OF their contact with the Indians
have much TO do with their condition
and welfare.
The agent who perfunctorily performs
his duty and slethfully neglects all Cd.
portunity to improve their physical cor-
dltion, and falls to impress them with q
desire for better things, will accomplish
nothing in the direction of their civ
Ills alton, while he who feels the burden
of an important trust and has an interest
in his work will, by consistent example.
nrm, yet coBeiderete, treatment and well
directed aid and encouragement, con-
stantly lead those under his charge to-
ward the light of their ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
What has been said indicates that in
the present condition OF the Indians no
attempt should be made to apply fixed
and uuyieldlpg plan of action to their
varied and varying needs and circum-
stances. The Indian bureau, burdened
as 1t is with their general oversight and
with the details OF the establishment,
can hardly possess itself OF minute par.
ticular cases needing treatment, and
thus the propriety OF creating an ingtfu.
mentality auxiliary to those already es-
tablished for the care Of the Indians
suggests itself.
recommend the passage OF law au-
thorizIng the appointment Of six CON-
missioners, three Of whom shall be de.
tailed from the army to be charged with
the duty OF q careful inspection from
time TO time OF all the Indians upon our
reservation or subject to the care and
control OF the government, with 8 view
OF discovering their exact condition and
needs and determining what steps shall
be taken on behalf OF the government to
improve III ir situation ia the direction
OF their self support and complete civili-
cation. That they ascertain from such
inspection what, II any, OF the reserYa.
tons may be reduced in area, and In such
cases, what part not needed for Indian
occupation may be purchased by the gov
eminent from the Indians and dis.
posed q for their benefit.
what, If any, Indians may, with their
consent, be removed to other reserVa.
tions, with view of their concentration,
and the sale on their behalf Of their Abau-