Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-12-16
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY
n. CF-THE INTERIOR.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY
n. oF.THE INTERIOR.
From an advance copy of the
report of the secretary of the in
terror, the following in relation to
Indian matters is gathered. Speak
ing of the advancement of the
Indians under the present manage
ment of the Indian bureau, he
says.
81 wish / could say that the
progress in this direction is suf-
fciently rapid to promise an early
accomplishment Of the policy Of
the government in reference TO our
Indian population. The policy, as
/ understand it, is the incorpora-
tion Of the Indian race into our
political and social system as
citizens" Further on he says:
Gas stated in my last report,
the only alternative presented to
the American Indian race is speedy
entrance into the pale of American
civilization, or absolute ex-
tinction.n -
"To escape the latter and attain
the former" as he says, he pre-
scribes three conditions-habitude
Of individual property-holding,
education of ali the youth, and "a
substitution of the universal opera
tion of the law among them in the
enforcement of justice and the
protection of person and property,
and the punishment of crimes for
the agencies of force and super
stition."
None of the foregoing can apply
TO the five civilized tribes Of the
territory. They are, according to
the governments policy, as he un-
derstands II, ready to enter its
political and social system as citi-
zens-fat enough TO kill.
Instead of the agencies now en-
ployed in conducting the admins
tration of Indian affairs, as being
productive of the best results, he
recommends the appointment of
commission Of six men, three 10 be
selected from the officers Of the
army.
"The work." he says, "of locat-
ing the Indians on lands in sever
atty has been and is now being
pushed with commendable activity
by the commissioner of Indian
affairs. During the year about
eight hundred Indians have re-
ceived titles"
Under the Indian homestead
law quite number have taken up
homesteads.
The question of railroads through
the territory and Indian reserva-
tions receives attention. He says:
"The recognized treaties made
in 1856 between the United States
and the five civilized tribes, en-
braced stipulations permitting
railroads to be constructed through
the territory of the respective
nations"
"The Indians have claimed that
these treaties and the cotempo-
raneous legislation, construed to-
gether, contemplate but a single
trunk road from north TO south
through their lands, with a like
construction of the single trunk
road from east to west through
their respective reservations. The
necessities Of commerce, incident
to the rapid growth of the south
western country, have demanded
increased railroad facilities through |
the Indian Territory. In this ac-
tion congress asserted the right to
make such grants without the con-
sent Of the Indians. = = Upon
the principle Of the right of emil
nent domain in the federal govern
ment over the territory"
OF the grazing on Indian lands
he says;
at has been held by the rttor-
ney general that no general power
is conferred by any statute upon
the executive branch OF the govern
ment for making, authorizing, O
approving leases Of any lands held |
by Indians for grazing purposes"
Upon general principles he
rather condemns such leasing as
not being conducive TO the WE'LL
being Of the Indians, but thinks II
10 be much better that they be
permitted 10 hold and Craze the
stock OF the white people against
whom such restrictions and regu
|aslona should bo exercised so as 70
prevent them from going upon The
reservations