Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-12-11

oHu dll eLOTIS We!G manly Qt-
lations and the preservation Of rcace
Is hn now q shansed On rb sen j, %I, "n aes. ,n A,l . This ii.
Indian frontier. Civilization. with the busy
hum of industry nni the influence OF Chris
tlanlty. surrounds these reop!e NJ e,ety point.
none OF the tribes are outside OF the rounds OF
organized government and society, cxcept that
the Territorial system hEs not been extended
over that portion OF the %countr, known US the
longer hostile, but may be consi Tered rs sub
lnissive to the control of the Government, a.
few Of them only ure Troublesome. t:xcept
gathered upon reservations. 1t is no longer nos.
sible for them to subsist by the chase and the
abundance Of land. II furnished with the means
and implements for profitable husbandry, their
ne OF entire dependence upon Government ra-
lions from day to day is no longer defensible.
Their inclination, long fostered by a defective
SYSTEM OF control, is to cling to the habits and
customs Of their ancestors: and they struggle
which their altered circumstances press upon
them. But barbarism and civilization can NOT
i've together. It is impossible that such in.
congruousc conditions should Co exist on the same
SOIL. Ihey are 8 portion Of our people, are
under the authority OF our Government. and
pave o peculiar claim upon, and are entitled
20, the fostering caro- and protection of the
nation. The Government can not relieve
itself OF this responsibility until they are 30 far
manage and care for themselves. The path in
which they should walk must be clearly marked
out 10Y them, and they must be led or guided
potent to assume the duties and responsibili-
TIES OF our citizenship. Progress in this
great work will continue only at the
present slow pace and at great expense.
unless the system and motEods Of nun
agement are improved to meet the changed
conditions and urgent demands OF the service.
The Agents having general charge and super
vision, i'll many cases. Of more than 5000
Indians. scattered over large reservations, ana
funds md SuuOlipS I'm va time IN l0ol oftar ~.
industrial training and improvement Of u few
Indians only; the many are neglected
tons anu fe nos fa ,ale ana aepe nsa1 eondi.
civilization. The compensation allowed these
Agents md tho conditions of the service are
lifted by ability and skill to properly plan and
intelli -ently direct the methods best adapted To
produce the most speedy results and permanent
benefits. Hence tho necessity for a supplemental
agency or system, directed to the end Of pr0not-
ing the general and more rapid transition OF
tribes from habits and customs Of barbar,sm to
the ways of civilization.
AUXILIARY INDIAN coMMlssIN ".
With an anxious desire to devise some .ia:l
Of operation by which to secure tho welfare OF
The indians. and to relieve tho Treasury
an idle and dependent population, l rec.
commended, i'll my previous annual mes
sage, the passage OF a law authorizing
strnmentality, auxiliary to those already es-
tab!lshed for the care Of the Indians. It was
aesiGned that this commission should be com.
posed OF six Intelligent and capable persons,
three to be detailed from tho army, having
practical ideas upon the sub, ect of The
t tfesment vo o. indians and interested in
De charged, under the direction Of the Secretary
OF the Int, rior, with the management OF such
mattefs OF detail as cannot, with tho present
organization. be properly and successfully con-
ducted, and which present different Phases, as
the Indians themselves differ in their progress.
or aes i% @ ;a,sP ssd and capacity for Improvement
commission. much unwise and useless expendi.
tufe OF money, waste OF materials and unayail-
ing enorts might be avoided; and it is hoped
that this or some measure which tue wisdom Of
congress may better devise. to supply the def
cheney OF the present system. may receive your
consideration. and that appropriate legislation
be provided. The time is ripe for the WorI on
such an agency.
EDUCATION OF INDIAN YOUTH.
There ID less opposition to the education aud
training OF the Indian yonth. as shown by the
Increased attendance upon the schools, and
there is a Yielding tendency for the Individual
ment in these dire, tion4 are essential, and
should have every encouragement. As the
rising generation are taught the language OF
they should assume the duties. privileges. and
responsibilities OF citizenship.
LANDS IN SEvENAIrY.
No obstacle should hinder the location md
settlement OF any indians willing to take land in
severalty. On the contrary, the inclination to
proper expedients; but there is no authority OF Of
law for making allOtments on somo OF the res.
ervations. and on others tho allotments pro.
ready and desiring to settle down, are not will.
ing to accept such small areas when their res.
creations contain ample lands to afford them
their present and future needs. Tho in.
eqpalities OF existing special laws
and treaties should be corrected. and some
general legislat. on on the subj ct should be-
provided. so that the more progressive members
OF the different tribes may be settled upon
homesteads. and by their example teach others
and substituting therefor the love Of home, the
interest of the family. aud the rule Of the State.
The, The Indian character and nature are such that
unadJusted wrongs. This is specially so re.
garding their lands. Matters arising from
roads across some Of the reservations,
and claims Of title and right OF occupancy set VI,
by white persons to someo Of the best land within.
other reservations, require legislation for their
final adjustment. The settlement of these mat.
tiers will remove many endorsements to pro
gress in the work of leading the Indians to the
adoption OF our institutions and bringing them
under the operation, the influence anu the pro.
lection OF the universal laws of our country.
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
The recommendations Of the Secretary of the
interior and the Commissioner Of the General
Land Office, looking to the better protection Of
public lands and Of the public SURVEYS, the
II u OF grants to states and corporations, and Of
private land claims, and the increased efficiency
OF the public lands service. are commended
TO the attention OF Congress. To secure the
widest distribution of public lands in limited
quantities among settlers of residence and
S Sslsiv ~ H. ,, snd thus make the greatest mum
OBJECT o the public land legislation in the early
days OF the Republic. THIS system was Il
scheme of public surveys. by which the hum
blest citizen could identify the tract upon
which he wished to establish his home The
price OF ands was placed within the reach of All
the enterprising. industrious aid honest pioneer
citizens of the country. 1t was soon found, how
ever, that the OBJECT OF the laws was perverted
ton of land among the people to an accunula.
ton Of land capital by we 4ithy and speculative
p L!a1 MS. 10 check this tendency a preference
IL the general pree.mption '''. aet OF
is.s. The foundation Of this system
years later the homestead laws were devised
TO more surely pace actual homes in the posses
was given without price, the sole condition
6e.nS residence. mp ovement and cultivation.
Other laws have followed. each d signed to
encourage the requirement and use O. land in
limited ind vidual quantities, but in later wear.
tuese laws, through vicious admin trutiv.
methods and under changed conditions of CON-
evaded and violated that their benehcent pur-
pose is threatened with entire defeat, The
methods II such evasions and valuations
are sst forth in detail in the reports o. the Sec.
retary Of the Interior and Commissioner OF the
General Land Office. The rapid appropriation OF
our public lands without bona hde settlements
or cultivation. nd o. only Without intention OF
residence. but for the purpose Of their ag.resa.
ton in large holdings, in many cases IN the
n is OF foreigners, invites the serious anu
attention OF Congress. The energies.
the Land Department have been devoted
during the present administration to remedy
and correct abuses i'll the public land
service. The results Of these efforts are 80 largely
IN the nature OF reforms in tn process and
methods Of our land system IS to prevent ade.
quate estimates, but it appears, by E compilation