The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-12-14

from the soil produce the things
consumed by all, are perhaps more
and plainly concerned than
any other of our citizens, in Just
and careful system of federal tsxs-
tion. Those actually engaged in and
more remotely connected with this
kind of work, number nearly one
half of our population. None labor
harder or more continuously than
they. No enactments limit their
hours of toll, and no interposition of
the Government enhances, to any
great extent, the value of their pro-
ducts, and yet for many of the nec-
essaries and comforts Of life, which
the most scrupulous economy ems
bles them to bring into their homes
and for their implements ofhusband-
ry, they are obliged to pay a price
largely increased by an unnatural
profit which by the action of the
Government is given to the mere IA
vOred manufacturer.
/ recommend that, keeping in view
all these considerations, the increas-
ing and unnecessary surplus of nat
ional income annually accumulating
be released to the people by an
amendment to o6r revenue laws
which shall cheaper the price of the
necessaries of life and give freer en-
trance to such imported material as
by American labor may be manu-
facturcd into marketable commodi-
ties. Nothing can be accomplished
however, in the direction of this
much needed reform, unless the sub
ject is approached in a patriotic
spirit of devotion to the interest of
the entire country and with a will
ingness to yield something for the
public good.
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 an
idle and dependant population, re-
commended in my previous annual
message the passage of law au-
thorizing the appointment of COM
mission, as an instrumentslity aux
iliary to those already established,
for the care of the Indians. 1t was
designed that this commission
should be composed of six intelli-
gent and capable persons-three to
be detailed from the army-having
practical ideas upon the subject OF
the treatment of Indians, and inter
ested in their welfare; and that il
should be charged, under the direc-
tion of the Secretary of the Inte.
rior, with the arrangement of such
matters of detail as cannot, with
the present organization, be prop.
erly and successfully conducted, and
which present different phases as
the Indians themselves differ, in
progress, needs, dispositions. and
capacity for Improvement or immc.
diate sclf-support. BY the aid OF
such commission. much unwist
and useless expenditure of money
waste of materials, and unavailins
efforts might be avoided; and it is
hoped that this or some measure
which the wisdom of Congress may
better devise, to supply the defcien
cy of the present system, may re
ceiye your consideration and the ap
.propriate legislation be provided
The time is ripe for the work of sucf
an agency. There is less opposition
to the education and training of tn,
Indian youth, as shown by the in
creased attendance upon the schools
and there is yielding tendency fol
the individual holding Of lands
Development and advancement il
these directions are essential, an(
should have every encouragement
As the rising generation are taugh
the language of civilization ant
trained in habits of industry. they
should assume the duties, privileges
and responsibilities of citizenship
No object should hinder the location
and settlement of any Indian will
ing to take land in severalty; on tn,
contrary, the inclination to do 81
should be stimulated at all time'
when proper and expedient. Bu
there is no authority of law for ma
king allotments on some of the re
servations. and on others the allot
ments provided for are so small tina
the Indians, though ready and. de
string to settle down, are not will
ing to accept such small areas, whel
their reservations contain ampl
lands. to afford them homesteads o
sufficient size to meet their presen
and future needs. These inequali
ties of existing special laws an,
treaties should be corrected, ant
some general legislation on the sub
ject should be provided, so that tn
more progressive members of tn
different tribes may be settled upol
homesteads and by their exampl
lead others to follow, breaking ava,
from tribe customs, and substitu
ting therefor the love of home, tn
interest of the family and the rul
of the State. The Indian characte
and nature are such that they ar
not easily led while brooding owe
.unadjusted wrongs. This is espe
cially so regarding their lands
Matters arising from the construc
tion and operation of railroad
across some of the reservations, an(
claims of title and right of occu
pancy set up by white persons t.
some of the best land within othe
reservations, require legislation 70
their final adjustment The settle
ment of these matters will remov,
many emharrassments to progress
in the wdFk Of leading the indians
to the adoption of our institutions
and bringing them under the opera
tion the influence and the protec
tion of the universal laws of on
country.
OUR PUBLIC LANDS.
The rapid appropriation of on
public lands without bona .fdc set