Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-12-13

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ment and extension OF the service. which are
commended 10 your attention No other
branch of the government has 50 close a con-
tact with the daily life OF the people. Almost
every one uses the service il offers, and every
hour gained in the transmission Of the great
commercial mails has an actual and possible
value that only those engaged IN trade can
understand
CONSTRUCTING NEW WAR VESSELS.
In general, satisfactory progress has been
made in the construction OF the new ships of
war authorized by Congress. The first vessel
of me new navy, the Dolphin. was subjected
to very severe trial tests and to very much
adverse criticism. But ii Is gratifying TO be
able 70 state that a cruise around the world,
from which she has recently returned, has
demonstrated that she is a frst-clasS vessel of
her rate.
The report of the Secretary shows that
while the effective force of the navy Is rap
idly increasing, by reason of the improved
build and armament OF the new ships, the
number of our ships fit for sea duty grows
very slowly We had, on the 4tb of March
last, thirty-seven serviceable ships. and
though four have since been added TO the
list the total has not been increased because
in the meantime four have been lost or con-
demned Twenty-six additional vessels have
been authorized and appropriated for, but
it Is probable that when they are completed
our list will only be increased TO fOrty-two a
gain Of five. The old wooden ships are
disappearing almost as fast as the new YES
sells are added These facts carry their own
argument. One Of the new ships may. in
fighting strength, be equal to two of the old,
but it cannot do the cruising duty Of two 1t
is important therefore, that we should have
a more rapid increase in the number of SER
viceable ships | concur in the recommended
ton of the Secretary that the construction of
eight armOred ships. three gunOOats and five
torpedo boats be authorized.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
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 chill
dren of school age and in the allotment of
lands to adult Indians. 1t is to be regretted
that the policy of breaking up the tribal re-
latiOn and Of dealing with the Indian as an
Individual did not appear earlier in our leg
lslatlOn. Large reservations, held in com
mon, and the maintenance Of the authority
of the chiefs and headmen have deprived the
individual Of every incentive to the exercise
Of thrift, and the annuity has contributed an
affirmative impulse toward a state of con-
tirrned pauperism.
Our treaty stipulatiOns should be observed
with fidelity, and our legislation should be
highly cOnSIderate Of the best interests of an
ignorant and helpless people. The reserva
lions are now generally surrounded by white
settlements. We can no longer push the
Indian back into the wilderness, and it re-
mains only, by every suitable agency, to
push him upward into the estate of a self
supporting and responsible citizen. For the
adult, the first step is to locate him upon
farm, and for the child, to place him in
school.
CLAIMS OF SETTLERS.
In the administration of the land laws the
policy OF facilitating, IN every proper way,
the adjustment of the honest claims of indi-
Vidual settlers upon the public lands has
been pursued The number of pending cases
had, during the preceding administration,
been greatly increased under the operation
Of orders for a time Suspending final action
in large part of the cases originating III the
w est and Northwest, and by the subsequent
use of unusual methods of examination.
Only those who are familiar with the con-
ditiOns under which our agricultural lands
have been settled can appreciate the serious
and often the fatal consequences to the settler
OF policy that puts his title under suspi ciOn,
OF 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
Presumption laws was to promote the settle
ment of the public domain by persons having
a bona tide intent to make a home upon the
selected lands. Where this intent is we'll
tablished and the requirements of the law
have been substantially complied with. the
claimant is entitled to a prompt and friendly
consideration Of his case. But where there
is reason to believe that the claimant
is the mere agent of another, who is seek
ing to evade a law intended to promote
small holdings, and to secure by fraudulent
methods large tracts of timber and other
lands, both principal and agent should not
only be thWarted in their fraudulent pur~
pose, but should be made to feel the full
penalties of our criminal statutes The laws
should be so administered as not to cOnfOund
these two classes, and to visit penalties only
upon the latter.
THE PENSION SYSTEM.
The law now provides a pension for every
soldier and sailor who was mustered into
the service Of the United States during the
civil war and is now suffering from wounds
or disease having an origin III the service
and in the line OF duty. Two of the three
necessary facts, viz, muster and disability,
are usually susceptible of easy proof; but the
third origin in the service, is often difficult,
and III many deserving cases impossible to
eSta bliSh. That very many of those who Ell
dured the hardships Of our most bloody and
arduOus campaigns are now disabled from
diseases that had q real but not traceabla
origin in the service [ do not doubt.
Besides those there Is another class com
posed of men many of whom served an en-
listment Of three full years, and of re-enlisted
veterans who added a fourth year of service
who escaped the casualties of battle and the
assaults of disease, who were always ready
for any detail, who were in every battle line
Of their command, and We're mustered out in
sound health, and have. since the close of the
war while fighting with the same ;ndomita-
BILE and independent spirit the contests of
civil life, been overcome by disease or cas-
ualty.
am not unaware that the pension roll al
ready involves very large annual expendi-
ture, neither am | deferred by that fact from
recommending that Congress grant a pension
TO such honorably discharged soldiers and
sailors of the civil war as having rendered
substantial service during the war are now
dependent upon their own labor for q main