Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-08

THE INDIANS.
Creating q New Commission Recommend
ed by the President.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior pre-
sents a comprehensive summary of the work of
the various branches OF the public service con-
nected with his department, and the suggestions
and recommendations which it contains for the
improvement of the service should receive your
careful consideration. The ex hibit made of the
condition of our Indian population and progress
of work for their enlightenment notwithstand-
ing the many embarrassments which him
der better administra ion of this import
ant branch of the service, Is gratifying
AID hopeful one. 1he funds appropriated for the
Indian service for the fiscal year just passed.
with the available income from Indian land and
trust moneys, amounting in all to SIS IT'S r.
were ample Tor the service under the conditions
and restrictions of laws regulating their expend-
iture. There remained baIance on hand June
80, 1886 of 023 80, of which Sl,S377 68. 81
are permanent funds for the fulfllment of treaties
and other like purposes, and the remainder,
1922, 255.U9 is subject to be carried TO
the surplus funn as required by law
The estimates presen ed for appropriations for
the ensuing fiscal year amount to $50 S,S7364, or
SAP $50 30 less than those laid before Cong ress
last year. The present system of agencies while
absolutely net essary and we'll adapted for the
management of our Indian affairs, and for the
ends In view, when it was adopted, is in the
present state of Indian management inadequate
standing alone tor the accomplishment of
an object which has become pressing
i'll its importance, the more rapid transition
from tribal organizations to citizenship Uf such
portions OF the Indians as are incapable of civil
lied life. When the existing system wa adopted
the Indian race was outside of the limits of or
ganized states and territories and beyond the i'm
mediate eacl and operation of civilization and
all efforts were manly directed to the mainte-
nance of friendly relations and the preservation
of peace aud quiet on the frontier. All this is
nov changed. There is no such thing as the
Indian frontier. Civilization with the busy hum
of industry and the influence of Christianity
rounds these people at every point. None of the
tribes are outside of the bounds of organized gov
eminent and society, except that the territorial
system has not been extended over that portion
of the country known as the Indian Territory. As
race the Indians are no longer hostile, but may
be considered a. submissive TO the control of the
government, as few of them only are trouble
some. Except the fragments of several
bands all are now gathered upon res
ervatlonS. 1t Is no longer possible Tor
them to subsist by the chase and the spontaneous
productions of the earth. With an abunda ce of
land, if furnished with the means and imple-
ments for profitable husban Try, their life of en-
day to day is no longer defensible Their lnclina-
ton, long foste ed by defective system of con-
troll is to cling to habits and customs of their an
cestors, and struggle with persistence against the
changes of life which their altered circumstances
press upon them But barbarism and civ
llization cannot live together 1t is i'm
possible that such inconglunus conditions should
co-eXist on the same soil. They portion of
our people, are under the authority of our gov
eminent and have peculiar claim on and are
entitled to the fostering and protection of the
nation. The government cannot relieve itself of
this responsibility till they are so far trained and
civilized as. to be able wholly to manage and care
for themselves. The path in which they should
walk must be clearly marked out for them,
and they must be led. or guided till
they are familiar with the way and are COM
petent to assume the duties and RESPONSIBILITIES
of our citizenship. Progress in this great work
will continue only at the present slow pace and
at great expense, unless the system and methods
of management are improved to meet the chang
ed conditions and urgent demands of the service
The agents having general charge and super
vision IN many cases of more than 5, 1000 Indians
scattered over large reservations, and burdened
with the details of accountability for funds and
supplies, have time to look after the industrial
training and Improvement of few Indians only.
The many are neglected and remain idle and in
dependent conditions not favorable for progress
sive civilization. The compe 1sation allowed
these agents and conditions of service are not cal
culated to secure for the workmen who are fitted
by ability and skill to properly plan and inteli-
gently direct the methods best adapted to pro-
duce the most speedy results and per manent ben
etts Hence the necessity for supplementary
agency or system directed to the end of promot-
Ing the general ana more rapid transition OF
tribes from habits and customs of
ton ton With With an anxious desire to de-
which to secure the welfare of the Indians and
to relieve the treasury as far as possible from
the support of an idle and dependent popula-
message the passage of law authorizing the
appointment Of commission as an instru
mentality auxiliary to those already estab
llshed for the care OF the Indians. 1t was de.
signed that this committee commission should
b. composed OF six intelligent and capable civil
ians, and three to be detailed from the army
of the treatment of Indians and inter
ested in their welfare. and that it
should be charged, under the direction of the
Secretary of the Interior. with the management
of such matters of detail cannot with the pres
ent organization be properly and successfully
conducted, and which present different phases
as the Indians themselves fer in their progress.
needs, disposition, and capacity for improve
ment or immediate self-support. By the aid of
such commission much unwise and useless ex-
penditure OF money, and waste of materials and
unavainng efforts might be avoided; and it is
hoped that this or some measures which
the wisdom of Congress may better devise to
supply the deficiency of the present system may
receive your consideration and the appropriate
legislation be provided. The time is ripe Tor the
work of such an agency. There is less opposition
to the education and training of the Indian
youth. as shown by the increased attendance
upon the schools, and there is a yielding ten
dency for the Individual holding of lands De-
velopment and advancement in these directions
are essential and should have every encourage
ment. As the rising generation are taught the
language of civilization and trained in habits of
industry they should assume the duties privileges
and responsibilities of citizenship. No obstacles
should hinder the location and settlement of any
Indian willing to take land In severalty. On the
contrary, the 1ncl1nat1on to do so should be
stimulated at all times when proper and eXpedi-
emit But there is no authority of law for making
allotments gu some of the reservations and on
others the aGotiD IS provided for are so small
that the lpo!aGs, t.. oh needy and desiring to
settle down, are not willing to accept
such small areas. When their reservations
contain ample lands to afford them home
steads of sufficient size to meet their
present and future needs, these inequalities of
existing special laws and treaties should be cor
rected and some general legislation on the sub
ar oh hn n cd onf hot fhn
gressive members of the different tribes may be
settled upon homesteads, and by their example
teach others to follow, breaking away from tribal