The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-12-09

cling to- the habits ard customs Of their anoes-
tors and strugRie With persistence as.inss the
change Of life which their altered circumstances
press upon them But bsrbarism and ctvlliza-
ton cannot live together: 1t If impossible that
the same soil. They are = portion Of our people,
are under the authority OF our government, and
have . peculiar claim and are entitled to the
government cannot relieve itself Of this resposi-
biltty until they are 80 far trained and civilized
Is to TO able wholly to manage and care for
walk must be clearly marked ont for them. aud
they must be led or guided until they
are familiar with the way and competent
to assume the duties and responsibilities of our
citizenship. Progress in this great work viii
continue only at the present slow pace and ct
great expense, unless the system and methods
changed conditions and urgent demands Of the
service: The agents having general charge and
supervision in many cases OF more than 5000
.na
funds and supplies have time to look after the
industrial training and improvement of q few
MAIN IDLE and despondent:condi tions not favor:
able for the progress Of civilization. The com;
pensatiOn allowed these agents and the condt-
for the work men who are fitted by ability and
ekl to properly plan and intelligently direct the
methods best adopted to produce the most
the necessity for 4 supplemental agency or sys-
TEN directed to the end Of promoting the general
and more rapid transition of tribes from the
habits and customs of barbarism to the ways Of
civilization. With an anxious desire to devise
some plan OF operation by which to secure the
welfare OF the Indians and to relieve the treas
idle. dependent population recommended in
my previous annual message the passage of .
law authorizing the
APPOINTMENT OF A COMMISSION
as an 1nstrumentxity auxiliary to those already
established for the care OF the Indians 1t was
designed that this commission should be COM
posed Of six Intelligent and capable persons,
three to be detailed from the army, having prac-
tical ideas upon the subject Of the treatment OF
Indians and Interested in their welfare and that
it should he charged. under the direction Of the
secretary CT the interior, with the management
OF such matters Of detail as cannot with the
present organization be properly and success
fully. conducted. and which present different
phases, as the Indians themselves differ in theil
progress. needs, disposition and capacity for
Improvement or immediate self-support. By
the aid OF ouch commission much unwise and
ais and uuavaiiing efforts might be avoided, and
1t Is hoped chat this, or some measure which
the wisdom Of congress may better devise tc
supply the deficiency of the present system NAV
receive your consideration and the appropriate
legislation be provided. The time is ripe fol-
the work OF such an agency. There is less oppo
sltlon TO the education and training of the
Indian yonth as shown by the increased attend
ance upon the schools. and there is Welding
tendency for the individual holding OF lands
Development and advancement in these direc
tons are essential, and should have every en-
couragement. As the rising generation
taught the language of ctvalization aud trained
eume the Duties privileges and responsibilities
OF citizenship, and no obstacles should hinder
the location and settlement OF any Indian will
ing to take land in severaity. On the contrary,
The inclination to do so should be stimulated at
Ill times when proper and expedient. But there
Is no authority of law for making allotments on
ments provided for small that the Indians
though ready and desiring to settle down, are not
willing to accept such small areas, when thei,
contain ample lands to afford them
lomesteads OF sufficient size to meet their pres
mt and future needs These inequalities Of ex-
sting special laws and treaties should be cor
:ected and some general legislation on the SUBJ
ect should be provided 80 that the more pro-
.ressive members OF the different tribes may be
settled upon homesteadS. and by their example
earn others to follow, breaking away from tribal
interest OF the family and rule Of the state. The
Indian character and nature are such that they
IRE not easily led while broodinc over unad.
usted wrongs. This is especially so regarding
heir binds. Matters arising from the con-
'truction and operation of railroads across eoms
If the reservations and claims of title and right
The best land within other reservations, require
eois!ation for their final adjustment. The set
Element OF these matters will remove many en-
Darrassments to progress in tine work of leading
n Indians to the adoption of our institutions
md bringing them under the operation, the in
1uence and the protection of the universal laws
u Jul couHIiy.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The recommendations Of the secretary of the
Interior and the commissioner of the general
and office looking to the better protection Of
OF the national forests. the adjudi-
cation grants to states and corporations and
of private land claim and the increased eff
70 the attention OF congress To secure the widest
alstrlDutlOn OF PUBIC lands IN limited Quant1-
ICES among settiers OK residence and cultivation
TNok fHA not p1Nor1 t
9al MONIES, was the primary object OK tie pub
nc iano legislation IN the early days OF the re-
puDHc. ms system was simple one. 1t COM
n aed Win an aamara9e scneme OF PUBIC
anu suIveH ~ winch tue numnlest citize9
~ estahlsh hs hon,s Th pon v,ne " nc NC.
placed within the reach Of ali the enrernri.inc
ndustr1ona and honest nionasr ~. ;.ona ~ ~.
,ountrv T. was soon hcwsxer fonnd ,h ~ ~
,hiect ~ tho laws vas nervarreI undar tha au.
en- of cash sa;es from .iistrihution ~ i:nd
AMONG the reonie II an .c.umniat;o, ~ i.nJ
,anitai nv ,esithv and S,snni.fivs ror."n.
10 check this tendency a pr"ference I'M n
nn,chaSa gas rivau ~ sa,tia-. az ~ it 4,
nian which cn,,nina: oil in nc nannra1 rro =
lion not Of 1877 Tie fannda1ion ~ III, s.,s1a,,
years Ia tar the honeste,d 10 ~ asa. d..;seS ~
more snreiv nisce actnoI hon,"s w. ~ os ~
sion of actual cultivators Of the soi, The I.nd
.,as oven .s;.hnnt 49,; - sn S SUI. c anu
nq Residence. im,royement and cmitivst,o,,
Other law, nave foilo,yed each dasirnad ~ a.
courage the requirement and use Of land in lin.
ted individual IN LOTT
,hese laws thronrh vicions nrjr,;n;st 49,;
netho,3s and rndsr Oh. ,nad oonf,;t;., 20 "S.se
and transnortatinn hsve ~ 49, ILL a.
.vaded and vioIated tbat th.ir han.S,ent 49, 81
oose il threatened With entire defa.t H Tl,e
methods If snch evas;ons and vio1as ;ors no., .ae
orth in detail in the renorts 1T rba .anrata ses
;he interior and comm;ss;on.r ~, ~ ,so.s ~
and office The rarid annro,r;ation ~ ok, ..,i
ic Lands without hnna III settIe1ant -. W. pun
lization and not oniv Wi hont intentior VI - o
dence but for the n1irnose ~ their .nora1.tion
hi large holdings in many c..ea IN .he h.nIa -
'0reieners, invite the serious and iwm.d;.a. VI
:ention Of coneress The earn;,r. ~ Ia ~. ~.
lepartment have been devoted d1,1inr ,he rra.1
snf NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ~ remedv ds1oct. 49, p0S
CnpprrT .pHsrs ~o
~,
a Cne PUBIC ,ano service Inc results OF these
st1oIts are so largely N the nature OF reforms In
Ine Practlce ana methooe OF our land system IS
10 PreSeht auequate estlmates: Dut II appears
rom computation IRON the reports or tho COM
MISSIONER or the general land ONCE that the I'M
neu! a e!ect IN ieadlns cases wn1cn nave come
w w nu11 teln'iha.l u ms peen the restoration
~ IN ene masses OF pupiic iands agHreRat1nR
I, .ov;vvo neIcs. LuA1 @,o'O,oOO acres arc eM-
" aeeu ~ I''ee' lsd'Iols no" penuiu4 Oeioie Ihe
a aepaIe.e ~ VI the courts ano tnat actlon o.
conecSss mas oeeh asked 20 euect the restoration
81 S..SO O acres audltlona!; De-ldes which