St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-07
THE INDIANS.
Their Condition and PrOspec ts-.a
Expenses of Their Care.

The report of the secretary of the interior
presents comprehensive summary of the
work of the various branches of the public
service connected with the department, and
the suggestions and recommendations which
it contains for the Improvement of the service
should receive your careful consideration.
The exhibit made Of the condition OF our IN
dian population. and the prom OF the work
for their enlightenment, Notwithstanding the
many embarraSsnentS which hinder the bet
ter administration of this important branch
OF the SERVICE is gratifying and hopeful
one. The funds appropriated for the Indian
service for the fiscal ear just passed, with
the available income from Indian land and
trust moneys amounting in all to $780,.
175.l2, were ample for the service under the
conditions and restrictions of laws regulating
their expenditure. There remained balance
on hand on June 3d. 1885, of 81, 66J, 023.30, of
which 81 ,337 1921 are permanent funds for
fulhllment of treaties and other like pur-
poses, and the remainder 1922, 255.09, is sub
ject to be carried to the surplus fund as re-
quired by law. The estimates presented for
appropriations for the ensuing fiscal year
amount to So, COS .S73.64, or SAP, $500 less
than those laid before the congress last year.
The present
SYSTEM OF AGENCIES,
win absolutely necessary and well adapted
for the management Of our Indian affairs,
and for the end In view when adopted. is, in
the present state OF Indian management in-
adequate, standing alone for the accomplish
ment OF an object which has become pressing
in its Importance, the more rapid transition
from tribal organization to citizenship or
such portions OF the Indians as are incapable
of civilized life. When the existing system
was adopted the Indian race was outside OF
the limits of organized states aud territories,
and beyond the immediate reach and opera
ton of civilization, and all efforts were mainly
directed to the maintenance of friendly reia-
tonS and the preservation of peace and quiet
on the frontier. All this is now changed.
There is no such thing as the Indian frontier.
Civilization, with the busy hum OF industry
and the influence Of Christianity surrounding
these people at every point. None of the
tribes are outside of the bound OF organized
government and society, except that the ter
ritoral system has not been extended over
that portion OF the country-known as the
Indian terrific y. As race the Indians are
NO LONGER HOSTILE,
but may be considered as submissive to the
control of the government as few or them
are troublesome Except the fragments OF
several bands, all are now gathered upon
reservations. 1t is no longer possible for
them to subsist by the chase, and the sponta-
neOus productions of the earth. With an
abundance OF land, if furnished with the
means and implements for profitable hus-
bandry, their life of entire dependence upon
government rations from day to day is no
longer defensoe Their inclination, long
foStered by defective system of control, is
to cling to the habits and customs of their
ancestors and struggle with persistence
against the change of life which their altered
Giro umstances pre- IS upon them. But bar
barism and civilization cannot live
together. 1t is impossible that such incon.
gruOus conditions should exist on the same
soil. They are portion of our people. are
Under TIE authority of our government, and
have peculiar claim upon and are emit tied
to the fostering care and protection OF
the nation. The government cannot
relieve itself of this RESPONSE Dility until
tney are SO far trained and civilized
as to be able wholly to manage and care for
themselves. The paths IN which they should
walk must be clearly marked out for them,
and they must be led or guided until the, are
familiar with the was and competent to as
sumo the duties and responsibilities OF our
citizenship. Progress in this great work will
continue only at the present slow pace and at
great expense, unless the systems and meth
DDS Of management are improved to meet the
changed conditions and urgent demands OF
the service. The agents having general
charge and supervision, in many cases OF
more than Eve thousand Indians, scattered
over large reservations, and burdened With
details of accountability for funds and sup
plies, have time to look after the industrial
training and improvement of few Indiana
only.
THE MANY ARE NEGLECTED
and remain idle and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
not favorable for progress in civilization.
The compensation showed these agents and
the conditions of the service are not calcu-
lated to secure for the work men who are
fitted by ability and skill to properly plan and
inteigently direct the methods best adapted
to produce the must speedy results and per
maneut benefits. Hence the necessity for
supplementary agency or system, directed
to the end of promoting the general and more
rapid transition OF tribes from habits and Gus
toms OF barbarians to the wa, 8 of civilization,
with an anxious desire to devise some plan Of
operation by which to secure the welfare OF
the Indians, and 10 relieve the treasury as
far rs possible fIom the support of an idle,
dependent population. In recommended b
nv previous animal message the passage OF
a Ii W authorizing the appointment OF a COM
mission as an instrumentality auxiliary to
those already established for the care Of the
Indians. 1t was designed that this commits.
sion should be composed of six Intelligent and
capable persons, three to be detailed from the
army, hay ng pi actical ideas upon the sub
iect of the treatment of Indians, and inte--
ested in their welfare, and that 1t should be
charged. under the direction of the secretary
OF the interior. with the management of such
matters of detail as cannot, with the present
organization be properly and successfully
conducted, and winch present different
phases, as the Indians themselves differ in