The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-12-08

f.,srs senora.!Ona The broad 0'si,s b rss
Seooms her untramn,eled gift 70 people civilized
and frse, upon which should rest IN well dlstrib'
uted owner,hip, the numerous homes OF enlight.
sned. equal and fraternal citizens. They came to
national possession with the warlng example in
eur eyes Of che entail OF iniquities IN landed pro
prietorship which other countries permitted and
still suffer We have excuse Ter the violation
OF principles cogently taught by reason aud ak
ample nor for the allowance OF pretexts which
have SO etimes exposed our land 10 colossal
greed. Laws which open the door 10 fraudulent
acquisition, or administrations when permits
favor to rapacous seizure by favored few Of ex
banded areas that many should en-
10y are accessory 10 ofenses against
our national welfare and humanity
which are not TO be too severely condemned or
punished II IL gratifying TO know that some
thing has been done at last TO redress the in
juries 10 people and check the perilous tendency
OF the reckless waste of national domain that over
\ SO0DO,OUO acres have been wrested from Illegal
usurpation, improvidant grants and fraudulent
entries and claims TO be taken for the homestead
Of honest industry although less than the
greater areas thus unjustly iosJ-must afford a
profound qualification to rightfeelinS citidenS, as
isa recompense for the labors and struggles OF
the recovery.
Our dear exper fence ought sufficiently to urge
che speedy enactment OF measures of lepiSla
uon which will confine the future disposition of
eur remaining agricultural lands 10 the uses OF
actual husbandry and genuine homes. Nor should
vast tracts OF socalled desert lands he yielded
ap to the monopoly Of corporations or graspng
individuals as appears to be much the tendency
under the existing statute. These lands require
bus the supply OF water TO become fertile
and productive 1t Is a problem OF
great moment how most wisely for the public
good hat factor shall be furnished. can n but
= 0ink il perious to suffer either these lands or
he sources of their irrigation TO fall into the
hands OF monopolles, which by such means may
exercise lordship over areas dependent on their
treatment for productiveness Already steps
have been taken to secure accurate and scientific
Information OF the conditions which Is the prime
ka.;- agf ,t,l1 aaftA yTnf
gained the course Of wisdom appears clearly TO
ke in a suspension OF further dis posal which only
promises to create rights antagonistic TO the com
mon interest. No harm can follow TINS caution
airy conduct. The land will remain and the pub
lie good presents demand for hasty dispo sses
sion of national ownership and control
commend also the recommendations that APP
propriate measures be taken TO compete the ad-
justment Of the various grants made to the states
for internal improvements and OF swamp aud
overlooked lands, as well rs 10 adjudlcate and
finally determine the validity and extent of the
numerous private land claims. All these are
elements OF great injustice and peril TO the set
tiers upon the localities affected, aud now that
their existence Is more pressing, we should fix as
soon a. possible their bounds and terminate the
threats of trouble which arise from uncertainty
The condition OF our Indian population con-
/ hnues to improve and the proofs multiply that
the transforming change so much TO be desired
which shall substitute for barDariSm enllghten
nent aud civiii2ng education Is IN tsyorable pro
greSs. our relations with these people during
the year have been disturb by no serious dis
orders, but rather marked by "A better realization
Of their true interests and increasing confidence
and good will These conditions testify to the
value OF the higher tone of consideration and
humanity which has governed the Later methods
Of dealing with them and commend its continued
observance AllotInsnts In severaty have been
made some reservations, until all those en-
titled to land thereon have had their shares as
sgned and the work : stu continues 9 b In direct net
{: s1's secure se %s ss .%a 'i 4s ssS
which shall bast conduce to the objscts of the
law By producing abstraction with the results Of
the alolments made No measure OF general
effect has been entered on from which more may
be fairly hoped, il it shat be- dicrcetly admins
tered II profrers opportunity and inducement
10 that Independence Of spirit and life which the
Indian peculiarly needs, while at the same time
the stability of title affords security against the
risks his inexperience Of atfsirs or weakness of
character may expose him to in dealing with
others. Whenever begun upon any reservationft
should be made complete, 50 that a | ara brought
to the same condition, and a. soon rs 20 ,sbe
community in lands should cease by opening
such as remain uuailotted to settlement. Fa-
miliarity with the ways OF Industries and sue
cessfu farmers will perhaps add a healthy emu
lation which will both instruct and stimulate.
But no agency for the ameliOratiou of this peo-
pie aIXears to me so promising a. the extension,
urgedNy the secretary, Of such complete fa'ili-
ties OF education as shall at the earliest possible
day embrace all teachabie Indian youths of both
sexes and retain them with kindly aud beue-
cent hold until their characters are formed and
their faculties and dispositions traihed TO the
sure pursuit OF some form of useful industry.
Capacity OF the Indian no longer needs demon
strhtion IL is eStablishe il remains To make
the most Of it, aud when that shall 20 done the
curse will ba lifted, the Indian race saved, aud
tle sin OF their oppression redeemed. The time
OF its accomplishment depends upon the spirit
and Justice with which it shall be prosecuted. 1t
cannot be too soon for the Indian nor for the in
terests and good name of tho nation.
The average abundance Of Indian schools in
creased over 800 during the year and the total
enrpllment reached t5,Ila The cost of msnten:
teachabls indian youth is new estimated at 20 900,
or nearly tnrse tines the chrolimsnt OF the
schools II IL believed tho obstacles ia tn, war Of
instrlctihg al ara surnouatahis and that tao
necessary expenditure would bs a meaairs OF
ecoheny
The sAcuI tribes On tho great reservation of
Dakota refused to assent to the act passed by
coasrs7p at its last sea<ion for ops.insa por-
ton Of their lands TO ssttle1isnt notwith-
standing, m.dihsstio. Of the terms was
:ggs'.a I Tnsh s. me. nG st, of ih's
payment Of the full price OF 81 - per acre for the
entire body Of lsad, the occupancy OF which they
are asked to rsn9iish. The manner OF submis-
sion Insured thsr fair understanding OF the ls~,
and their action was undoubtedly as thoroughly
intelligent th,r capacity admitted, 1t ia at
least gratifying that no reproach OF overreachins
can in any manner bs brought against the govern
ment however advisable the favorable compile
ton OF the negotiation may have been eSteemed.
concur in the suggestion Of the secrstary ~.
garding the Turtle Mountain Indians, the two res.
ervatiQUs in California and the CreeS. They should
In my OF nOu receive immediate attent on,
The number of pensioners added to the rolls
during the fiscal year ended June 30 1885, is Co.
CO., aud an increase OF pensions was granted III
45, 1l6 cases The names Of i6,IJO pensioners
were dropped from the rolls during the year for
various causes. aud on the close of the year the
number OF persons of all classes receiving pen
sions was i52,jJ OF these there were SO6 sur
vivors of the war of 1872; lo,7S widows of those
who served in that war: 5000 soldiers of the
Mexican war, am s. lOi widows of said soldiers.
One hundred and two different rates of pensions
are paid to these beuehCiaries, ranging from
81 to SlIbGG per month. The amont paid for
pensions during tn fiscal year was S.a,II5,S6 81,
being an increase over the preceding year OF
S5.3OS 9SO.22.
The expenses attending the maintenance and
ope, alton OF the pension bureau during that
period was g 262 81, making the entire ex.
pendtures OF the bureau SS3njs, 1856 u, being 2Ia
per cent of the total expenditures OF the govern
ment during the year
am thoroughly convinced that our general
pension laws should be revised and adjusted &c
meet as far rs possible in the light OF our eX-
perience all maritorOuS cases. The fact thab
l02 different rates Of pensions are paid can not in
my opinion be made consistent with justice to
the pensioners to the government and the
Mumerou- private pension bills that are passed
predicated upon the mperfectOn Of general
laws while they increase in many cases existing
ineqi atty and injustice lend additional force to
the reco umeudatiOn for the revision of the gen