Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-12-07
In One of Which Secretary Lamar Re.
views the Indian Question and
Suggests Solution.
Which Is, the Savage Must BE Civil.
lied and Absorbed, or His Extinc-
tion will Surely Come.
And In the Other Treasurer Jordan
Balances Uncle Sans Books and
Deyotes Some Attention to
Silver Coinage.
Secretary of the Interiors Report.

views at great length the relations of the |
Indian tribes to the Government, and the |
settlers residing near their reservations, and
the outbreaks of the year and the causes of
them are considered. The recommendation
of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that
the less guilty of the rebellious Chiraoahuas
should be transported to an island of the
Pacific ocean, as a penal colony. to earn
their own living by fishing, stock raising,
etc., or be sent to military prison at Fort
is endorsed. 1t recommends
that the Southern Utes be located in Indian
Territory, and that the Piutes of Oregon be
settled on homesteads and given farm imple
ments and other assistance. The subject of
the
LEASING OF THE LANDS BY THE INDIANS
To cattle companies is taken up, and after
showing the passive consent of the late Sec
retary to such leases, and the evil that has
resulted from the practice, the Secretary
says: From all the facts developed on the
subject, am convinced that the assistance
rendered by the respective Indian agents i'll
the making of these alleged leases was di
rected more for the interests of the cattle
men than that of the Indians placed under
their cure and supervision. While many of
the Indians favor the leasing of their lands
for grazing purposes, others opposed and
protested against such use and occupation
of their reservations, and refused to
participate, in the making of the
alleged leases, or to accept any
share of the money received hereunder.
Sufficient influence, however, seems to have
been brought to bear upon a majority of the
respective tribes to induce them to enter into
the arrangements made. In my Judgment,
not the least among such influences were the
encouragement and persuasions of the re-
spective Indian agents. or some of them at
least; and in many instances / fear they
have shared i'll the profits of these specula-
tive transactions. After speaking of the en-
croachments of railroads on Indian rights
the Secretary says: 1t is evident that
THE INDIAN RACE HAS REACHED CRISIS
In its history. The Indian cannot longer
exist in this country in a savage or semi
civilized state, nor can he longer recede
before the advancing state of civilization.
1t has already surrounded him. The move
ments of population eastward and north
ward and southward have gone on
with unprecedented rapidity, until ev-
cry reservation is closed in and
pressed upon by colonies of settlers,
miners, ranchmen and traders. The prac-
tice of moving the Indian to more distant
reservations can be continued no longer.
He must make his final stand for existence
whore he is now, and unless he can adapt
| himself to the necessities of the new con-
ditions and partake of this all-pervading
civilization his extinction will be sure and
swift. The need of permanent scheme OF
Indian management to meet this emergency
is pressing upon the government with i'm
perious urgency. The Indian race is nc
longer source of danger to the peace and
security of this great Republic. Most of the
reservations are encircled by powerful COM
munities, and those upon the frontier are in
the hands of our military forces. Nor is the
| Indian lpnnar Dr nj nj To m
progress or to our material development
| SO far as the interests of our own people are
concerned. Apart from the needs of the
Indian population,
THE INDIAN PROBLEM COULD DE EASILY soLyEl
BY simply withdrawing all government su
pervision over these people and conferrin,
upon them the rights of American citizen
ship. Those who would not pass away woult
be soon absorbed into American society
After incorporating into our body politi
| 100000 of blacks in state of slavery, ant
investing them with citizenship and suf
frage, we need not strain at the gnat of 260,
900 Indians. 1t would merely be an addi
tional morsel, and very small one. Such
course however, would be more cruel an,
destructive to the indian in the hapless con
dition to which the extension of settlement
will soon reduce him than war of exter
mination.
l recommend that portion of every reser
vation be divided up into several tracts o
suitable size for farms, to be allotted to eac
individual as his sole and separate estate
The provision should be made against tn
power (until after n time) of selling o
mortgaging the same, or even leasing it +
any but Indians living within the SAM
reservation. Without legislation of thi
kind all efforts to make the Indian supper
himself by his own labor will prove fruitles
and unavailing To overcome
HIS NATURAL AVERSION To LABOR,
There must be an incentive, given alone by
sure guarantee that the fruits of his labo
should be enjoyed in security. No man wi
clear forests, inclose fields and cultivat
them, and rear houses and barns, when q
any moment he may be removed and carrie
off against his will to some distant and III
known region. The ownership of land, free
holding, tends to inspire individual indt
pendence, pride of character, persont
industry, and the development of the domes
tic virtues. Provision should be made tina
the Indian accepting patent for his Ian
shall not thereby forfeit any of his rights q
q member of his tribe, nor the protectio
and benefit which the laws of the Unite
States extend to Indians generally. fave
the policy recommended by my predecesso
in this office, Secretary Kirkwood, of n
ducing to proper size the existing reserve
tions when entirely out of proportion to I'll
number of Indians thereon, with the conser
, of the Indians, and upon just and fa
terms; and, second. of placing by pater
as fully under the protection of the court
as are the titles of all others of our peop
to their lands. The surplus portion cut o
should be subject to sale, and the proceed
invested for the benefit of the Indians. III
execution of it should be cautious and tel
tative. My recommendation that only
portion of each reservation be divided int
separate tracts as stated above, is base
J upon the conviction that we must lead I'll
Indians to holding lands in severalty h
ripening their right of occupancy unde
their communal system into fee simple b
) gradual process, and not by the sudden al
olition of system which is with them a +,
igion as we'll rs law of property. Thos
/ who urge the speedy breaking up of trib
relations the obliteration of the reservatio
system, and the localiZation of individua
| upon separate allotments of land as geI
1 eral policy, overlook the important fact thu
} THE INDIAN RACE IS NOT HOMOGENEOUS,
II consists Of numerous widely separate
| tribes, speaking different languages an
/ varying greatly i'll customs, habits and col
dltlons, ffom the enlightened common
= wealths of the Five Nations to the will
herce, rowing bands who eke out by plumb
the scanty subsistence they derive fronfrtl
chase ana government rations. Any gener
Y policy adapted to the advancement of OF
, lIipe Wouiu pe ulsastroub ana destructive
+ another. Each must be managed as its ID
, euliar circumstances and conditions reauir
y The Secretary recommends the appointmel
y OF a commission of not more than six ms
4 OF integrity, intelligence and experieno
: and of such ability as to be able to cor
Il prehend the course of treatment al
q methods of management best ADAPTED
: insure the speedy progress of the resneeti
: tribes and bands, to visit each of the rese
= yations and investigate and report the Co
y dltion, peculiar circumstances and the nee,
u OF the Indians residing thereon. The Seer