Morning journal and courier., 1886-03-16

besides all those under missionary care, ano asks for as many more; progress whicE l proves the Indian capable of comprehendine and appreciating true home life, and also the principles of sef-government It remains fol us then at this halting point at the years end to raise our stone of remembrance saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us," to note briefly the progress made during this last stage of our own and the general work, &C., cepting whatever encouragement we find therein to press forward toward the end. With reference to the advance along our own five lines of work it is only necessary to say, since We shall have detailed reports, that all our departments have been prosecuted with practical and systematic vigor, equalling and in many cases surpassing that of any former year.
 Among the noteworthy signs of general progress this year is the favorable attitude of Congress toward this whole Indian question. This was clearly marked in the discussions of the appropriation bill, the contemplated reductions in which were in the support of the Indians, and made with view to stimu- lating them to self support. Another notice able point is that nearly every speaker con cured in the view that the Indian should have citizenship and lands in severalty One of the attempts at new legislation was that to prohibit the liquor traffic among the Indians This was reluctantly rejected by the Senate as contrary to their rule of tacking legisla- ton on appropriation bills. but the attempt is hopefully significant Too much cannot be said as to the frightful demoralization of the Indian character under the curse of drink. No offort on our part should be spared to secure him the protection of legis- lation in this particular, and our relations with the Wom ems Christian Temperance union should enable us effectively to avail ourselves of the forces which that organiza- ton has at it's command. Great responsibiI- ity is upon us, especially for the young, and it is for us to devise methods of cooperation with teachers of Indian schools, with mis- sionaries and others to save the youth of the tribes from the growing curse of strong drink
 We have also this year a gain to our cause in the fact that the Presidents attitude with reference to Indian interests has been more favorable than, with the experience of past years before us, we had reason to expect. In response to appeals, soon after his election, by a delegation from this association and afterwards from the Indian Right associa- ton, President Cleveland intimated his in- tention to refer to the Indian question in his inaugural address, which, true to his prom ise, contained the following: "The con- science of the people demands that the h. wards of the government, and their educa- tion and civilization promoted with view to their ultimate citizenship"
 Among the acts of justice of this admins tration must be mentioned the return of the Neg Perce Indians, at their own request, to
 their old home in Idaho, after their long cap tivity in Indian Territory; the proclamation that warned off the Oklahoma invaders and the resembling of President Arthur's order to open about 500,000 acres of the Crow Creek reservation to white settlement
 It is no wonder that the enemies of the In dians have sometimes sought to shield their own misdeeds by raising the cry of Indian outbreaks. Some of these have existed only on paper or in the minds of cowboys and oth- CTS who desired to drive the Indians from their coveted lands.
 The real outbreaks of the year are limited to that of Geronimo's band of Apaches, and the uprising of the Cheyennes of Indian Ter ritory, and the lack of food and trouble with the cattlemen will sufficiently account for both.
 That there may speedily come redistribu- tion of the more than 143 50O, GOO acres of Indian lands, on just and beneficial terms to both Indians and whites, is greatly to be de- sired and urged, but it should not be done proposed, in effect, by Senator Plumb of Kansas, viz, by seizing these lands, extin- gushing their Indian titles and then decid ing what damages we shall choose to pay. On this subject Senator Dawes says: ''The plan is one that in court of law as between in- dividuals would not be tolerated a single mo- ment." We should not forget that we have no FlSQG to S0lZe auO IuandS0 6V0n our Dar- barous neighbours estate without his consent, as we need not in this case plead any neces- sity for doing, since his consent be gain ed by right measures. And this only en- forces the fact of the need and importance of speedy and just legislation that will give to the red man the rights enjoyed by all other races in the United States To help secure such legislation has ever been the paramount object of this association. As it stands at present the decision of the United States Supreme court is that there is no way open for the Indian to gain the i'm munities ana privileges or an Amerlean < cltlzen '
 Eighteen thousand four hundred and sev- enty-three more acres have been cultivated by Indian hands in 1885 than in 1884. Every year shows an increase. And all meaning is gradually disappearing from the old time prejudice, ''The Indian won't
 The outpost of legal evils once conquered, all before us lies the way of privilege, of op- portunity, of responsibility. The grander work of developing and educating this new factor in our civilization awaits us still. Sure ly the time has come when if untouched hy