National Republican., 1886-12-07

NV aAN'hAN llhHl luulNn llni and
tust moneys, amounting in all TO 1850
1I5.l2, were ample for the service under the
conditions and restrictions Of laws re0tila-
ting their expenditure. There remained A
balance on hand on June 30, 1856, Of a.
G6O,O23 80, Of which Si,337. 1881 are per
manent funds for fulhllment Of treaties aud
other Ilke purposes, aud the remainder,
S822,255.O .O9, is subject TO be carried 10 the
surplus fund. as required nv law.
lhe. estimates presented for appropria-
lions Tor the ensuing fiscal yoar nnio mt 10
satOS,si38l, or SAD BsG 20 less tlln those
laid before the Congress last year
Inc present system Of agencies, while
absolutely necessary aud wei a1et,ed for
lho management Of our Indian affairs aud
toI the ends In view, when 10 was adopted,
is in the present stage OF Indian mtuaue-
ment inadequate, standing alone. for tho
accomplishment Of an object which h "a be-
come pressing in its impurtance--tha more
rapid transition from tribal organzl' ns to
citizenship Of such portions OF the !lans
as are capable Of civilized life
When the existing system was pied
u c Indian race was outside OF the IS OF
oiganizod states and territories. az, ond
tf G immediate reach aud operation Will
zatiou; and all efforts were mainl cted
TO the maintenance Of friendly rela and
tie preservation Of peace and quh 4 the
frontier. All this Is now change here
is no such thing as the Indian alter.
Civilization, with the busy hum OF lstry
and the influences OF Christianity, su iunds
these people at every point. None II the
trib,s are outside OF the bounds OF organ
lied government aud society, except that
the territorial system has not been extended
over that portion OF the country known as
the Indian territory. As a race the Indians
are o longer hostile but may he considered
as submissive to the control the govern
ment; few Of them only ar, troublesome.
Except the Fragments OF Sc, raj bands oil
are now gathered upon resery lions.
IL is no longer possible for them TO SUBJ
| sist by the chase and the spontaneous pro.
| ductlons Of the earth.
With an abundance Of land. II furni he'd
with the means and implemei for profit.
able husbandry, their life OF entire de-
| pendcnce upon government rations from
day TO day is no longer defeusble. 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 circumstances press
upon them. But barbarlsm and civilization
cannot live together. II is impossible that
such incongruous conditions should cOexist
| on the same soil.
They are portion OF our people, are un-
der the authority OF our government, and
have peculiar claim upon and are eutitled
to the fostering care and protection of tho
| nation. The government cannot relieve
| Itself Of this responsibility until they are SO
far trained and civilized as to be wholly
| able 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 they are famil-
| lar with the way and competent TO assume
the duties and responsibilities OF our citl-
zenship.
Progress in this great work will continue
only at the present slow pace and at great
| expense, unless the systems and methods 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 mere than
| five thousand Indians, scattered over large
reservations, aud burdened with the details
Of accountability for funds and supplies,
have time to look after the industrial train
ing AZ d improvement of few Indians only;
the many are tegl. Gte3, anNTemain idle aud
dependent-ehh GxcSS not Favorable for
progress in Cvhce tlt VI
The compcD moneSs1llowed these.agents
and the condiGt h}y nhl0y the service are not cal.
culated to sechiS9SStor the work men who are
fitted by abiij' tld skill to properly plan
and intelllgr. NJ direct the methods best
adapted to prGtaC bum most speedy results
and permanent be'loNts.
Hence the nec;,i,Isity for n supplemental
agency or systepf' directed to the end Of
promoting WheS.' sfal and more rapid
transition OF ue6tiaes nom habits and Gus
toms Of barbasfsm to the ways OF civiliza-
tion.
With an anxious desire to devise some
plan Of operation by which to secure the
welfare OF the Indians, and to relieve the
treasury as far as possible from the support
of IN idle and dependent population, rec
S@%endnS Oaa @ss.nse RSy my pdsssEs RssSou' of an
law authorizing the appointment Of O
commission as an instrumentality auxiliary
to those all eady established for the care OF
the Indians. 1t was designed that this
commission should be composed OF six in
telligent and capable persons-three to be
detailed from the army-having practical
ideas upon the subject OF the treatment Of
Indians, and interested 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 organisa-
tion be properly and successfully con-
Quoted, and which present different phases,
as the Indians themselves differ, In their
progress, needs, disposition, and capacity
for improvement or immediate self support.
BY the aid Of such a commission much
unwise and useless expenditure OF money,
waste Of materials, and unavaillng efforts
might be avoided and It is hoped that this
UT EOlut utubuIt W lllNh lut MlchOul VI Sph-
gress may better devise to supply the de-
ilciency Of the present system may receive
your consideration aud the appropriate
legislation be provided.
The time is ripe for the work of such an
I agency.
There is lees opposition to the education
and training OF the Indian youth, as shown
by the increased attendance upon the
schools, and there is o yielding tendency for
the individual holding OF lands. Develop.
ment and advancement In these directions
are essential, and should have every eu-
couragement. As the rising generation are
taught the language Of civilization and
trained In habits OF industry, they should
assume the duties, privileges, and respon
sibilities Of citizenship.
No obstacle should hinder the location
and settlement Of any Indian willing TO take
land in severalty; on the contrary, the in
clinGtion to do so should be stimulated al
all times when proper and expedient. But
there is no authority Of law for making al
lotments on some OF the reservations, anc
on others the allotments provided for are
so small that the Indians, though ready an d
desiring to settle down, are not willing tC
accept such small areas, when their Teser
yatlons contain ample lands to afford then
homesteads Of sufficient size to meet theil
present and future needs.
The Inequalities Of existing special Jaw
and treaties should be corrected and somt
general legislation on the subject should bC
provided so that the more progressiv,
members OF the different tribes may bt
settled upon homesteads, and by their eX'
ample lead others to follow, breaking away
from tribal customs and substituting there
for the love of home, the interest Of thC
family, and the rule OF the state.
The Indian character and nature are sucl
that they are not easily led while broodin!
over unAdjusted wrongs, This Is especiall.
so regarding their lands. Matters arising
from the construction and operation Of rail
roads across some Of the reservations, anC
claims OF title aud right of occupancy Sc
up by white persons TO some Of the bes
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