Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-04
TO ELEVATE THE INDIAN.
A COMPLETE PROGRAMME FOR RE-
FORM OF OLD AND YOUNG.

! SuDatantial Progress With PnpoOaea-Indi~
ViduaI Treatment Better Than Tribal
Uncle Sam as a Missiouary-
Lo, and the AcquisIrion
| of HIS Lands.
! The report of the Secretary Of the Interior
exhibits the transactions of the Government
with the Indian tribes. Substantial prog
ress has been made in the education of the
children Of school age and in the allotment
of lands to adult Indians It is to be regret
ted that the policy Of breaking up the tribal
relation and of dealing with the Indian as
an individual did not appear earlier in our
legislation. Large reservations, held in
! common, and the maintenance of the author
| ity of the chiefs and head men, have de-
priYed the individual of every incentive to
the exercise of thrift, and the annuity has
contributed an affirmative impulse toward
state ofconfrmed pauperism.
Our treaty stipulations should be observed
with fidelity, and our legislation should be
highly eonsiderate of the best interests of
an ignorant and helpless people. The reser-
Yations are now generally surrounded by
| white settlements. We can no longer push
| the Indian back into the wilderness, and it
| ECuflAuo OuAl, OI CNGhy 6uAbdOAC W
push him upward into the estate Of a self
supporting and responsible citizen. For the
adult, the first step is to locate him upon a
farm, and for the child, to place him in q
school, School attendance should be pro-
NOTED by every moral agency, and those
falling, should be compelled.
MORE INDIAN SCHOOLS.
The national schools for Indians have
been very successful, and should be multi
| piled, and, as rapidly as they can be rep-
| dered responsible, should be so organized
| and conducted as to facilitate the transfer of
| the schools to the States and Territories in
which they are located (when the Indians
in neighborhood have accepted citizenship,
and have become otherwise fitted for such
transfer). This condition Of things will
be attained slowly; but it will be hastened
| by keeping it in mind. And in the mean
time, that cooperation between the Govern
ment and the mission schools, which has
wrought much good, should be cordially
and impartially maintained.
| The last Congress enacted two distinct
laws relating to negotiations with the Sioux
Indians of Dakota for a REIMBURSEMENT of
portion of their lands to the United States,
and for dividing the remainder into separ-
ate reservations. Both were approved on
the same day-MaTeh 2, The one submitted
to the Indians a specific propositions the
other (section of the Indian Appropriation
act) authorized the President to appoint
three commissioners to negotiate with these
Indians for the accomplishment Of the same
general purpose, and required that any
agreements made should be submitted to
Congress for ratification,
EMINENT INTERMEDIATES.
On April 16 last. 1 appointed Hon.
Charles Foster, of Ohio, Hon. William
Warner, of Missouri, and Major General
George Crook, of the United States Army,
commissioners under the last named Law.
They were, however, authorized and d.
rected, first, to submit to the Indians the
definite proposition made TO them by the act
first mentioned, and, only in the event of q
failure to secure the assent of the requisite
number to that proposition, to open negO-
tiations for modified terms under the other
act. The work of the commission was pro-
longed and aFduous; but the assent Of the
requisite number was, it is understood,
finally obtained 10 the proposition made by
Congress, though the report of the commits
sion has not yet been submitted. In view
of these facts / shall not. as at present ad-
Vised, deem it necessary to the agree
ment to Congress for ratification, but it will
in due course be submitted for information.
This agreement releases to the United
States about 9, 900, 900 acres of land.
The commission provided for by section
IA of the Indian appropriation bill to nego-
tiate with the Cherokee Indians, and all
other Indians owning or claiming lands
lying west of the ninety-sixth degree of
longitude, for the eessioR to the United
States of all such lands, was constituted by
the appointment of Hon. Lueius Fairchild,
of Wisconsin; Hon, John +. Hartranft, of
Pennsylvania, and Hon, Alfred NJ. Wilson,
of Arkansas, and organised on June 20 last.
SLOW WORK AND DEATHS VISIT.
The first conference with the representa-.
tives Of the Cherokees was held at Table
quah, July 20, with no definite results.
General John 2. Hartranft, Of Pennsyl-
vania, was prevented by ill-health from TAX
ing part In the conference. His death,
which occurred recently, is justly and gen.
orally lamented by a people he had served
with conspicuous gallantry in war, and with
great fidelity in peace The vacancy thus
created was filed by the appointment Of
Hon. Warren g. Sayre, OF Indiana A sec
ond conference between the commission and
the Cherokees was begun November 9; but
no results have yet been obtained. nor is it
believed that conclusion can be immedi-
ately expected.
The cattle syndicate now occupying the
lands for grazing purposes Is clearly one Of
the agencies responsible for the obstruction
of our negotiations with the Cherokees The
large body of agricultural lands constitute
ing what is known as the "Cherokee Out
let'' ought not to be, and indeed, cannot,
long be held for grazing, and for the ad-
vantage Of few against the public inter-
ests and the best advantage Of the Indians
themselves. The United States has now
under the treaties certain rights in these
lands. These will not be used oppressiVely;
but it cannot be allowed that those who By
sufFeranee occupy these lands shall inters
pose to defeat the wise and benehcent pur-
poses Of the Government. I cannot but be-
iieye that the advantageous character Of the
terms made BY the United States 10 the
Cherokee Nation, for q full release Of these
lands, as compared with other Suggagtlpnf