The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-06

While the Indians on their part are advancing the
bureau retiring by the reduction of is expenditures
wish could say that the progress in this direction
is sufficiently rapid to promise an early accomplish
of the policy of the in reference
our Indian population. That policy as | understand
it. is the Incorporation of the Indian into po
tical and social system citizens. Before however,
this contamination, which viii be the browning glory
of government. be attained, there must be
radical changes in Indian policy The pres
ent system was when adopted, admirably adapted to
the then existing condition of the Indians and yet
far rs is required to keep in order and peace and
the greatest practicable comfort large of
age aud serni barbarous population dependent upon
the chase and the bounty Of the govern nent for its
snbsi But this conditions it is impossible to
continue.
As stated IN my last report, TIE only alternative
now presented to the American Indan race is speedy
entrance into the pae OF American civilization ab
solute extinction In order to the latter and
attain the former three conditions OF preparation are
ind pensabe. The first is to get established IN this
race the idea and habitude Of Individual property
holding thorough reliance upon its nvioabilty and
perfect OF security in the enjoyment of its
benefits. Second education of the entire mass of
the youth of this race, embracing thorough knowl
edge OF the of the English language in the daily
affairs OF lfe-arithmetic and the mechanical arts
among the males and among the females the domestic
arts IN use With that sex. Third, substitution of
the universal operation of law among them IN the en-
forcement OF justice anil the protection OF person and
property and the punishment of crimes for the agen
ces of force and superstition. * X
Impressed with the importance of such education Of
the Indian will enable them to speak the Ian
guage of the country as will improve their morals
stand and appreciate the laws which regulate civilized
society; and viii train them TO habits Of industry,
aud an understanding of the mysteries of useful en-
ployment the estimates for educational purposes
which have been presented for the Indian service for
the ensuing year have been increased. whilst the
amounts requested for support of the Indians have
been largely reduced below those OF the last and OF the
preceding years.
Tho industrial school near Salem Ore, and the
Carlisle school both in need of land for the
proper training of Indian pupils in agricultural indus
tries Congress requested at its last session to
authorize the purchase of 81 OF acres for the first
named school, the total cost of 81 500 to be paid
in labor to be performed by the Indian pupils attend
ing said school, and the grant of authority with the
necessary appropriation, also requested for the
pun. base of loo res adjoining the Carlisle school
at cost OF elS, 900. These received the
sanction of the Senate but failed to become laws.
The abovenGmed schools are doing good work, and
hope that Congress viii not withhold from them the
means necessary for training the Indian children in
farming industries, which, of all others, best
suited TO their present circumstances.
The report of the superintendent of Indian
schools shows that GA schools, with a capacity
for IS, 933 pupils and an average attendance of
1928 are maintained at annual cost of $751;
68l. 10. The Secretary closes this portion of his
report by recommending an increase of 81, 600
per year 10 the salary of the Commissioner of
Indian Affairs
The report of the General Land Office shows
that %. 1876, 099 acres disposed of during
the year. and that the receipts of the Office from
all sources are SO OBJ, 0S4 81 The Secretary re-
news sundry recommendations made in his last
report, including legislation for preservation of
timber on public lands, and repeal Of the law
known rs the renq uishment act, and the egis-
lation authorizing the system of deposits for
veys, the credit Of the deposits purchase of
lands thus surveyed, and the transfer of the GER
titcates of deposit In reference to unlawful in
closure of public lands the Secretary says:
How the illegal occupation and possession of the
public domain could have grown to such enormous
proportions is beyond by comprehension. In its
social moral and political aspect, not less than in it's
economic results. The existence and growth of such
lawless combinations resting upon unlawful inclos-
ures OF thegublic domain. and protected by the
quirement OF titles, through devious more openly
fraudulent methods to tho controlling sources of
water supply, constitute to-day q phenomenon of
American life and problem of political import that
demand the intelligent attention and action of the
Congress of the United States. When 1t was first
represented that substantially the entire grazing
country west OF the hundredth meridian had been
fenced in by cattlemen could not give credence to
the statement of such lawlessness and rapacty But
the testimony of the residents of the Territories who
have no motive for Misrepresentation, corroborated
by reports based personal inspection of agents and
surveyors now record in the department. establish
the fact Indeed, it is publicly announced. by the
trespassers themselves, who not only acknowledge
that they have unawfuly fenced in the public lands
without airy limit except their own pleasure and
power but they justify their action, and complain
against the execution of the law oppressive and
unjust hardship.
/ In this connection the Secretary presents
| long letter from S. w. Dorsey. detailing the
methods Of ranchmen in taking possession of
| and inclosng vast tracts of land, on which MIR.
Lamar comments as follows:
II will be perceived that there is no denial by the
writer of this letter that the public domain has been
unlawfully fenced and apology is suggested for
the unlawful acts. The Ingenious simplicity which
without concesinent defense admits the violation
of the law ard the naive rankness which asserts that
reasons exi lat why the violation should be continued
are eqIssd only by the innocent Inconsistencies of
any moral wrong in thus deliberately disregardng the
laws Of tho country.
Fence building according to this letter, was
msnia" from 1873 to 1891, when vast number
of Enclosures of public land ranging from 10 600 to
1900, 900 acres, existed all alons the Rocky mount
ain slope Every engaged in the cattle business.
who could raise money enough had as large pasture
as he could build, and the government mado OBJ
lection to suca nclosures But building the fences.
the writer proceeds 70 state was mistake not in the
! light OF a. legal oFsnse, moral wrong public
injustice but mistake of economic theory or the
part of livestock raisers and when the great noise
AMI din was raised in the newspapers about it, the
ranchlnen themselves, as a general rule, were
opposed to fences than any else Fencing in the
piblic domain for private use, to quote his Ian
guage more accurately, the question of fencing in
the public domain for private uses IS thing of the
past. The government need give itself no more
trouble about it. The cattle men will relieve the gov
ernment of its supervisory and executory functions
in respect of such fences. The ranchmen will do
their policing All they want is to be let alone.
Whist however the writer of this letter asserts
| that when the Presidents proclamation issued
commanding the fences to be taken down there
were out few left to be removed he twice mentions
that il speaking of the removal of fences he refers
to large pastures" AS fenced pastures embracing
over 30, 600 acres known to this Department.
some uncertainty arises to what is meant by the
| term large pastures" The writer himself states
that he has taken down thrtyfour miles of fencing
since the Presidents order issued, and that Of
land owned by him. he has under fence about
$50 acres, besides about G. 900 acres which he does
not state that he He insists however that the
fonces have all been removed, all except from such
small pastures 80, 600 and the mere baga-
telle of g. 900 acre 'horse-herds" etc.
He emphaticaly asserts that for these mot large
pastures ranchmcn have fences and that in hav-
ing fences must necessarily trench less upon
the public domain lie they do trench they
must do worse viz. Enclose their own lands" IN this
dilemma it is kindness to the public to fence the
public lands. Clearly, the magnannity of the cattle
lncn in leaving their land unfenced. while they
fence in the public domain is as admirable rs their