The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1889-12-05

most as fast as the new vessels are added.
These facts carry their own argument
strength, be equal to two of the old, but it can
not do the cruising duty of two. 1t is impor-
tant, therefore, that we should have a more
rapid increase in the number OF serv1ceable
ships. concur in the recommendation OF the
Secretary that the construction of eight ar
mored ships, three gunboats, and five torpedo
boats, be authorized.
The Indian Question.
The report of the Secretary OF the Interior
exhibits the transactions of the Government
with the Indian tribes. Substantial progress
has been made in the education OF the children
lands to adult Indians. Our treaty stipu1a-
tons should be observed with fidelity, and our
legislation ehould be highly considerate of the
best interests of an ignorant and helpless people,
The reservations are now generally surrounded
by white settlements. We no longer push
the Indian back into the wilderness, and it re-
him. upward into the state of self-sup-
porting and responsible citizen. For the
adult, the first step is to locate him
upon farm; and for the child, to
place him in school, School attend
dance should be promoted by every agency.
The national schools for Indians have been very
successful, and should be multiplied The last
Congress enacted two distinct laws relating to
negotiations with the Sioux Indians of Dakota
for REIMBURSEMENT of portion of their lands
to the United States and for dividing the re-
mainder into separate reservations. The
one submitted to the Indians q specific
proposition; 1.-THE other authorized the
President to negotiate with these In
dams for the accomplishment of the
same general purpose, and required that any
agreements should be submitted to Congress for
ratification. On the 9Th day of April last up
pointed Hon. Charles Foster, of Ohio; Hon.
William Warner, Of Missouri and Maj. Gen.
George Crook, of the United States army, Com
missioners under the 1ast-named act. These
were, however. authorized and directed, first, to
submit to the Indians the definite proposition
made to them by the act first mentioned, and
only in the event of a failure to secure the
assent of the requisite number to that PROPOSE
tion, to open negotiations for modified terms
under the other act The work of the Commits
sion was prolonged and arduous, but the
sent of the requisite number was finally OBJ
tanned to the proposition made by Congress,
though the report of the Commission has not
yet been submitted. In view of these facts, 1
shall not at present, deem it necessary to
submit the agreement to Congress for ratifica-
ton, but it will in due course be submitted for
information. This agreement releases to the
United States about 9,0O0,0 600 acres OF land.
The Cherokee Strip.
The Commission provided for by section IA of
the Indian appropriation bill to negotiate with
the Cherokee Indians and all other Indians
owning or claiming lands lying west of the
ninety sixth degree of longitude for the cessiOn
to the United States of all such lands was
constituted by the appointment of Hon.
Lucius Fairchild, of Wisconsin, Hon. John
f. Hartranft, OF Pennsylvania; and Hon.
Alfred M. Wilson, of Arkansas and orga-
nized on June % last. Their first confer
ence with the representatives of the Chero-
KEGS was held at Tahlequah July 49, with
definite results. A second conference between
the Commission and the Cherokees begun
Nov. 6, but no results have yet been obtained,
nor is it believed that conclusion can be i'm
mediarely expected. The large body of agricu1-
tural lands constituting what is known as the
Cherokee outlet" ought not to be- and indeed
cannot long be, held for grazing, and for the ad-
vantage of few against the public interests
and the best advantage of the Indians them
selves. 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 sufferance occupy
these lands will interpose to defeat the wise and
ben efcent purposes of the government. 1 cannot
but believe that the advantageous offer made
by the United States to the Cherokee Nation
for full release of these lands, as compared
with other suggestions now made to them, will
yet obtain for it a favorable consideration.
Oklahoma.
1t is estimated that there are now in Okla
hoIna Territory about CO., O0 people, and several
considerable towns have sprung up, for which
organized. In order to secure the peace of this
new community, in the absence of civil govern
nlent, directed General Merritt commanding
the Department of the Missouri, TO act in con-
junction with the Marshals of the United
States to preserve the peace, and upon
their requisition to use the troops to
aid them in executing warrants and
in quieting any riots breaches of the peace
that might occur. He was further directed to
use his influence to protect good order and to
avoid any conflicts between or with the settlers.
The presence of troops has given a of
security to the we'll disposed citizens, and has
tended to restrain the lawless. 1 very urgently
recommend that Congress at once provide q
Territorial Government for these people, Seri-
Gus questions, which may at any time lead to
violent outbreaks, awaiting the institution
of courts for their peaceful adjustment. The
American genius for self government has been
well illustrated in Oklahoma but it is neither
safe nor wise to leave these people longer to the
expedienbs which have temporarily served
them.
Affairs in Alaska.
Provisions should be made for the acquisi-
ton of title to town lots in the towns now es-
tablished in Alaska, for locating town sites and
for the establishment of municipal govern
ments. Only the mining laws have been ex-
tended to that territory, and no other form of
title to lands cam now be obtained. We have
fortunately not extended to Alaska the mis-
taken policy of establishment Of reserva-
tions for the Indian tribes, and can
deal W. them from the beginning as iRdividu-
ais, wdth, am sure, better results. But any
disposition of the public lands and any regula-
lions relating to timber and to the fisheries
should have kindly regard to their interests.
Having no power to levy taxes, the people of
ALASKA are wholly dependent upon the General
Government, 80 whose revenues the seal fish
cries make q large annual contribution. An
appropriation for education should neither be
overlooked nor stinted.
The smallneSS of the population and the great
distances between the settlements offer serious
ritorial form of government. Perhaps the
ganization of several sub-districts, with small
municipal council of limited powers for each,
would be safe and useful.
The Public Lands.
In the admin stration OF the land laws the
policy of facilitating, in every proper way, the
adjustm of the honest claims of individual
settlers upon the public lands has been pursued.
The number of pending cases had, during the
preceding admin stration, been greatly increased
under the operation of orders for a time sus-
pending fnaz action in q. large part of the cases
originating la the West and North west, and by
the subsequent use of unusual methods of ex-
animation Only those who familiar with
the conditions under which our agricultural
lands have been settled can appreciate the seri-
Gus and often fatal consequences to the settler
of policy that puts his title under suspicion, or
delays the issuance of his patent. While care is
taken to prevent and to expose fraud, it should
not be imputed without reason.
The manifest purpose of the homestead and
pre- mption Laws WAS to promote the settle
nent of the public domain by persons having
a bona fide intent to make home upon the Sc
1ected lands. Where this intent III well estab-
hshed and the requirements of the law have
been substantially complied with, the claimant
is entitled to prompt and friendly considera-
ton of his case. But where there is reason to
believe that the claimant is a agent of
other, who is seeking to evade the law and to
secure by fraudulent methods large tracts of
timber and other lands both principal and
agent should be made to feel the full penalty of
our criminal statutes. The law should be so
administered not to cOnfOund these two