Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1889-12-03

willie die effective force Of the
navy Is rapidly increasing ty reason
OF the Improved Build and arma-
n,snt OF the new ships, the NUMBER
Of our ships on sea duty grows very
slowly. We had, on the sth OF
March last thirty-seven serviceaole
ships, and though four have since
been added 10 the list. the total hsvo
not been increased, because
in the meantime four have
been lost or condemned
Twenty six additional vessels
have been authorized and appro-
priated for, but il is probable that,
when completed, our list will be In
creased 10 forty-two again. The
oldeuwoOdcn ships nre disappearing
almost as fast Is the new vessels are
added. One or the new ships may,
in fighting strength, be equal 10
two OF the old. bni y cannot 60
cruisin- dutias too. tits important,
therefore, that We should have 4
more rapid increase in the number
Of serviceable ships. concur In
the recommendation Of the Secre-
tary that the construction Ofeight
armored sh!qs, thfee gunbOats and
1--WE torpedo boats be authorized.
TIE SAMOAN WRECKS
An appalling calamity befel three
Of our naval vessels on duty at
the Samoan Islands. in the harbor
OF Apia, in March last, involving
the loss Of four officers and forty
seven seamen Of two vessels, the
Trenton and HdHddiid, and the dis
abIing OF the third, the Npsic.
Three vessels Of the German navy
were also In the harbOr, shared
with our ships the force OF the hur-
ricane, and suffered even more
heavily. While mourning the brave
officers and men who died, facing
with high resolve perils greaterthan
those Of battle, it is most gratifying
to state that the credit Of the Ameri-
can navy for scamanship, courage
and generosity was magnificently
sustained IN the st9rm-bcaten har-
Dor Of Apia.
INDIAN AFFAIES.
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 Of school age, and IN the
allotment Of lands to adult Indians.
Ii Is 10 be regretted 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 reserva-
tions are held in command and the
maintenance Of authority OF the
chiefs and head men have de
prived the individual Of every in
centive to exercise, thriftand energy
aud the annuity has contributed an
affirmative impulse toward n state
Of confirmed pauperism.
Our treaty stipulatiOns should lie
observed with fidelity, and our leg
islation should he highly cOusiderate
Of the best interests Of an ignorant
and 4 helpless people. The reserva-
tons are now generally surrounded
by white settlements. We can no
longer push the Indian back into
the wilderness, and il only remains,
by every suitable agency, to push
him upwards towards a self-suppOrt-
ing and responsible situation. For
the adult, the first step is to locate
him on a farm, and for the child,
10 place him in school.
School attendance should be pro-
NOTED by every moral agency, and
those failing should he compelled.
The national schools for Indians
have been very successful and
should be multiplied, and as far rs
possible, should be 50 organized and
conducted rs to facilitate the trans
fer OF the schools TO the States or
Territories in which they are To-
Gated, when the Indians in a neigh
borhOOd have accepted citizenship |
and have been otherwise fitted /
FOR such n transfer. This condition I
Of things viii he attained slowly, /
hut x will lie hGstened by /.
keeping il in mind, ard in I
the meantime, that CO-OpeTa- [
alton between the government and /
The mission schools which has .
wrought much good should be cor
daily and impartially sustained.
The last Congress enacted two dis
tinct laws relating 10 negotiations
with the Sioux Indians Of Dakota .
for n REIMBURSEMENT Of a portion Of
their lands TO the United States, and /
for dividing the remainder into
Separate reservations. Both were
on the same day, March ..
The one submitted to the Indians n
specific proposition. The other Sec
ton Of the Indian appropriation
act authorized the President TO ap-
point three commissioners TO negO-
tiate with the Indians for the ac-
Of the same general
purpose, and required that any
agreement made should lie submit
ted 10 Congress for ratification.
On the 10th day Of April last l
appointed Hon. Chns. Foster, Hon.
VIM. Warner, Of Mo-, and Major
General Geo. Crook, Y. 5. ~, COM
under the last named.
They were, howe yer, authorized aud
directed first 10 submit to the In
lians the definite proposition by the
act first mentioned, and in the event
lf failure TO secure the consent OF the
requisite number.
The negotiations We're long and
lrJlucu5, but the consent Of the IT,
luisite number Of tn. Indians was
finally obtained TO the proposition
made by Congress, although the re-
port OF the commission has not vet
been submitted, In view of these
iacts, ! shall not, as at present adj
vised, deem il necessary TO submit
he agreement TO Congress for Tatifi-
alton, but it will i'm due course Of
.ime lie submitted for information.
This agreement releases to the
United States about 9,GGO, GO arces
II land.
The commission provided for 10y
section IL Of the Indian appropria-
ion hill To negotiate with the Cher
,kee Indians and all ether Indians
,wning or claiming lands west Of
he ninety sixth degree Of lOngi-
ude, for the CessiBn to the
I nitcd States Of all such
ands, was constituted by the ap- I
of Hon. Lucius Fairchlld,
II Wisconsin, Hon. Jno. +. Hart
amt, OF Pennsylvania, and Hon. ,
Nlfrej NJ. Wilson, Of Arkansas. and
on June Goth last. Their
Inst conference with the representa-
ives OF the CheTckecs was held at
Tahlequah July Goth with no def
lite result. General John F. Hart
anft, OF Pennsylvania, was pre-
'ented by Ill health from taking ,
art in the conference, and his ,
cath, which occurred recently, {
5 justly and generally lamented by
people vino had served with con-
picuous gallantry in war and with
'reat fidelity in peace. The vacancy |
hus created was filed by the APP Z
ointment of Hon. Warren G.. {
ayre, OF Indiana. I
\ second conference between the |
and the Cherokees was {
egun November 18th, but no result d
as been yet obtained; nor is it be- {