Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1888-12-05


country have cordially co operated with the
| postofiice department 10 rendering e1cellen.
| service, yet under the law Is 1t stands, while
! mail is limited and regulated, and although
| all railroads are made pnst roads by law,
! there Is no authority reposei anywhere to
| compel the owner OF a railroad to take and
carry the Inited States mail. The only
Alternative provided by the art Ut congress, In
| casc Of refusal, "a for The postmaster general
| to send the mail forward by pony express.
This Is but one illustration Ct Ill fitting leg
Isl alton, reasonable and proper At the time OF
| its enactment. but long since outgro*n and
reqniringres ijustment.
Il is gratifying to note from the carefully
! prepared statistics actomr anying the post
master generals repo thai Notwithstanding
the great expression Of the service the rate OF
| expenditure $ been lessened and the eill,-
/ ieDcy has been improved In every branch !;
| that fraud and crime have decreased; that
losses from the mails have been reduc d and
that the number OF complaints Of the service
made 10 postmastcrs and to the department
/ are far less than ever before.
THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
In the report of the secretary OF the ainter.
| Tor. which Will be laid before you, the condi-
| ton Of The various branches Of our domestic
/ affairs connect d With that department and
| Its operations during the past year sfe fully
! exhibited. But a brief reference III soide or
4 the &uh3HGf& d fn TIA n Ana tutkfs
] es.ing report cannot here Be made, cDfh-'
mend the entire report to the attention OF
| ccrgfess ard trust that the sensible and val
uabl recGmmr ndatirns Ii contains Will Sc
! cure clrtf full consideration. ! carno. too
| strenuously iosist upon the Importance Of
! prop M asures to insure right disl ost5ion
| of our public lands, rot only as matter of
present justice, but in forecasting the co:ise-
| quencs to future generations. The broad,
rich acres of our agricu tural plains have
| untrsnneled eN5. to PEOPLE
civilized and free upon which
| SD uld rest In well distributed owner
! ship he numerous homes Of enlightened,
| equal and fraternal citizans. They came to
/ national possession with the warning exam
| pie in our eyes OF the entail OF iniquities Ia
| landed propriaiorshtp, which o her countries
have permitted and still suffer.
| we have no excuse for the violation Of
| principles eogently tsught by reason and ex-
! ample, nor for the allowance OF pretexts
which have sometime exposed our lands to
! colossal greed Laws which OPEN the door
| OF fraudulent acquisition or administration
| which permits favor to rapacious seizure by a
| favored few Ct the expanded acres that the
! many should enjoy are accessory to offenses
against our national welfare and humtsaity
/ can not be too severely condemned or
f! punished.
! 1t Is gratifying to know that something has
| been done at last to redress the injuries to
orr people aud check the perilous tendency
of the reckless waste Of the national domain
| that over $4,000 600 acres have been
wrested from illegal usurpation, improvident
| grants and fraudulent entries ard claims to
be taken for the homesteads Of honeet in
! dustry although less than the greater areas
| thus uniustly lost must afford profound
! qualification to right feeling citizens,
as 1t is recompense for the
labors and struggles Of their recovery
! Our dear experience ought sufficiently to
urge speedy enactment OF measures of legis-
iation which viii confne future disposition
Of our remaining az ricultural lands to the
use of actual husbandry and genuine homes,
nor should our vast tracts OF go called desert
! lands be yielded mp to the monopoly Of
| corporations or grasplng individuals as APP
| pears to be much the tendency under existing
statutes. The lands require but the supply Of
| water to become fertile and productive. 1T Is
problem Of great moment how most wisely
for public good that factor shsll be furnished.
cannot but think 1t periious 10. suffer
either these lands or the sources OF their
| irrigation to fall into the hands OF monopol-
| les which by such meals may exercise lord
! ship over acres dependent on their treat
ment for their productiveness. Already steps
| have been taken to secure accurate aud
| scientific information Of the conditions which
| is the prime basis OF Intelligent action, Until
| this shall be gained the course OF wisdom
! appears clearly to be ia the suspension OF
| further disposal which only promises to
create rights antagonistic to The common In
| terest and no harm can follow this caution
airy conduct The land win remain and the
| pdolic good presents no demand for basty
! osspossession OF the national ownership
and control. f~eommend also the recon-
| mendations that appropriate measures be
tolsa "A. k.x4t Al,
| ious grants to the states for internal improve
ments and OF the saving Of overfowed lands as
| well TO adjudicate and finally Determine the
valikiiy and extent Of the numerous private
land claims. AL these ars elements OF
I great injustice and peril to the settlers Upon
| the localities affected and now that their ex-
| istence is ascerfained there Is no more press
| ing necessity than to fix as soon as possible
| their bounds and terminate the threats OF
| trouble which arise from uncertainty,
! The erldition OF our Indian population
| continues to improve, and the proofs multi
| ply that the Transforming change, 40 much
/ TO he desired which shall suts,itu for bar
| bsrism enlightment and ciyilizing education,
| is in favorable progress Our relations with
| these people during the yesf have been is-
! turbed by no Serious disorders, but rather
marked by better realization Of their true
! interests and increasing confidence and good
| will. These conditions testify to the value Of
U
ty, which has governed the lat
! ter methods Of dealing with them
/ aud commands it's continued OBJ
/ servapce. ALI settlements in severaity
| have been made On some reservations until
| sill those entitled to land thereon have had
t their shares assigned and the work 10 st'll
continued. In directing the execution Of this
duty have not s.med So much at rapid dis
| patch as to secure Just and f:it arrangements
! which shall best conduce to the object OF the
law. By producing satisfaction with the re-
| suits OF the allotments made. No measure Of
| general effect he's ever been entered on from
which more may be fairly hoped, II 1t shall
tuni'y to that Independence Of spirit and life
which the lndiaii pecnliaiities need while at
the same time, the ioalienable title affords
security against the risks his inexperienee Of
affa RS or weakness OF chafaetef INDY expose
him to In dealing with others. Whenever be.
| gun upon any RI reservation, 1t should be made
compete, so that ali are brought to the came
concition as soon as possible. Community In
lands should cease by such opening as re-
mains unalloted to settlement, and the con-
teet with the ways Of industrious and sueces.
sful, fatnmers viii, perhsrss add a healthy
emulation, which will both instruct and
| stimulate.
/ But NJ agency for the amelioration OF this
people appears to me 90 promising a. the ex-
tension urged by the secretary Of the interior
Of such eomplefe facilities 81 education ~
shall at the earliest possible moment embrace
all teachable Indian youths Of both sexes and
retain them with kindly and benefieent hold
until their sharacters are fortified and their
facilities &hd dispositions trained to sAch pttt:
suits. Some form OF useful indus ry suited
to the capacity Of the lndian no longer needs
demonstration. 1t is established. It remains
to make the most Of It, and when that shall
be done the enrse will be lifted, the Indian
u - - a.