The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-04

since been added IN the list, the total has |
not been increased, because In the mean |
Time four have been lost or condemned
Twenty-six additional vessels have been |
authorized and appropriated for, but II In ]
probable that when they are completed our !
list will only be increased to forty-two. a |
! gain OF five. The old wooden ships are dis |
appearing almost rs fast As the new vessels |
| are added. These facts carry their own |
argument. One OF the new ships may, in |
nghting strength. be equal TO two OF the old |
but IT cannot do the cruising duty OF two.
| IL Is important, therefore, that we should |
have more rapid increase in the number
OF serviceable ships. concur in the recon-
mendation OF the Secretary that the con-
struction Of eight arnored ships. three gum
boats, and five torpedo boats be author
lied.
AN APPALLING CALAMITY.
befell three Of our naval vessels on duty at
the samoan islands, in the harbor Of Apia,
In March last, involving the loss OF four Of |
fcers and forty-seven seamen Of the two |
vessels, the Trenton and the Nandalia. and |
the disability OF a third, the Nipsic. Three
vessels Of the German navy, also in the
harbor, shared with our ships the force Of
the hurricane, and suffered even more |
heavily. While mourning the brave officers
and men who died facing with high resolve
and perils greater than those Of battles. IL is /
most gratifying 10 state that the credit OF
the American navy for seamanship, courage,
and generosity, was msgnificently sus-
tanned in the storm-beaten harl,or Of Apia. |
THE INDIAN QUESTION.
The report Of the Secretary OF the Interior |
exhibits the transactions of the government |
with the Indian tribes. Substantial pro- |
gress has been made In the education OF the |
children Of school age and in the allotments !
.I..fs LII q - IN h
GREETED that the policy Of breaking up the
tribal relation and of dealing with the In
dams as an individual did not appear early
in our legislation. Large reservations. |
held in common and the maintenance OF the
authority of the chiefs and head men, have
derived the individual Of every incentive
10 the exercise Of theft, and the annuity he |
has received has contributed an affirmative
impulse towards state Of confirmed pau
perism.
our treaty stipuIations should be observed |
with fidelity. and our legislation should be
highly cOnsiderate Of the best interests OF
an ignorant and helpless people The res
eryations are now generally surrounded by |
white settlements. We can no longer push |
the Indian back into the wilderness, and 1t
remains only by every suitable agency 10 |
push him upward into the estate OF self |
supporting and responsible citizen. For the |
adult, the first step is 10 locate him upon a
farm; for the child, to place him at school,
school attendance should be promoted by |
every moral agency, and those failing |
should be compelled. The national schools
for Indians have been very successful, and
should be multiplied, and as far as possible, |
should be so organized and conducted as TO
facilitate the transfer of the schools 10 the
States or Territories I'm which they are To-
Gated. when the Indians, in neighbor- |
hood have accepted citizenship ana nave
became otherwise fitted for sucn a transfer.
This condition of things will be attained
slowly. but it will be FASTENED by keeping
IL i'm mind. and in the meantime that
co-operati0n between the government
and the mission schools which has
wrought much good, should be cordially and
| impartially maintained. The last Congress
enacted two distinct laws relating to ne
g0tiations with the Sioux Indians of Dakota
| for REIMBURSEMENT Ola portion Of their lands
| to the United States, and for dividing the
remainder into separate reservations. Both
were approved on the same day, March ID.
| The one submitted 10 the Indians specific
| prOpOsitiOn: the other section OF the In
| dian appropriation act. authorized the Presl-
! dent to appoint three commissioners TO ne
gotiate with these Indians for the accom-
plishment of the same general purpose ana
| required that any agreements made should
| be submitted 10 congress lDI Idllu'tllOu.
| On the 10th day Of April last, | appointed
Hon. Charles Foster, Of Ohio; Hon. William
| Manner. of Missouri. and Major-Gsnersl
| George Crook, Of the United states Army,
| commissioners under the last named law.
| They were. however, authorized ana dl-
rected. first to submit 10 the Indians the
definite proposition made to them by the act
first mentioned, and only in the event OF n
failure TO secure the assent OF requisite
/ -. inn y. Il
tions for modified terms under the other act.
| The work Of the commission was prolonged
and arduOus, but the assent OF the requisite
number. il is understood, nnaly
obtained 10 the proposition made
| BIZ Congress through the report OF
| the commission has not yet been submitted.
In view Of these facts, shall not, as ~
present advised, deem IT necessary 10 SUB
init the agreement TO Congress Tor rahhca-
ton. but it WILL in due course, be sub
mitted for information. This agreement re-
| leases 10 the United States about nine mil
| lion acres of land. The commission pro-
| yided for by section II Of the Indian Appro-
priation 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 SEES
sion for the United states for all such
| lands. was constituted 10y the appointment
Hon. John +. Hartranft, OF Pennsylvania,
and Hon. Alfred VI. Wilson, Of Arkansas,
and organized on june 18th last. lheH
fir.t conference with the representatives sf
the Cherokees was held al Talequah, July
18th. with no definite results. General Johh
r. llartranft, OF Pennsylvania, WAS pre-
vented by i'll health from taking part In tue
conference. His death, which occurred re-
Gently. is Justly and generally lamentsd by
| ~ sAI al
gallantry in war and with great fidelity IN
peace. The vacancy thus created was hlled
by the apnointment OF Hon. Warren Il.
! Sayre, Of Indiana.
4 second conference between the commits
sion and the CherOkees was begun Noyenl-
Der 9th. but no results have yet been obtain
ed. nor is it believed that conclusion can
be Immediately expected. The cattle syn
dictate. now occupying the lands Tor grazing
purposes, is clearly one OF the agencies re-
| spon.ible for the Instructions OF our nesO-
| tiatiops with the Cher0kees. The large
| bodies of agricultural lands, constituting
what i known as the Cherokee outlet
ought not TO be, and indeed cannot long ne,
held for grazing, and for the advantage OF a
few against the public interests OF the
best advantage Of the Indians thelh-
selves. The United states has no" under
the treaties certain rights IN these lands.
cannot be allowed that those who by suner-
ance occupy these lands shall interpose 20
defeat the wise and benencent purposes oil
the government. j cannot but DelleSe lnal
the advantageous character OF the oner
made by the United States to the Cherokee
nation. for full release Of these lands, as
compared with other suggestlonSnow maze
10 them. will yet obtain for it favorable
consideration.
| TREATY WITH TIE GREENS.
| Under the agreement made between tue
United states and the MuscOgee, or Creek
nation of Indians. on the 18th day OF Japu-
ary. 1889, an absolute title was secured by
the United States to about three ana nan
millions OF acres of land. Section II OF the
General Indian Appropriation act, ap-
moved March >. 1874, made provision Tor
the purchase by the United states from the
Seminole tribe of certain portion OF their
> Lands The delegates OF the Seminole nation,
+, having first duly evidenced TO me then
: power TO act in that behalf. deliver proper
, release and conveyance to the United states
Of oil tho lands mentioned in the act. which